Ex-players slam Pakistan for first Test draw
Karachi: The Pakistan cricket team continues to draw flak for not attempting to win the first Test against Sri Lanka on the final day, after being set a target of 170 in 21 overs in the final session of play on Saturday.
Pakistan preferred to play out for a draw after losing their first wicket early.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram slammed the approach of the team management and the players in not attempting to chase the target on the final day and win the Test.
"Nowadays, the way cricket is played, it was not impossible to achieve the target set by Sri Lanka. A Test win is a big thing and I thought we lost a golden opportunity to win the match," Akram said.
He also said that the team management should have told the first three or four batsmen to play aggressively and positively, to see how it goes.
"Even if we had lost three or four wickets, we could have settled for a draw. We closed shop very early."
Former wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan also voiced his disappointment, slamming the management for not trying to chase the target.
"With the advent of T20 cricket such targets are chaseable, and I was surprised that the team didn't go for it and preferred to play for a draw," said Moin.
Moin said that the drawn result would only help in raising the spirits of the Sri Lankans, who were on the backfoot throughout the Test.
Source:Cricnext
Karachi: The Pakistan cricket team continues to draw flak for not attempting to win the first Test against Sri Lanka on the final day, after being set a target of 170 in 21 overs in the final session of play on Saturday.
Pakistan preferred to play out for a draw after losing their first wicket early.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram slammed the approach of the team management and the players in not attempting to chase the target on the final day and win the Test.
"Nowadays, the way cricket is played, it was not impossible to achieve the target set by Sri Lanka. A Test win is a big thing and I thought we lost a golden opportunity to win the match," Akram said.
He also said that the team management should have told the first three or four batsmen to play aggressively and positively, to see how it goes.
"Even if we had lost three or four wickets, we could have settled for a draw. We closed shop very early."
Former wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan also voiced his disappointment, slamming the management for not trying to chase the target.
"With the advent of T20 cricket such targets are chaseable, and I was surprised that the team didn't go for it and preferred to play for a draw," said Moin.
Moin said that the drawn result would only help in raising the spirits of the Sri Lankans, who were on the backfoot throughout the Test.
Source:Cricnext
