Pipped to the post by arch-rivals India in the final,Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said Imran Nazir's run out was the turning point of the see-saw match.
JOHANNESBURG: Pipped to the post by arch-rivals India in the final of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup, Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said Imran Nazir's run out was the turning point of the see-saw match.
Pakistan have never won a World Cup match against India but Malik insisted the summit clash did not put his team under pressure. Chasing 158 for win, he said, Pakistan were well on course before Nazir's run out laid them low.
"Imran Nazir has been our in-form batsman in this tournament and he was batting very well today. Then, he started to struggle with his groin."
"We lost early wickets, but his run our was the turning point. Had he not been run out, we would have won easily," rued Malik after his side lost by five runs.
Pakistan cruised to 53 for two in 5.2 overs when Nazir was run out and after that, they lost wickets at regular intervals and eventually fell five-run shy of the target.
Malik also paid tribute to Indian bowlers, especially left-arm pacer RP Singh.
"The difference was RP Singh, though all of them bowled very well," he added.
"The way he bowled up front, and in the 19th over, was tremendous. I didn't get to face him this time, but from what I have seen of him here, he is a vastly different bowler to the one I played against last year. He is quicker and his line and length were just outstanding."
Asked whether he was more happy to see Pakistan reach the finals of a World Cup or disappointed to lose it to India, Malik said, "Of course getting to the final. When we came here, we weren't given too much of a chance. To reach the final was a great effort.
"We were unbeaten till today, if you take into account the fact that we lost to India in a bowl-out only. Today, it wasn't as necessarily as if the team that was better won the match. Luck also played its part. But all credit to India for the way they approached the game, and for their work in the field. Congratulations to them."
As for their gameplan, Malik said Pakistan's plan was to restrict India to between 150 and 160.
"We were successful in our plan. Unfortunately, we lost too many early wickets. We only lost by five runs, and the runs Rohit Sharma made towards the end of the innings really helped the Indian team."
Misbah-ul-Haq had just hit Joginder Sharma for a towering six when 12 were needed off the last over. He then played a cheeky scoop which resulted in his dismissal and India's triumph. Malik acknowledged that he spoke to Misbah about it.
"I asked him about that at the end of the game. He said he was intending to play down the ground and wound up towards that effect, but somehow ended up playing that paddle at the last minute. It's just one of those things."
Shahid Afridi, declared the Player of the Tournament, was out one ball after Malik, caught in the deep slogging. "He always plays strokes like that," Malik said in the all-rounder's defence.
"He is an asset to our side. He has been named the Player of the Tournament, that is a great honour for us," Malik said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}