Waqar calls for an overhaul after exit
mohali — Coach Waqar Younis on Friday lamented the decline of Pakistan cricket after his team were knocked out of the World Twenty20 with a disappointing 21-run defeat against Australia.
A wayward Pakistan let Australia off the hook after having them in early trouble at 57-3 in the must-win group tie at Mohali.
The Aussies were quick to capitalise on some shoddy bowling and fielding, posting a commanding 193-4 before restricting Shahid Afridi’s men to 172-8.
The early ouster of the 2009 champions from the tournament has put skipper Afridi as well as Younis under pressure, with both likely to lose their jobs sooner than later.
Younis, a dreaded fast bowler in his playing days, did not mince his words as he called for an over- haul back home.
“We have just lost the match and whatever I say will look like an excuse,” Younis, 44, said at a post-match press conference.
“If we think deeply we will see that Pakistan hasn’t seen any international cricket for last seveneight years and that has hurt us.
“And that has started showing now. Earlier we had match winners like Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez who could bowl. “Yes, I would say that Pakistan cricket is in a bit of a decline and we need to control it. We will have to look at our domestic cricket and infrastructure.”
Pakistan finished their campaign with three defeats from four outings, including a loss at the hands of arch foes India in Kolkata. —
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