AUCKLAND, Feb 5: Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis says his side may have found it hard to motivate themselves for the sixth One-day International against New Zealand, having already won the series.
Pakistan lost Saturday’s match in Auckland by 57 runs, but series ended 3-2 in their favour.
“We tried our best today [Saturday], but it didn’t really happen,” Waqar said.
“When you win the series, it’s hard to be motivated sometimes. Maybe you get a little lazy at times, but overall I’m happy with the way the boys played today.”
Pakistan won toss and put New Zealand in to bat, hoping Eden Park surface would offer something for fast bowlers, but pitch proved to be absolute belter, as batsmen on both sides hit through the line without fear and to great effect.
Waqar admitted they had misread the conditions.
“I think we were expecting the ball to move a little bit more. But here in Auckland it’s a very deceptive pitch. Even when we used to play here a few years ago, it looks damp but it does nothing.”
Kiwi batsmen dominated Pakistan attack. Jesse Ryder made 107, before Scott Styris and Nathan McCullum galloped to half-centuries to lift New Zealands total to 310.
Pakistan lost three wickets inside 12 overs in run chase.
Waqar said it was regular loss of wickets that left them unable to threaten New Zealand’s total.
“We gave it a good run, but every time we got momentum we lost a wicket at the wrong time. They played better than us when we were bowling, so they deserved to win.”
Pakistan cricket has had a controversy-ridden last 12 months, but Waqar said the latest news that Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir were facing charges from UK Crown Prosecution Service did not have any effect on Pakistan’s performance on the field in final ODI, as the team were largely unaware of charges.
“I knew it because I read it in the paper, but I don’t think anybody else knew it. I don’t think boys had any talk about it. It didn’t really bother us.”
He said the results were encouraging ahead of World Cup.
“It’s been a while since Pakistan won anything. The most satisfying thing is fitness is pretty good. Guys look good in the field, which has never happened before.
“They’re all geared up and hopefully same momentum goes into the World Cup.
“With amount of controversy in last eight to nine months, we needed something like this. We needed to develop our team again, and only way we could do it is if we started playing well.” —Agencies