Misbah's defensive tactics responsible for Pak's recent poor show, says Razzaq

Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has blamed test and one-day team skipper Misbah-ul Haq's defensive batting and tactics as being responsible for the side's poor show in recent times.

According to the Daily Times, Razzaq, who has played 46 Tests, 265 ODIs and 30 T20 games, also felt that he had been ousted from the team last year because of Misbah and vice-captain Mohammad Hafeez.

Stating that in his view Misbah played too defensively which brought lot of pressure on the other batsmen, Razzaq said that if a captain bats defensively and does not lead the charge then it demoralises the environment in the dressing room.

According to Razzaq, the current Pakistani side cannot be consistent as its approach was very timid, adding that nowadays players needed to be more aggressive and play positively with an open mind and heart.

Meanwhile, Razzaq also said that the return of Shahid Afridi in the squad was a very good sign and that was why he had also not lost hope of playing against for his country, adding that if a senior player, like himself, is not treated with respect, he gets disheartened.

Stating that the former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohammad Zaka Ashraf had planned to drop all senior players from the side, Razzaq further said that Ashraf himself is a victim now after last year's Twenty20 World Cup, although he added that dressing room attitude needed to be changed if the team is to fire again.