We need to take our catches, says Mushtaq

LONDON: Pakistan will have to improve their fielding if they are to become a top quality team at the international level, assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed has warned.

The former Pakistan Test leggie conceded on Thursday that his team’s catching ability is sub-standard and attributed it to a lack of concentration.

“If you don’t practice hard, if you don’t concentrate then the ball can go out of your hands. Catching in England is not easy as the ball wobbles.

“Even the players who have played here all their lives have dropped catches. Look at the English team which has also dropped nine or ten catches in this series so far.”

But Mushtaq said that what Pakistan cannot afford is to grass catches at crucial moments.

“The important issue is that you can’t drop catches at vital points. We have to take those catches.”

Pakistan once again dropped a few catches as they allowed England to reach 328 after reducing them to 110-5 at one stage on the opening day of their fourth and final Test here at The Oval. With 1-2 down in the series, it’s a must-win game for Pakistan who are hoping to save the series.

Mushtaq said that Pakistan have allowed 75-100 more runs to England.

Having dismissed their top five batsmen for 110 runs, we could have kept them to 200-250. But we still have a chance. The par score at The Oval in these conditions is 300. If we get a couple of good partnerships then we can be standing alongside them. The wicket here is always good on the first two, three days.”