KINGSTON: Pakistan bowling coach Waqar Younis on Tuesday praised his group’s bowling assault regardless of the heartbreaking one-wicket defeat within the first Check towards West Indies at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
The house facet gained the match in an exhilarating end, with three dropped catches contributing to Pakistan’s failure to wrap up the tail as Kemar Roach and final man Jayden Seales denying them the elusive last wicket.
“When two teams play, one has to lose and unfortunately that was us. When you drop catches at tense moments of the match, it’s going to hurt you and that’s what happened,” mentioned Waqar. ““Despite defending a small target, our bowlers bowled exceedingly well and kept on taking regular wickets. Hats off to them and I feel very proud with the way our bowlers bowled,” he added.
Waqar additionally lauded Babar Azam’s captaincy throughout a troublesome Check match.
“I think he [Babar] led the side really well. It is not easy for a young captain when you are in such kind of Test matches. I think he did a wonderful job but unfortunately couldn’t finish the game,” he concluded.
In the meantime, Roach described West Indies’ sensational win as the most important one for him in Check cricket.
Roach was the hero within the sport, albeit with the bat, as he scored an unbeaten 30 to assist his facet chase down the 168-run goal.
“The way how we fought to get this win was very special, and it was good to see the guys sticking together, especially the support on the balcony when I was batting, it was amazing,” Roach mentioned. “The communication in the middle was simple. That really helped us to execute as well as we did. It was a good win, but that is now history, so it’s on to the next one.”
With the second Check beginning on the identical venue on Friday, there may be nonetheless some concern with the type of opener Kieron Powell who managed to get simply 4 runs within the two innings.
For Roach, the group’s total efficiency deserves one other crack at Pakistan.
“I don’t think any changes need to be made,” he mentioned. “Whatever changes happen, I believe it would be more tactical changes if any, but everyone can’t perform. The win was a team performance and we just have to self-reflect and get ourselves ready for the second Test.”
Revealed in Daybreak, August 18th, 2021
