Waqar remains positive as England brush aside Pakistan

DUBAI: Pakistan were given a sound thrashing by England in their fourth and final One-day International which the tourists won by 84 runs to claim the series 3-1.
But ask Waqar Younis and he will tell you that Pakistan’s under-achievers will finally get better in the 50-over format.
After yet another ODI loss, Pakistan’s head coach insisted that his charges were were on a learning curve and will get better despite the series defeat.
Pakistan went down by 84 runs in the fourth and final day-night international, handing the series to England 3-1 — their ninth series defeat in 11 since adopting the Gulf states as their neutral venues in 2009.
Waqar said Pakistan started the series well, with a six wicket win in the first match in Abu Dhbai. “Of course, the ending was disappointing,” said Waqar. “We started off well but unfortunately we couldn’t finish it well. This is a young team and it’s a learning curve for them.”
England levelled the series with a 95-run win in the second game and achieved a six-wicket win in the third.
Since taking over in June last year Waqar has lost six one-day series which has prompted former captain and coach Javed Miandad to call for his sacking.
Waqar said he takes positive criticism in his stride.
“When you lose, criticism come and all the positive criticism has to be worked on,” said Waqar who denied Pakistan team is under pressure to qualify for the 2019 World Cup to be held in England.
“I don’t think that’s a concern or builds pressure,” said Waqar of fear of playing the qualifying rounds if they fail to be amongst the top eight teams in one-day rankings on the cut-off date of September 30, 2017.
“You are giving youngsters opportunity and when you do that in modern cricket, which has become very fast, that takes time.”
Waqar said England’s Jos Buttler played an extraordinary knock to take away the game from Pakistan in Dubai on Friday.
“I don’t think we relied more on spinners, we played one spinner and another was an allrounder. I think without any doubt they played better than us, and the way Buttler played it took away the game from us.”
Buttler smashed 52-ball 116 not out in England’s imposing 355-5 — his hundred coming off just 46 balls, the fastest by an English batsman.
Pakistan were dismissed for 271. Waqar said he was still “proud” of his players.
“The way they started and played well throughout, unfortunately we lost but I think we have gained that mindset which I have been saying that we have to play positive and attacking cricket.
“I am sure they would have learnt from mistakes.”
Waqar backed leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who managed just two wickets at 82.50 runs.
“It’s a different ball game when it comes to one-days as he takes time to settle,” said Waqar of Shah who took 15 wickets in Pakistan’s preceding 2-0 Test series win.
“I am sure he will be one of the best ODI bowler in near future.”
Pakistan and England will now play three Twenty20 internationals in Dubai (November 26 and 27) and Sharjah (November 30).
Score Board
England won toss
England
J J Roy c Babar b Yasir 102
A D Hales c Shoaib b Irfan 22
J E Root st Sarfraz b Azhar 71
†J C Buttler not out 116
*E J G Morgan st Sarfraz b Azhar 14
J W A Taylor c Ahmed b Irfan 13
M M Ali not out 4
Extras (lb 4, w 8, nb 1) 13
Total (5 wickets; 50 overs) 355
To bat: C R Woakes, A U Rashid, D J Willey, R J W Topley
Fall: 1-54, 2-194, 3-201, 4-227, 5-306
Bowling: Irfan 10-0-64-2 (2w); Anwar 9-0-75-0 (1w); Wahab 9-0-70-0 (1nb, 1w); Yasir 10-0-57-1; Shoaib 7-0-59-0; Azhar 5-0-26-2
Pakistan
*Azhar Ali c & b Willey 44
Ahmed Shehzad c Ali b Willey 13
M Hafeez run out 37
Babar Azam c Hales b Rashid 51
Shoaib Malik c Hales b Topley 52
M Rizwan c Buttler b Rashid 11
†Sarfraz Ahmed c Willey b Rashid 24
Anwar Ali c Rashid b Ali 24
Wahab Riaz c & b Ali 1
Yasir Shah c Woakes b Ali 5
M Irfan not out 0
Extras (lb 2, w 7) 9
Total (all out; 40.4 overs) 271
Fall: 1-45, 2-64, 3-129, 4-176, 5-194, 6-228, 7-249, 8-259, 9-271, 10-271
Bowling: Willey 6-0-34-2; Topley 7-0-58-1 (4w); Woakes 8-1-46-0; Ali 9.4-0-53-3 (1w); Rashid 10-0-78-3 (2w)
Result: England won by 84 runs
Series: England won the 4-match series by 3-1
Man of the Match: J C Buttler (England)
Man of the Series: J C Buttler (England)
Umpires: Ahsan Raza (Pakistan) and C B Gaffaney (New Zealand). TV umpire: J D Cloete (South Africa). Match referee: R S Madugalle (Sri Lanka)