Shoaib Malik encourages backing youngsters in team

Shoaib Malik is of the opinion that youngsters in the Pakistan team should be given the chance to carry a winning momentum into the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Monday. In what was Pakistan’s first outing since their Champions Trophy victory in England, Malik’s swashbuckling 61-ball 81 combined with a stunning 103 by Babar, helped Pakistan post 292 for 6 in the first ODI in Dubai on Friday before ensuring an 83-run victory.

While bowling sensation Hasan Ali, was declared player of the Champions Trophy with 13 wickets, finished with 3-36, left-armer Rumman Raees took 3 for 49 to derail Sri Lanka. In fact, Pakistan will retain the same combination despite opener Ahmed Shehzad failing to score on Friday.

“It’s important to give youngsters consistent chances and by doing that we develop them and the team does well. We have good fast bowlers and the way they took wickets in the middle overs during the Champions trophy it helped us beat top teams and here too they bowled well and got us wickets we needed,”Malik said that Pakistan has a potent bowling attack.

Sri Lanka’s state of affairs

Sri Lankan coach Nic Pothas is demanding his players snap a losing streak of eight consecutive games and emphasized on the need for the batsmen to deliver. Lahiru Thirimanne was the only batsman who made a significant contribution among the top-order with 53 as tail-enders Akila Dananjaya (50 not out) and Jeffrey Vandersay (25) pushed the score towards a respectable one. With this loss, Sri Lanka have registered their seventh straight defeat in the 50-over format

“We have not been very good in this format for a while now,” said Pothas, a former South African wicketkeeper. “We have to find answers and find them quick. From a batting point of view, the currency of your batting is runs. If you don’t keep making them, the shop is going to close down at some point. We have to ask the batters to take some responsibility.”

“The top six batters managed 96 between them. One batter got 53 and you are not going to get too many,” said Pothas of Thirimanne who scored a half century.

The remaining matches will be played in Abu Dhabi (October 18) and Sharjah (October 20 and 23). The two teams will also play three Twenty20 internationals, two in Abu Dhabi (October 26 and 27) while the last is scheduled for Lahore on October 29.