Pakistan can still reach final and beat India: Haroon Rasheed

Pakistan can still reach final and beat India: Haroon Rasheed

FPJ BureauUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 05:40 PM IST
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Karachi : Pakistan’s chief selector Haroon Rasheed has had a pep talk with the national team members and is confident that they can still qualify for the final in the ongoing Asia Cup.

“I wouldn’t rule out Pakistan despite the loss to India. We have a good strong side and our bowling is our strength. I spoke to the players and I have tried my best to encourage them and raise their morale,” Rasheed told.

“I told them they have the capability of winning their remaining matches in the Asia Cup and setting up another encounter with India in the final where they can make amends for the defeat in the group match,” he said.

“The prospect of playing India again in the Asia Cup should spur our players on to improve their performances in the tournament,” he said.

He said the players were disappointed and downcast after the manner in which they lost a low scoring match to India. “But they realize they batted very poorly and they need to play according to the conditions.”

The chief selector, also a former Test player, said the selectors had picked the best possible squad for the Asia Cup and World T20 that will follow in India.

“I think Muhammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi as the senior most players in the side need to lead by example and they must perform and the rest of the players will then also chip in.”

Haroon made it clear that Pakistani selectors were seriously thinking about the post World T20 scenario and if the team didn’t do well in both events some wholesome changes would be on the cards. “Our policy is clear anyone who doesn’t perform including the captain will have to make way for others.”

‘Team keen for rematch’

Karachi : Experienced all-rounder Shoaib Malik has said that he and his players are keen to set up a rematch with India in final. “I think we failed to read the pitch and conditions properly and instead of adapting ourselves we committed hari kari by trying to play overly attacking shots. We want to play India in the final again and we know we can do well against them.’’

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