Batsmen must raise their game, says Tauseef

KARACHI: Pakistan former test and ODI spinner Tauseef Ahmed has expressed surprised over the poor performance of Pakistan cricket team in the first ODI against Zimbabwe.

He said that Pakistani batting remained unsettled although Pakistani bowlers contained Zimbabwe betters and did not allow them a big score. "Once again our betters were exposed," he added.

Talking to The News, he said the team management failed to understand how to tackle the issues of the batsmen. "Our team is coming from Australia, where they got wonderful experience of Australian bowlers in three ODI and three T20Is, but batting failure is still hurting our overall performance," he said.

He said there was no need of playing another wicketkeeper (Haseebullah) in playing eleven as a batsman when Muhammad Rizwan was playing and captaining the team. He expressed surprised on the absence of DRS system in the ODI series.

Tauseef also questioned the standard of umpiring in the first ODI as three or four decisions were controversial. He said batters must stay on the wicket and play long innings and complete the 50 overs. All rounders also will have to play their role, he said.

He said that Saim Ayub, Abdullah Safique, Kamran Ghulam, Rizwan, and Salman Ali Aga would have to raise their game. "Chances will have to be given to Tayyab Tahir, Ahmed Daniyal and Abrar Ahmed," he said. He appreciated the performance of Faisal Akbar in the first ODI.