'Pakistan missing Irfan, Gul at the death'

E-Paper | March 18, 2026

SHARJAH: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq urged his bowlers to improve their death bowling in the third one-day against Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Sunday.

Pakistan failed to defend a big 285-run target as Sri Lanka's batsmen benefited from sloppy end overs bowling to win the second one-day by two wickets in Dubai on Friday, levelling the five-match series 1-1.

Even in Pakistan's narrow 11-run win in the first game in Sharjah on Wednesday, Sri Lankan tail-enders cashed in on some poor end overs bowling and nearly chased down a daunting 323-run target.

Misbah said Pakistan were missing the experience of Mohammad Irfan and Umar Gul -- both out of the tour due to injuries.

“Death bowling is an issue for us, we need to address that if we want to win the series,” said Misbah after Friday's game.

“Our fast bowling is not experienced and we are missing the experience of Irfan who had been doing well and also missing Gul.”

Sri Lanka needed a tough 85 in the last 10 overs when paceman Sohail Tanvir conceded 19 in one over, while Angelo Mathews (47) and Nuwan Kulasekara (32) upped the tempo in the last overs.

Sri Lanka needed 16 off the last two overs and four off the final when Sachithra Senanayake hit a boundary to seal the win.

Misbah said he was happy with the batting, led by opener Ahmed Shehzad's career best 124.

“I think our biggest problem used to be batting but I am really happy the way the batting is going on,” said Misbah.

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews praised a good team effort.

“We had to work very hard for this win,” said Mathews.

“Everyone contributed in bits and pieces.”

Mathews said the series would be close and tough for both the teams.

“We hope to win the series but it will be an exciting one... With Pakistan you have to fight all the time and need to be positive -- we can't give them a chance as they can knock us down so we have to be on our guards and be positive and that's what we did,” said Mathews.

The last two matches will be played in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Friday.

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Effy

Dec 21, 2013 03:17pm

Problem is slow scoring by Misbah and Hafeez.....................

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zem

Dec 21, 2013 03:25pm

Mr Captain can u find out whats the main reason Umar Gul not included in the team .Is he not fit after taking 11 wickts in d.omestic game or selectrs not fit(Mentally!!Drop Tanvir permanently bring Talha,Sudaf Hussain put them in competition.to make their permanent position that will help for Pak Team otherwise these youngstar will lose their confidence

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Aamir Jaleel

Dec 21, 2013 03:29pm

I am sorry Misbah don't know how to manage your bowlers. First of all Tanvir has no place in the playing 11 as it's not the first time he bowled short and wide. In the absence of Irfan who was not handle by the board and Umar Gul you should have played another spinner as even the last match they are the one who contained the bowling better then medium fast bowlers. In the last match Afridi only bowled 7 overs and he should have been used earlier when Tanvir got hit for 15 runs on his second spell or Bhatti should have been used earlier in the inning to fiinish his 10 overs. Where was Misbah when Bhatti was bowling his last spell as he was continue to bowl short balls and should have given guidance by Misbah. Below is the Tanvir's stats so don't say you don't have the experience, its just Tanvir don't have the talent to bowl.. ODIs 58 56 2763 2401 67 5/48 5/48 35.83 5.21 41.2 3 1 0 T20Is 38 38 777 920 32 3/12 3/12 28.75 7.10 24.2 0 0 0 First-class 59 11977 6519 265 8/54 24.60 3.26 45.1 8 17 3 List A 94 92 4667 4033 137 7/34 7/34 29.43 5.18 34.0 7 2 0 Twenty20 146 143 3007 3624 160 6/14 6/14 22.65 7.23 18.7 3 1 0

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Ahmad

Dec 21, 2013 05:30pm

This whole series is fixed. Bowlers were fine against SA and suddenly in the 2nd match, bowlers have become inexperienced. Match fixing some one is making a lot of money.

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m. saeed awan

Dec 21, 2013 06:02pm

Until Suhail Tanvir is in the squad, no hope of WIN. Hafeez is fully backing him despite his poor performance. Suhail Tanvir's bowling action shows that he doesn't know, where to bowl at crucial time. Give chance to Anwer Ali or others...

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Johar

Dec 21, 2013 07:11pm

I agree gul is needed as I mentioned in one of my comments before the 2nd odi. However, we need to replace Misbah, umer gul and Bilawal. When misbah leaves odi things will improve. Just imagine if misbah would have just scored at strike rate of 100, things would have been different.

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pakone

Dec 21, 2013 07:11pm

What is Tanvir doing in this team? When was the last time he delivered outstanding bowling results?? He is always expensive, not a wicket taker yet he is always chosen over and over again. Anwar Ali (who can bat as well) would have been a much better choice! Drop Tanvir already!

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Shahid

Dec 21, 2013 07:12pm

Sohail Tanveer has been part of the team for 6 years now but it is so strange that even after such a long time he goes on to bowl those 122 kph short balls wide of the of with "hit me out of the town" written on them. Where is the bowling coach?

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Dec 21, 2013 07:17pm

Hafeez and Misbah are to slow scorers. Misbah's strike rate of 95 is to slow when considering that he batted death overs. Sohail Tanveer has been the main culprut in leaking runs for years now but he always stays in the team, why? Even after 7 years of international experience he bowls short and wide with a speed equalent to Afridi's. Bhatti needs to learn a lot. He needs slow ball, slow bouncer, wide yorker and yorkers in general.

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raj

Dec 21, 2013 07:30pm

Problem is with misbah and hafeez were misbah makes hafeez to ball and bat up the order and everything is lost....

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Tajamul Islam

Dec 21, 2013 07:38pm

I am really surprised by the way a sub-standard bowler like Sohail Tanvir is being given a place in team again and again.You have given him enough opportunities.It is better to try new face here.Comm-on Misbah you dont have dearth of pacers.Try some new face even if they go for runs.Make it clear to Sohail Tanvir to look for a job anywhere else.He doesn"t look like to be there for future.Do him a favor.

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shahbaz

Dec 21, 2013 09:10pm

Any reason why anwar Ali was not included in the team even after his good performance in SA...oh sorry, PCB is waiting for his 30th birthday!

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Rashid

Dec 21, 2013 09:15pm

Just drop Sohail Tanvir and every thing will be fine. He plays every match while players like Anwar Ali, Talha, and Sadaf Hussain are setting out side.

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sal_nz

Dec 21, 2013 10:25pm

first of all, praise for batting display by top order. it was due by now.. hope they can continue in the upcoming matches as well. couple of changes need to be made in remaining games : if openers perform well, need to send in a pinch hitter such as bilawal to up the scoring rate.. he can certainly bat for sure. umar akmal must come up the order after maqsood for scoring opportunities. as far as bowling is concerned bilawal and tanvir should be red flagged if they dont perform in next match... tanvir is struggling with his line n length he must be replaced now. must bring in a quickie someone new may be.. bilawal must open the bowling lets see how he performs . sri lanka bat very deep and they have power hitters at their lower order so its crucial for pak to bring in a wicket taking replacement for him .. time to act now for pak bowling unit. best of luck misbah..

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Azhar Malik

Dec 21, 2013 10:30pm

Sohail Tanveer has poor fitness. i would request some journalist to talk to him after an over, he would definitely be short of breath. he is intelligent but till the time you are not fit how can u bowl well. Bilawal Bhatti is like a street bowler, he should learn to bowl on batting pitches or he is exposed.Muhammad Akram should teach the bowlers to bowl yorkers, but i think Muhammad Akram is not doing his job. It is quite evident that no brain is working and guiding the in experienced bowlers the art of dearth bowling.

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Hasan Jawaid

Dec 21, 2013 10:58pm

If someone wants to learn how to lose a winning game consult Misbah, he will provide best recipe on how to do this. Words and vocabulary fall short on expressing the pathetic and senseless captaincy that Misbah displayed in the 2nd ODI. It would be anyone's guess what might have led Sohail Tanveer's inclusion in the ODIs and on top of that getting to bowl the pace setting overs in the initial/later phase of the 2nd ODI that changed the game's outcome. After seeing his dismal performance in 1st ODI, like any other Pakistani I was baffled over his inclusion in 2nd ODI and, more so, with his spells that cost Pakistan a winning game wasting a long awaited well performed batting effort. His wayward and lack lustre bowling just messed it all up. I am not against Misbah but I agree with all those who oppose him as a captain. I don't think he understands the strengths and weaknesses of his players and strategizing the game plan. For instance, I can see Hafeez bowling opening spells in T20 but I would love to listen to Misbah's line of reasoning for handing over initial spells to Hafeez. Likewise, Sohail Tanveer getting hit right and left and still getting to bowl the death overs was mind boggling strategy to me. Handing him the crucial overs and not taking him off while he was hammered by tail enders was simply a wrong judgement call that proved fatal. It is plain and simple that Misbah just doesn't know how to use his bowlers and when to take them off when it was not working out. His sense of decision making becomes further questionable by ignoring Anwar Ali over Sohail Tanveer who probably is Pakistan's future while Sohail Tanveer has done his time and hasn't quite delivered that justifies him a place in ODI. It was absolutely poor captaincy and judgement calls on Misbah's part that cost Pakistan the 2nd ODI.

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Ammar

Dec 21, 2013 11:48pm

@Ahmad: I am just curious what will make you happy !

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FSL

Dec 22, 2013 02:35am

Gul is on his way. Lets see if we do better in next game. Sohail Tanveer should be replaced by Gul. Junaid is already dont well.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Dec 22, 2013 05:59am

Definitely they are missed but whose responsibility is to bring them back?

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MALIK AHMAD JAWAD

Dec 22, 2013 09:32am

IT IS A GOOD NEWS THAT SRILANKA IS THINKING TO COME PAKISTAN . I HOPE PAKISTAN WILL WIN . [INSHALULLAH]

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MALIK AHMAD JAWAD

Dec 22, 2013 09:34am

I LOVE CRICKET .

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Peerzada Faisal

Dec 22, 2013 10:57am

pakistan cricket can now expect some drastic changes under the chairmanship of Mr.Najam Sethi as he seams to be honest and committed. It is high time for PCB to come out of Misbah-Hafeez coma. Misbah should be replaced by Afridi as captain because Misbah becomes brainless when it comes to captaincy in the field,He can be handy as a player only Hafeez has no place in the team.He manages his place through coruption and influence.PCB should not repeat to make changes in the team at the time of world cup. Team should be groomed for the mega event from today only.

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sam

Dec 23, 2013 03:48am

@shahbaz: lol-thats funny but it is sad too as PCB know how to mess up careers of young players

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sam

Dec 23, 2013 03:53am

@Ahmad: nothing is fixed please. dont have a rant. You have to realise that SL batsmen are much better players of spin than SA.

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