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Pak-BD cricket series not B
grade competition: PCB
Lahore—Pakistan Cricket team manager, Talat Ali Malik Monday
insisted that five one day match Pak-Bangladesh series is not a B
grade competition and is of top standard.
“ It is a wrong way to think so that this event is a B grade or low
grade of cricket look at the ranking of the Pakistan team and its
achievements in the field of cricket and Bangladesh is a team which
is also coming up “, he told APP here on the eve of the first one
day match between Pak-Bangladesh at Gafaddi stadium.
Talat said Pak-Bangladesh series is of equal status like any cricket
competition in any part of the world where two best teams are
playing.
He warned the players to be fully aware of history of Bangladesh
team for upsetting stronger teams in regular one day matches and
even in top level of the competition, the World Cup.
“We have to be more careful to play Bangladesh and any element of
complacency can play havoc with our ambitions for success”, he said.
“In today’s cricket where cricket is being played around the year it
is hard to predict about the results and some time surprising
results are seen when weaker sides with less strength cause upset
wins to dent the reputation of top notches”, he asserted.
Pak team official also rejected a questioner that this series is
going to be an easy go for Pakistan. “I again lay emphasis on
putting up a collective show and taking Bangladesh lightly or
undermining their strength can lead to disaster”.
He said this competition will help hosts to come out of a lay off
after postponement of Australian tour of Pakistan.
“ We will be playing back to back cricket in coming months hosting
some teams for one day series before taking part in Asia Cup and in
Champions Trophy and playing Bangladesh at home will be beneficial
for players to get in good shape by playing competitive cricket”, he
said.
Achieving desired results in one day matches is not that easy as
some times minor mistakes lead to the failure of a team which is at
the door step of success, Talat said.
He urged the players to exhibit higher level of game setting aside
the present ranking of past record of Bangladesh team which has
surprised top teams of the world including Pakistan and Australia as
well through their fighting spirit.
“There should not be a repeat of similar happenings which is only
possible with collective efforts and putting up a better show”, he
said.
Talat said the key to success is in showing consistency in all
departments of the game.
Answering a question, he said, the absence of pace bowler Mohammad
Asif will be a clear disadvantage for the team adding “We have
suitable replacements in some new players including Riaz Wahab whom
we tried against Zimbabwe besides Sohail Tanvir is there to support
the team and Umer Gul and Rao Iftikhar are also fit and in good
form.
“It is time to end reliance on few players, we must encourage young
talented players in order to give them experience to be a part of
senior team and of course learning come through with passage of time
and we must show patience if young players fail to deliver in few
games”, he said.
He said Bangladesh team is gradually making its mark in
international cricket by fetching victories and they have ability to
throw a tough challenge to Pakistan.
Pakistan: Shoaib Malik (captain), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younis
Khan, Misbah-ul Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal,
Umar Gul, Sohail Tanveer, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz,
Fawad Alam, Bazid Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed.
Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Tamim
Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Aftab Ahmed, Nazim Uddin, Shahriar Nafees,
Shakib Al Hasan, Dhiman Ghosh, Abdur Razzak, Mahmudullah Riad,
Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel, Farhad Reza, Roqibul Hassan.
Match referee: Mike Procter (RSA). Umpires: Steve Bucknor (WIS),
Aleem Dar (PAK) TV umpire: Zameer Haider (PAK).—AFP
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