Dubai: Pakistan are upset over media reports that the team’s erratic performance in the third One Day International against England at Sharjah is being investigated by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti Corruption Unit.
A British newspaper on Friday carried a story that the ICC is investigating the third one dayer, which England won by six wickets, after Pakistan collapsed from 132 for two to 208 all out after three farcical run outs, then dropped several catches.
When asked about the news, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis told Gulf News: “I am not aware of that but I have been hearing about that here. I am very clear about Pakistan team and my boys that there was nothing wrong with the game.”
Waqar then went on to stress that he has no doubt about his boys doing anything wrong: “Yes we lost the game — it’s unfortunate and these things happen. You lose and win games, but I have no doubt in my boys, I am very satisfied with them.”
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan, who is also here, was upset over a tweet by former England skipper Michael Vaughan.
During the match, Vaughan took to Twitter to criticise Pakistan, saying: “Three run outs and a few iffy shots for Pakistan … Never seen that before…!!” He also went on to say: “They must all think we are stupid.” Vaughan later deleted the tweets.
Shahryar said: “I feel it was a very wrong statement and we will take this matter up with the ICC formally and will protest. Although he deleted those tweets later, the damage was already done.”
Waqar appealed for mercy for his young team that are trying to establish themselves in international cricket in the absence of some of the top players who have retired from the game. “The ending was disappointing. We started off well but unfortunately we couldn’t finish it well. This is a young team and it’s a learning curve for them.”
Waqar added that youngsters were being given chance to perform. “When you are giving youngsters opportunity and when you do that in modern cricket, it will take time. The good thing is that we have found some good youngsters who have that capability, especially Babar Azam and then we have Iftikhar Ahmad. So it will take time but they will get better.”
Waqar admitted that England played better than his team. “I think they played better than us without any doubt, and today [Jos] Buttler played an extraordinary innings and that took away the game from us, but I still am proud of the guys the way they started and played well throughout. Unfortunately we lost but I think we have gained that mindset which I have been saying that we have to play positive and attacking cricket. I am sure they would have learnt from this series.”
Waqar went on to announce that his brand of cricket will remain unchanged. “I think the effort will be that to play aggressive brand of cricket, you have to score 300 in this kind of cricket.”
