Hafeez apologises for poor performance against Windies

Published April 1, 2014
Mohammad Hafeez and Shahid Afridi. – AFP Photo
Mohammad Hafeez and Shahid Afridi. – AFP Photo
West Indies captain Darren Sammy celebrates with Dwayne Bravo after winning the match against Pakistan. – AFP Photo
West Indies captain Darren Sammy celebrates with Dwayne Bravo after winning the match against Pakistan. – AFP Photo

DHAKA: Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez on Tuesday apologised to his team's fans for not doing better in the key game against West Indies which defeated them by 84 runs in Dhaka and reached semi finals of the World T20.

It was the first time that Pakistan, finalists in the inaugural World T20 in 2007 and champions in 2009, failed to reach the knock-out rounds in the five editions of the tournament.

“I must thank our fans for their support and apologise for letting them down,” he said.

“This was obviously not our best performance, but we had the game in control at the start.”

“All credit to the West Indies for taking the game away from us. Those four final overs cost us dearly and then we panicked at the start of our chase. It became a very difficult target to chase,” said the Pakistani captain.

“Our aim was to get to at least 135-140 with the start we got but the self-belief we had, the form and power that we have, the momentum (being) with us, there was chance to be positive and get 160.”

“In the last four overs, even our best bowlers Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul did not get their basics right and conceded too many runs in the end... When our chase started, we did not get any momentum, playing shots which were not there,” said Hafeez.

Meanwhile, Dwayne Bravo, who was named man of the match, said he would have preferred to share it with Captain Darren Sammy and Samuel Badree.

“We have the bowling to defend any total, but I really did not expect the match to be so easy,” he said.

“Pakistan did have our top order in some bother, but then our batting runs deep and we showed that today.”

“I think Sammy and Badree were equally deserving of the award. We have the momentum going into the semi-finals and I am confident we will do well there too,” said the West Indian player.

“We had nothing to lose, we were under pressure,” he said, adding that, “I said to Sammy 'Don't worry about picking (Pakistani spinner Saeed) Ajmal or trying to rotate (strike) ... Keep your eyes on the ball. We are powerful enough. If we get close to the ball, we'll hit it over the ropes'.”

Opinion

Editorial

Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....
Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...