Hafeez says Mohammad Irfan was a surprise package ? Cricket News Roundup ? Part II ? December 26, 2012
Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez was happy with the way debutant pacer Mohammad Irfan bowled against India in the first T20 International?here in Bangalore, which the tourists won by five wickets.
Mohammad Irfan, the 30-year-old Punjab paceman, who was given an international chance by the PCB selectors two years after making his ODI debut in England, returned with figures of 1 for 25 against India. Though Irfan failed to claim more wickets, he played a key role in restricting the opposition openers, with some tight bowling at the start of India?s innings.
"It is a great effort as we wanted to do well at the start of the series. Mohammed Irfan was the surprise package for us and everybody," said Hafeez at the post-match presentation ceremony on Tuesday night. "We knew that we had a good attack with Umar Gul who has always been good with the old ball. Our bowlers restricted India where we wanted them to," he added further.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday rued his middle-order?s inability to capitalise on the good start provided by the openers Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane in the first T20 of the two-match series against Pakistan, which his side lost by five wickets.
After being put into bat, Gambhir (43) and Rahane (42) started cautiously, taking the side to 77 without loss in 11th over. However, once the duo departed, India's middle and lower order was badly exposed by the Pakistan bowlers. The last seven wickets of India fell for just 30 runs, as the hosts faltered from 77 for none to 133 for 9 at the end of 20 overs. No other batsmen could get past the 10-run mark.
"The batsmen got out trying to play big shots. We could have easily scored 200 if we had applied ourselves," Dhoni lamented at the post match press conference.
Pakistan? batting great Hanif Mohammad, on Tuesday lavished praise on Indian batting prodigy Sachin Tendulkar, describing him as the best batsman he has seen in his life.
The 78-year-old former Pakistan Test cricketer also rated the 39-year-old Maharashtra batsman better than the Australian batting great Sir Donald Bradman.
"I am one of those fortune people who have seen Bradman and Tendulkar bat in my lifetime and in my opinion Tendulkar is the best batsman I have seen in my life," Hanif, a veteran of 55 Tests, told media reporters here in Karachi on Tuesday.
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