Azhar Ali lauds Cummins and Starc for containing Pakistan batters

Azhar Ali Wednesday said that the credit has to be given to the Australian pacers, in particular, the way Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc bowled.

Addressing a virtual conference in Lahore, Azhar went on to say that Pat Cummins is one of the top bowlers in the world.

The Australian bowlers used the condition, really well, Azhar added.

Azhar said there was a kind of low bounce and reverse swing was going on. “The Australians kept on bowling on the right areas, asking questions from our batters”, said Azhar.

Azhar said that “Unfortunately, we were on the receiving end”. Azhar said “When you play in such conditions, scoring runs is not easy.” To develop innings, it is important to construct the maximum partnerships, he added.

Azhar said that it is difficult to develop big partnerships in such conditions. He went on to say that such conditions produce reverse swing, of which the Aussies took full advantage.

Azhar said that once the settled partnership was broken, the newcomer on the pitch had struggled to score runs.

“Tomorrow, we will try to change the situation and will try to wrap up the Australian innings by getting early breakthroughs”, Azhar said.

Azhar said that “Whatever the equation, Australia will set for us, we will try to chase.” But, first it is important to bowl out Australia quickly, Azhar added.

Azhar said that “We have no doubt in our players, sometimes you collapse, and it is the part of the game”. “As it happened in the Karachi Test, when we bowled out on 148 in the first innings, but we bounced back, strongly to secure the match”, Azhar added.

“Sometimes, the players go from a rough patch, but, this doesn’t mean that you start doubting your players’ capability”, Azhar said.

Azhar said that to change things, a player just needs one good innings. He also said that the collapse doesn’t mean there was something wrong in the selection. He said that the focus was also to play with five bowlers. As Naseem Shah justified this by claiming five wickets, Azhar added.

He added that sometimes to take a positive decision, you have to sacrifice something. Azhar said that conditions decide what type of cricket is suitable to play, whether it be defensive or aggressive. To score runs, with rapid pace in slow pitches is not an easy job, Azhar added.

Azhar concluded that “Like the last game, we will try to bounce back”.

Cummins (5-56) and Starc (4-33) bowled out the hosts for 268. While, Azhar Ali completed 7,000 runs at his home venue, becomes the fifth batter from Pakistan to reach this landmark.