22/03/2015
Fitness,fielding,battingsubstandardMisbahulHaq|Cricket|ESPNCricinfo
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icccricketworldcup2015/content/story/853329.html?wrappertype=print
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AusvPak,3rdQF,AdelaideMarch20,2015
Fitness,fielding,battingsubstandardMisbah
AndrewFidelFernandoinAdelaide38ShareonFacebookShareonTwitterCommentshares38
Play02:32Holding:Misbah'sretirementbiglossforPakistan
MisbahulHaqlabelledPakistan'sfitness,fieldingandbattingsubstandard,ashebowsoutofODIcricketandhisteamexitstheWorldCup.OpenerSarfrazAhmedwastheonlyPakistanbatsmantohitahundredinthetournament,andthoughWahabRiazclaimed16wickets,nofewerthansixcatchesweredroppedoffhisbowling,includingtwoagainstAustralia.
"Weneedtoimproveourbatting,"Misbahsaid."Thishasbeennowaproblemforalmostthree,fouryears.Wearenotuptointernationalstandards.Andalsofieldingisanotheraspectwherealltheotherinternationalteamsarereallygoinguptoahigherlevel,andthatcomeswithfitness.
"AlotofstepshavebeentakenbythecricketboardtotrytodevelopafitnesscultureinPakistanidomesticcricket.Butstill,wearenotthere.Ifwedon'timprove,we'regoingtosufferinthefuture."
ThoughWahabbowledoneofthegreatestspellsinWorldCuphistoryearlyinAustralia'schase,Pakistansufferedfromhavingmadeonly213themselves.Theirinningswascharacterisedbymiddlingscoresfromthetopseven,andthelackofsubstantialpartnerships.Theirlargeststandwasforthethirdwicketa73runassociationbetweenMisbahandHarisSohail.
"Wewerereallygoingwellatonestage,butafter20,23overs,suddenlywejustkeeplosingwickets.That'sbeenthetrendthroughouttheWorldCup.Wearegettingstartsbutwearenotconvertingthatintobiggerscores.Aftersixbatsmenkeepdoingthat,it'sreallydifficultforyourbowlinglineuptodefendtotalslikethateverydayespeciallyonbattingpitcheslikewewereplayingontoday.
"Weneedtoreallylearnaboutthis.We'vegotonlyonehundredthroughoutthetournament,andthisisnothowyouwintournamentsliketheWorldCup.Youneedbatsmenwhowillscorehundreds,andIthinkweasabattingunitfailedtodothat."
ThequarterfinalwasalsoShahidAfridi'slastinODIcricket,ifheadherestohiscurrentretirementplans.MisbahspokeoftheoutstandingPakistanplayersbothheandAfridihaveplayedwithintheirtime.
"Itwasreallyanhonourformetojustrepresentmycountry,andIreallyenjoyedmycricket.I'vegiveneverythingandsohasAfridi.HeputinalotofeffortforPakistanandwereallyenjoyedthat.
"Themessagefortheyoungstersisthatifyoureallywanttocompeteintheworld,youhavetoreallyworkhard.That'swhatourseniorsdid.That'swhatwelearnedfromallourgreats.IreallyenjoyedplayingcricketwithsomeofthegreatslikeInzamamulHaq,MohammadYousuf,WasimAkram,WaqarYounis.ThekindoffightingspiritI'veseeninthemIthinkweneedtojusttakethatasanexample.Thisistheonlyway."
