CricketViewer.com

The Pakistan A team coach, Rashid Khan showered praise on his team members on Saturday and described them as a complete unit as they greatly lifted themselves to beat India in the EurAsia Series final in Abu Dhabi.

“I think the players really picked up their game dramatically. Their body language was completely different and they were charged up to play in a final against India. It showed in their performance,” former Test player Rashid Khan said.

The Pakistan A team returns home today after handing out the strong Indian A team, their only defeat of the tournament.

Pakistan pocketed the winner’s purse of $25,000, the man-of-the-series and man-of-the-match awards of $3000 and $1500 respectively. India had beaten Pakistan earlier in a group match of the six-nation tournament.

“I told them before the final that they just needed to play one good day of cricket to bring joy for their supporters. I also told them that it didn’t matter whether we win the toss or not, we could win the final,” Rashid said.

Eventually, Pakistan won the toss and batted first, and the coach admitted that this was a big advantage to them.

“There is no doubt that batting first was a big boost for us, as we had won only one other toss in the tournament. While the Indians had been very lucky in this aspect,” he stated.

Rashid said in the final, the players clicked as a combined unit, which was needed of them as on paper, they had more experience and talent then the Indians.

“We had a strong team and if we had not win the final, I would have been terribly disappointed. I thought Hasan Raza and Misbah, the two senior players of the side, came together at the right time and batted very well,” he remarked.

He also praised Umar Gul and Samiullah Niazi for using the new ball very well.

“It is good for the Pakistan A team to get such exposure against top class opposition because it means, the players are learning all the time,” he explained.

The Pakistan A team also goes to Australia in June-July to play in a mixture of four-day games, one-dayers and Twenty20 matches against Australia, India and New Zealand.
Source:The News

Capture the Conversation tells you what people are saying right now!

Share on Twitter | StumbleUpon | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook