Sharjah: “We won the game in the first 10 overs,” remarked a delighted Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmad after his team scored a nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka to wrap up the one-day series 5-0 on Monday.
Sarfraz hailed Usman Khan Shinwari for his deadly spell, the man behind Sri Lanka’s batting collapse.
“Usman was absolutely brilliant. Shadab and Hasan Ali did the rest. Our batting department also proved that we are capable of adapting to the conditions batting first or second. I can’t ask for anything more from the boys. The team management deserves a lot of credit for this success,” added Sarfraz, who lead the victory lap in the stadium.
“I want to thank the crowd. They have been superb all series.” he said.
Sri Lankan skipper Upul Tharanga was a totally disappointed man. “We did not compete in this series. We had no answers to Pakistan’s bowling. Wickets here were very good but we could not perform. I am disappointed as a captain.”
Tharanga also admitted that his team failed to handle the pressure. “We couldn’t handle the pressure. Usman bowled very well. Pakistan bowlers put pressure by bowling dots and that is why I think they ended up taking more wickets. We kept repeating the same mistakes. Hopefully, the boys may learn from their mistakes and come out strong next time.”
Hasan Ali, who won the Man of the Series award, revealed the secret of his success. “I follow the basics and ensure that your body language and attitude are correct. I also try to outsmart the batsman by observing his style of play. Conditions here are tough so my focus was only on taking wickets.”
Man of the Match Usman Khan dedicated his five-wicket spell to his parents. “It was my father who forced me to play cricket. Today I feel so happy for myself and on whatever I have done. I dedicate this performance to my parents. My aim is to perform well for whichever team I am playing. The coach and staff told me to keep focusing on the basics and that is what I tried.”
