NOTTINGHAM: Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur has insisted they can bounce backfrom a “shocking” start to the World Cup.
Hostile fast bowling by the West Indies saw Pakistan slump to just 105 –their second-lowest World Cup total — in a mere 21.4 overs at Trent Bridgeon Friday.
The West Indies, two-time former champions, then polished off the meagretarget in 13.4 overs on the back of dashing opener Chris Gayle´s 34-ball 50which included six fours and three sixes.
Arthur did not hide from the scale of a seven-wicket defeat, saying it hadgone against everything he had seen from his players in the build-up.
“Yes, it was a shocking start — the players did not take the preparationsinto the the middle,” Arthur told AFP. “But we will dust ourselves off andcome back strong.”
Pakistan´s batsmen were undone by the short-pitched bowling of the WestIndies pace trio.
Oshane Thomas led the way with four for 27, while captain Jason Holder(three for 42) and Andre Russell (two for four) also made tellingcontributions to a match that was all finished in under half of thescheduled 100 overs.
Opener Fakhar Zaman and number three Babar Azam scored 22 each while WahabRiaz (18) and Mohammad Hafeez (16) were the only other Pakistan batsmen toreach the double figures.
Arthur said his team´s batting performance was all the more disappointingas they had expected to face short-pitched bowling and prepared accordingly.
“We knew that we were going to get short-pitched bowling and had preparedvery well for it, so was disappointing to see us play like that because wewere prepared,” the South African said.
Pakistan have now lost their last 11 completed one-day internationals butRiaz insisted they did not have a mental block when it came to facing fastbowling.
“We didn´t play the short ball well but we´ve seen in past series that wecan score runs against that sort of bowling,” said Riaz. “If people want tobowl us bouncers, then we will have no problems with that.
“It´s not a mental issue. We have been losing in the past, we need to finda way to get out of this pattern,” he added.
Pakistan have a short turn around in which to put their abject defeatbehind them before they return to Trent Bridge for their second World Cupgame against tournament hosts England on Monday. -APP/AFP