Coach Arthur says Pakistan missed Malik in 4th ODI

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has said that his side missed all-rounder Shoaib Malik on the field, during the fourth One Day International (ODI) on Tuesday.

Pakistan losing spree Down Under continued, after New Zealand register another win, after a late order batting display from Colin de Grandhomme and Henry Nicholls, as the duo led the side to 263 runs target with 25 balls to spare.

Arthur praising Grandhomme for his inning was of the opinion that the result could have been different for Pakistan; if Malik’s services as an off-spiner were available.

“Malik gave us 10 overs of off-spin, which we needed out their because we could have taken the pace of with a lot more overs,” Arthur said while addressing the media.

Haris Sohail was given the duties with the ball, but the all-rounder who last played limited overs cricket three years ago was not the ideal replacement. “Malik is genuinely a good off-spinner, and a proper off-spinner with all due respect to Sohail,” Arthur added.

Earlier, Malik suffered from symptoms of delayed concussion after he got struck by a ball on the back of his head while taking a run, during the first inning. Though Malik continued to bat, the all-rounder was not available on the field for his side during the second inning of the match.

With the series 4-0 in favor of the Kiwis, Pakistan would play their final 50-overs game of the series at Wellington on Friday, January 19.