Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,825
Press conference comments
Shan Masood:
The wicket's behaviour has changed, after we used the heavy roller it's giving the batsmen more time. In the 1st innings, pace bowlers were difficult to handle. Today when we used the heavy roller again, the ball was skidding so the bounce was a bit lower than Day 1 and the wicket was a bit faster.
There are some cracks on the wicket. If you saw Abid bhai's dismissal, it came towards the stumps from a good area which is difficult to play. We will try to set a target that puts SL under pressure, anything around 450-500 that will also give us 4-5 sessions to try and avoid a draw. We want to take advantage of our commanding position.
I think this is a more special hundred, to score in Karachi on your home ground with Test cricket coming home. It's a big achievement for the nation that Test cricket is coming home. My 1st 100 after 4+ years, I got lots of starts since I came back into the side last year but I didn't convert many of them which led to frustration. Here it was important for me to carry on, for the team and on a personal note also to change those 40s and 60s into a 3 figure score.
The team's situation wasn't good when we went into bat, we were trailing by 80. In Pallakelle we had a record chase but here there was another type of pressure, you don't want to lose a series at home. It was nice that with Abid as with the A team, we managed to perform to international cricket also.
Our next target was 300 runs, Asad Shafiq in the dressing room told us about the record. It's sad to have missed out but it's about the contribution to the team and we have brought the team into a good position.
Last year when we played for the A team vs Australia, Eng Lions, NZ A, I played with Abid Ali and we had some matches and good partnerships so that helps you. Our running between the wickets was good which was important. That helps to upset bowlers' plans.
A batsman is never happy to be dismissed. There were 10 mins left for Tea and I have been dismissed a few times close to intervals. The shot I played was half hearted and I didn't play it towards mid wicket nor square leg. I back my pull shot because I have gotten runs with it over the last year but I am disappointed with the execution of that shot.
Abid Ali:
The lead of 80 meant we were under pressure and we started at the evening. We wanted to be positive and build a partnership and keep rotating strike and we were successful with our plans.
I have done hard work in domestic cricket and played with regions, depts, etc. and all that gave me confidence. All the runs I made in 105 FC matches were in my mind and I wanted to be positive and utilise my chance.
The team management and players have all named me Legend and I am thankful for that. It's a positive and it comes into my mind, legend is a big thing and it puts more responsibility on me so I try to focus as much as I can and give maximum performance for Pakistan.
The opponent team always does their homework so I keep trying to rectify my mistakes and play positively. In international cricket, you have to keep reducing your weaknesses so I will work on that.
I want to play cricket, whether that's domestic cricket or PSL. I will keep working hard.
I regret getting out at that time, I was playing so well but I am thankful to Allah. I wanted to keep building partnerships and went with small plans. Unfortunately I got that ball, it's a part of cricket. I will keep trying.
We have played together in domestic cricket and in A tours as well so we were giving each other confidence. We knew our weaknesses and kept backing each other to be positive. There were no problems with running between the wickets etc. also.
Shan Masood:
The wicket's behaviour has changed, after we used the heavy roller it's giving the batsmen more time. In the 1st innings, pace bowlers were difficult to handle. Today when we used the heavy roller again, the ball was skidding so the bounce was a bit lower than Day 1 and the wicket was a bit faster.
There are some cracks on the wicket. If you saw Abid bhai's dismissal, it came towards the stumps from a good area which is difficult to play. We will try to set a target that puts SL under pressure, anything around 450-500 that will also give us 4-5 sessions to try and avoid a draw. We want to take advantage of our commanding position.
I think this is a more special hundred, to score in Karachi on your home ground with Test cricket coming home. It's a big achievement for the nation that Test cricket is coming home. My 1st 100 after 4+ years, I got lots of starts since I came back into the side last year but I didn't convert many of them which led to frustration. Here it was important for me to carry on, for the team and on a personal note also to change those 40s and 60s into a 3 figure score.
The team's situation wasn't good when we went into bat, we were trailing by 80. In Pallakelle we had a record chase but here there was another type of pressure, you don't want to lose a series at home. It was nice that with Abid as with the A team, we managed to perform to international cricket also.
Our next target was 300 runs, Asad Shafiq in the dressing room told us about the record. It's sad to have missed out but it's about the contribution to the team and we have brought the team into a good position.
Last year when we played for the A team vs Australia, Eng Lions, NZ A, I played with Abid Ali and we had some matches and good partnerships so that helps you. Our running between the wickets was good which was important. That helps to upset bowlers' plans.
A batsman is never happy to be dismissed. There were 10 mins left for Tea and I have been dismissed a few times close to intervals. The shot I played was half hearted and I didn't play it towards mid wicket nor square leg. I back my pull shot because I have gotten runs with it over the last year but I am disappointed with the execution of that shot.
Abid Ali:
The lead of 80 meant we were under pressure and we started at the evening. We wanted to be positive and build a partnership and keep rotating strike and we were successful with our plans.
I have done hard work in domestic cricket and played with regions, depts, etc. and all that gave me confidence. All the runs I made in 105 FC matches were in my mind and I wanted to be positive and utilise my chance.
The team management and players have all named me Legend and I am thankful for that. It's a positive and it comes into my mind, legend is a big thing and it puts more responsibility on me so I try to focus as much as I can and give maximum performance for Pakistan.
The opponent team always does their homework so I keep trying to rectify my mistakes and play positively. In international cricket, you have to keep reducing your weaknesses so I will work on that.
I want to play cricket, whether that's domestic cricket or PSL. I will keep working hard.
I regret getting out at that time, I was playing so well but I am thankful to Allah. I wanted to keep building partnerships and went with small plans. Unfortunately I got that ball, it's a part of cricket. I will keep trying.
We have played together in domestic cricket and in A tours as well so we were giving each other confidence. We knew our weaknesses and kept backing each other to be positive. There were no problems with running between the wickets etc. also.
