KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas and ex-opener and coach Mohsin Khan on Monday expressed utter disappointment on the poor show put up by Pakistan cricket team in the two Test series against Sri Lanka which they lost 2-0.

Talking to reporters, Zaheer said he wasn’t expecting such a bad performance from the Pakistan side.

“The manner in which the Pakistan team prepared here in the training camps prior to the tour to Sri Lanka seemed like they would go there and whitewash the hosts, but the players have let us down,” he said.

Zaheer, while praising Sri Lanka’s ace spinner Herath, said: He (Herath) proved an excellent bowler in the Test series with over 20 wickets. However, I am really shocked that our batsmen could not handle his bowling and fell like nine pins.”

Mohsin, meanwhile, blamed lack of game plan, tactics and strategy as the major causes of Pakistan’s humiliating defeats in the Test series.

“There seems to be no game plan and strategy during the series and the results clearly reflect that,” he said in an interview on Monday.

“It was really disappointing to see Pakistan team going down so meekly in both the Test matches.”

Mohsin said Pakistan team made Herath look as an unplayable bowler and he bagged as many as 23 wickets in the series including a rich haul of 14 wickets in the Colombo Test. “Herath is a good bowler but not as great to scoop up 14 wickets in a match,” Mohsin remarked. “Pakistani batsmen played badly against him and paid the price.

“Pakistan have a good spin duo in Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman but see what they achieved compared to Herath,” said Mohsin.

“I hand it to good tactical planning by the Sri Lankan coaching staff who worked hard to neutralise Pakistan batting while we failed to plan anything against Herath,” he lamented.

He said the only heartening factor in Pakistan’s defeat was the outstanding show by wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

“Sarfraz was a great example for our seasoned and experienced batsmen, especially the way he batted under pressure.” he pointed out.

Former Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir also lashed out at the team management and demanded their sacking after dismal 2-0 loss.

He said that it was highly disappointing to see Pakistan suffering huge losses in presence of manager Moin Khan, chief coach Waqar Younis, batting coach Grant Flower and spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed.

“It was a pathetic display and the team management and players are equally responsible for the debacle,” said Qadir while talking to a private TV channel.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2014