We’re no good, admits skipper; Shoaib Akhtar calls him ‘brainless’

Manchester: Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has reconciled to the fact that they “were a better team than India in the ’90s” and now the tables have turned.

The soft-spoken Pakistan captain was literally hounded by his country’s media with a host of uncomfortable questions following the team’s heavy defeat against India here on Sunday. Asked if the Indo-Pak rivalry has fizzled out over the years, Sarafaraz said: “We are not handling pressure well. The team that handles pressure in these games win. The Pakistan teams of the 90s, used to enjoy upperhand but now India is better than Pakistan. That’s why they win matches.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s advice was “bat first even if the pitch is damp” but Sarfaraz Khan doggedly defended his decision, saying the reason for defeat was “failure in all three departments”.

The Pakistan Prime Minister and an iconic World Cup winning captain, in a series of tweets on the marquee clash, had spoken about the right approach for the high-pressure game. “If you talk about fielding, even Virat Kohli had said that he would have fielded. We haven’t seen the pitch for two days. There was some moisture and hence I decided on fielding. We won a good toss but didn’t hit the right length,” said Sarfaraz.

A defeat against India inevitably gives rise to conspiracy theories and the post match media interaction was no different. “Why is it that the players’ body language is so negative?” asked one of the scribes. The manner in which Sarfaraz kept his counsel was remarkable. “May be you guys have seen something in the body language but players are trying their best. Their has been fielding lapses. Rohit could have been run-out twice and had we availed those chances, it could have been a different result,” he said.

Another one asked, “Have all players been physically and mentally fit to take on India?” “There are no issues with anyone. Imad Wasim (gastric problem) had an issue but everyone had passed the fitness test,” Sarfaraz said.

Sarfaraz also clarified on the alleged rift in the dressing room with seniors like Mohammed Hafeez and Shoaib Malik being unhappy with his leadership. “There are no ill-feelings in the dressing room. The boys are backing each other. As far as why I didn’t give Hafeez and Shoaib more than an over, it is because I felt there was no need for that. The batsmen were set and they went for runs (11 each) in the only over that they bowled.”

Meanwhile, former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has slammed Sarfaraz. “I don’t understand how can a captain be so brainless, couldn’t Sarfaraz think that we don’t chase well? Square of the wicket is dry, the wicket is not wet. Knowing the fact and your strength is not batting it’s bowling,” Akhtar said on his official YouTube channel.

“Now when you had won the toss, you had won half-the-match there. But what did you do? Yet again, brainless captaincy, utterly stupid management,” Akhtar said.

Akhtar was harsh on pacer Hasan Ali, who went for 84 off his 9 overs. “Hasan Ali, he can jump on Wagah border but when there is time to exert force, do it here. All these things look good if you take 6-7 wickets, you come here and give 82-84 runs... neither is there any pace nor swing. I fail to understand what he wants to achieve,” Akhtar said.