Pak shifts focus to World T20 following Asia Cup loss

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ANI Islamabad
Last Updated : Mar 10 2014 | 2:55 PM IST

Pakistan reportedly shifts focus to the upcoming World Twenty20 following the Asia Cup loss to Sri Lanka as a result of Pakistan's failed bowling attack despite speculations over the team's fragile batting line ahead of the tournament.

Sri Lanka chased down Pakistan's 261 for victory in the final of the Asia Cup and apart from Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal, who returned figures of 10-26-3, the rest of the team's bowling line up appeared helpless against their final rivals, the report added.

According to the Dawn, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said that despite Ajmal giving the team 'good breakthroughs' he could not get a bowling partnership as he could not get the support from any other bowler, which made it easy for Sri Lanka to chase down the target.

Haq reportedly feels that the bowling unit was relying too much on Ajmal and said that matches cannot be won with only one bowler adding that no bowler could 'exert pressure' except Ajmal.

However, the skipper praised the rare consistency of his team's batsmen saying that Afridi played two excellent innings, Mohammed Hafeez and Umar Akmal also played some 'fantastic knocks' and also praised Ahmed Shehzad and Fawad Alam for their batting, the report added.

Although Pakistan is reportedly struggling with its bowling line, which conceded 1303 runs in five matches at the Asia Cup, Haq feels confident about Pakistan's, who would be captained by Mohammed Hafeez, chances at the World T20 tournament.

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First Published: Mar 10 2014 | 2:37 PM IST

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