Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman 'Deeply Disappointed' by Series Loss to Bangladesh
Fast-rising Bangladesh exposed a new look Pakistan team under a new captain Azhar Ali in all three matches played in Dhaka, winning by margins of 79 runs, seven and eight wickets. It was Pakistan's fifth one-day series loss in the last 12 months, prompting calls to sack coach Waqar Younis and bring back opener Ahmed Shahzad and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal who were dropped for the tour over disciplinary issues.
Pakistan's cricket chief said he was "deeply disappointed" on Thursday after the national team was whitewashed 3-0 by Bangladesh in the one-day series - their worst-ever defeat against the lowly ranked side.(Misbah Urges Fans to be Patient)
Fast-rising Bangladesh exposed a new look Pakistan team under a new captain Azhar Ali in all three matches played in Dhaka, winning by margins of 79 runs, seven and eight wickets. It was Pakistan's fifth one-day series loss in the last 12 months, prompting calls to sack coach Waqar Younis and bring back opener Ahmed Shahzad and middle-order batsman Umar Akmal who were dropped for the tour over disciplinary issues.(Pakistan Greats Lash Out at Team After Bangladesh Defeat)
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan promised a review of the defeat. "We shall not be pressing any panic buttons but will wait for the tour's end before engaging in a thorough review of all factors. Like all cricket fans in Pakistan, I am deeply disappointed at the one-day international whitewash in Bangladesh," Khan was quoted as saying in a PCB release. Khan praised Bangladesh, who shocked higher ranked England to qualify for the quarter-final of the World Cup last month. "We are playing a highly proficient Bangladesh team that has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few years. Yet such a display was unanticipated. Pakistan team will take time to gel together."(Imran Khan Says This is Pakistan Cricket's Lowest Point)
Khan said despite the defeats there were some positives. "Despite the losses, there have been some encouraging performances, notably by captain Azhar Ali, who has led by example, Mohammad Rizwan, Saad Nasim and Sami Aslam," said Khan. But he added: "We need specially to evaluate fitness and fielding issues and also the mental strength of our boys, which was found wanting." With their 3-0 defeat Pakistan slumped to eighth in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings - their worst since the system was introduced in 2003.
"We remain high on the ICC's Test and Twenty20 ladders but need to improve our one-day ratings. I am sure given time this young team will show results." Pakistan are placed fourth in Tests and third in Twenty20. They play a one-off Twenty20 on Friday before taking on Bangladesh in a two-Test series.