Zaheer expects team to perform better in limited overs

KARACHI: In spite Pakistan completely collapsed in the three-match Test series against host South Africa, former Pakistan’s prolific batsman Zaheer Abbas feels that the visitors could still bounce back in the limited overs’ series.

“The batsmen performed horribly in the Test series and it looked as if the team didn’t prepare for the series at all. The batting line almost throughout the series looked helpless in spite of the fact that pitches were not fast as it was expected. There was some seam and swing but I think if the team had prepared well then it wouldn’t have collapsed so badly,” Zaheer Abbas told PPI.

He said that South Africa is a top team and it could not be defeated by bettering only in the department of bowling. “We not only need to be strong in the bowling and batting department to beat teams like South Africa, we should also perform well in fielding as well,” he said.

However, Zaheer said that Pakistan has been playing well in ODIs and also in T20s in recent past and therefore he expects the team to perform well in the coming T20 and ODI series.

“I expect the team to bounce back in T20s and ODIs as they have been regularly playing in the limited overs’ events,” he said.

But he was quick to add that the team must now look forward and forget the Test performance to keep their morale high.

“Pakistan should begin T20s and ODIs in high spirit by forgetting what has happened in the Tests. They should go all out to win the matches and must not take the pressure of Tests’ defeats with them in upcoming matches,” he said.

Zaheer further said that the limited overs matches would be the battle of nerves and the team, which would handle the pressure well would eventually prevail.

Pakistan will be playing two T20 matches and a comprehensive five-match ODI series against South Africa, which begins March 1. (PPI)