We'll come back strong against England, says Sarfraz Ahmed

NOTTINGHAM: Pakistan cricket team Captain Sarfraz Ahmed has said that his team was fully capable of making a comeback and it was resolute to bounce back in the remaining matches of the ICC World Cup.

In a statement issued here on Saturday after loss against West Indies (WI) in their first match, he said Pakistan team had eight more matches to play in the tournament, adding that the team needed to forget the past and move forward with a positive mindset.

Pakistan team had got out for their second lowest score in the World Cup matches of 105-10 in mere 21.4 overs against the WI in their first match of the Cricket World Cup (CWC) 19 on Friday.

Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed said all matches in the CWC 19 in England and Wales would be difficult but the team needed to make a comeback with full force.

On the upcoming match against England at the same venue on June 3, he said England are a strong side but Pakistan team had performed well against them in the recently concluded series, adding we would come back in the tournament with a victory against England.

Expressing his disappointment over loss against West Indies, he promised Pakistan fans that the team would make the nation proud in the upcoming matches.

About the reasons behind team's capitulation against WI the other day, Sarfraz said the timing of the match besides the toss were important, adding that morning due and moisture in the wicket were vital and the WI made good use of the pitch conditions. He said the match started at 10:30 in the morning and there was moisture in the pitch while it was also not an even paced wicket. "Had I won the toss, I would have made WI bat first to exploit pitch conditions," he added.

He reminded his fans the Pakistan team had recorded 340 runs at the same venue but the match had started in the second half of the day which had dried down the moisture.

He also dispelled the impression that it was the same pitch on which England had scored 481 runs last year, adding that it was newly laid pitch and bowl stopped on it due to the moisture.

He rued the shot-selection by some of the Pakistani batsmen, adding Pakistan batsmen were fully prepared for the short-pitched bowling but the loss of Haris Sohail and Fakhar Zaman's wickets put the rest of the batting under pressure. "It is usually difficult to make a comeback after a team loses three wickets in the first 10 overs," he claimed.

The Pakistan cricket captain further said Fakhar Zaman and Babar were doing well but soft dismissal of Fakhar Zaman through an inside edge.

On not playing Asif Ali, he said the team management wanted to play six full batsmen and five bowlers while Muhamamd Hafeez was played to use as a trump card against WI left-handed batsmen.

Abut Pakistani bowlers, he said our bowlers especially Muhammad Amir bowled very well, adding that Muhammad Amir made a good comeback. He assured the fans that Pakistan team would play good cricket in the upcoming matches.