The country’s seasoned pacer Mohammad Abbas has called for patience and support for Pakistan’s Test side after their 194-run defeat to England at Lord’s, admitting that the team is ‘not playing good cricket’ but insisting that there are signs of improvement.
The pacer pointed to dropped catches, batting failures and the inexperience of several players as areas Pakistan must address, while urging fans and media to stay behind the team as they look to turn their fortunes around.
“Definitely, as a team, we are not playing good cricket,” Abbas told a news conference following Pakistan’s loss at Lord’s on Sunday.
“But the way we won a Test in the West Indies, and although we lost here, we have improved our bowling and batting too. Saud scored 97, and if we try not to squander chances, get wickets at the right time and score good runs, then hopefully the win will come our way,” said Abbas, who took five wickets in England’s second innings and finished with nine in the match.
Abbas was referring to England’s previous tour of Pakistan, when England won the first Test but Pakistan bounced back to win the next two.
“On away tours, you face challenges at the start and slowly things get settled. We need your support, and hopefully we will take this Pakistan team towards betterment.”
“Yes, there is disappointment. Individual performance is important, but I try to perform so that my team wins the match. Unfortunately, I am putting in performances, but the team is not winning. Everyone is disappointed, and we will find a way to win the next game,” Abbas said.
“I worked hard, kept playing domestic and county cricket. Whatever was in my hands, I did that, and in those days the management made its own decisions. So I can only tell you about what is in my hands,” Abbas responded to a tricky question relating to his overlooking in the past.
“If you see the Lord’s Test, we dropped catches, and their wicket-keeper scored 61. That changed the match. We could have bowled them out for under 200,” he said.
“We are looking at these things, thinking about them and working on them as well.”
“Every person has his own skills. I bowl according to my skills. I have never bowled at 140. I agree that partnerships are very important in bowling too. In Leeds, we did not bowl well, but at Lord’s we were better.”
“I can say again that the weather affected us a little bit. As time progresses, we get used to the conditions, and we are improving in everything.”
“In the previous series against Bangladesh, there was a different bowling combination, and here we are going with a different bowling combination. We came from the West Indies; you saw the weather during our side game, and you saw it in Leeds and now at Lord’s. The boys are getting adjusted,” fast bowler said.
“Yes, Test cricket experience is very important. I have played 30 to 32 matches, and the other boys do not have that experience. Yes, experience matters, but every person is doing it for the team’s win.”
Abbas admitted that the conditions had not been easy for batting.
“To be honest, the conditions were not that easy for batting here.”
Abbas also highlighted the new PCB contract, which is expected to be announced soon.
“The red-ball players will get more money and when they play domestic cricket, and when they come to Test cricket, I think it will help our cricket more,” Abbas signed off.
The two teams meet in Birmingham in the third and final Test from September 9.
