Flower hails Pak batsmen despite 5-0 series defeat against Australia

Pakistan batting coach, Grant Flower is all in praise for Pakistan batsmen even as the team was unable to win even a single match against Australia, as Aaron Finch-led side thrashed Pakistan 5-0 in ODI series in UAE to claim their first whitewash abroad since 2008.

Mohammad Rizwan scored 115 and 105 in the second and fourth ODI respectively which impressed Flower stated that he believes that Rizwan has versatility.

"Rizwan's been playing well, less frenetic and paced his innings better. He's good enough to bat in the top four, but I also think he's versatile enough to play lower down. He doesn't have the power-hitting, but he can still find the boundaries and the odd six and do a job. His running between the wickets is among the best of our players," ESPN cricinfo quoted Flower as saying.

Haris Sohail too hammered two centuries during the series which had Flower calling him a 'class' player. "Haris is a class player and he showed that," he said.

Flower also eulogised Abid Ali who gave a record-breaking performance as he scored 112, the highest score by any Pakistan batsman on ODI debut.

"Abid's century was, of course, brilliant to see. I wasn't expecting it, since we hadn't done much work with him before the series. I'd been told how good he was, but to see him timing the ball as beautifully as he did was very encouraging. Front foot, back foot, offside, legside, you name it. The Australians were very impressed by him," he added.

Pakistan were trying to test their bench strength during the Australia series as they brought some players to participate, who did pass the yo-yo test, but Flower emphasised that players would have to measure up to the minimum 17:4 in the test if they are to go to the World Cup.

Pakistan will begin their World Cup campaign against West Indies on May 31.