Pakistan’s heavy defeat to India in the Asia Cup was a “timely reminder”for the team to get their act together before next month’s World Cup, headcoach Grant Bradburn said.
Babar Azam’s men suffered a crushing 228-run loss to India on Monday in arain-hit Super Four clash of the 50-over tournament, a prelude to nextmonth’s World Cup in India.
India posted 356-2 in Colombo after rain forced the match into a reserveday and then bowled out Pakistan for 128 in 32 overs to register theirbiggest ODI victory over their arch-rivals.
“My gut feeling is that we are grateful for the gift that has been thislast two days,” Bradburn told reporters after the drubbing.
“We don’t get to play some of the best players in the world very often,” headded.
“We haven’t lost a game of cricket for the last three months, so it’s atimely reminder that we need to turn up every day, put in our best on thepark, and it’s actually a gift in the last two days we haven’t done that.”
Pakistan elected to bowl after Azam won the toss but the team soon losttheir grip after a 121-run opening stand between skipper Rohit Sharma andShubman Gill.
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul hit 122 and 111 respectively to extend India’sdomination in an unbeaten stand of 233.
“We lost at all facets of the game,” Bradburn said. “No excuses, we weren’tgood enough in the last two days.”
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Pakistan’s bowling, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, had rattled India’s toporder last week in an Asia Cup group game, bowling them out for 266 beforethe match was abandoned because of rain.
But Rohit, Gill, Rahul and Kohli came roaring back in the Super Fourcontest to take the attack to the bowlers.
Bradburn, a former New Zealand international who played seven Tests and 11ODIs, said Pakistan will learn from the batting assault.
“Certainly wasn’t a surprise. Everyone’s seen how lethal our bowling attackis and good teams will counteract that,” he said.
Azam started the tournament with 151 against minnows Nepal but Bradburnsaid Pakistan’s batting still lacked firepower.
“Our batting unit hasn’t clicked in the past month and again, that is apositive sign,” he said.
“We have full trust in them. We are very consistent with our selection. Weknow they will come right.” APP/AFP
