"We don't feel any pressure to maintain the number 1 ranking" : Mohammad Nawaz

[Abdullah719]

Mohammad Nawaz at a presser after the first T20I of the tri-series:

"We knew that we had to do well regardless of whether we bat first or bowl, Fakhar Zaman gave us a good start and Shoaib bhai and Asif Ali finished it off well"

"From the last couple of series, I've been opening the bowling and it was good, I've been varying the pace and getting some help from the track. When you bowl slow then you get some turn but not with the new ball"

"We don't feel any pressure to maintain the number 1 ranking but we know we have to play good cricket and we're capable of doing that and deserving to stay at number 1"

"In T20 cricket, there's no weaker side, if it's your day then you can dominate and if it isn't you won't. There's equal chances for both teams"

"Don't know about the game plan yet for tomorrow but we will go with the same mindset and we'll play our best cricket"

"I don't know about the side yet for tomorrow's game but we will have a similar strategy and game plan as we had today"

 

[Ahson8]

Good lad, has improved in all facets of the game

Far better option than Imad

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Wish the T20 world cup was happening now. We will demolish any team.

 

[kuskash]

Wish the T20 world cup was happening now. We will demolish any team.

Great confidence, no team even come close to Pak atm.

 

[Mamoon]

Of course you don't. Which team will be under pressure to defend their ranking against the string of weak teams and minnows that we have faced in the last two years?

Our ranking is artificial and a complete farce. If there is WT20 today, we will not come close to winning.

A full-strength India/Australia/England will demolish this so-called number one side in a series. By a series, I don't mean a one-off T20 which does not mean anything. A 3 or 5 match series against the three said teams would result in resounding defeats.

At best, we are the fourth/fifth ranked T20I team at the moment - better than the minnows, Sri Lanka and West Indies, and on par with South Africa and New Zealand. However, full-strength Australia, India and England are comfortably better.

Out of the three main teams, I think India are the best. They have a fantastic batting unit including the best batsman in the world by some distance. In addition, they have the best spin bowling duo in the game and two pacers who are very good in this format.

Fantastic team.

 

[moghul]

We might be ranked at top in T20 but not among the top 3 teams in reality. India, England, NZ and Australia are better than us ATM. Players like Hafeez and Sarfraz might not able to find a spot in A team of many countries.

 

[Syed1]

We might be ranked at top in T20 but not among the top 3 teams in reality. India, England, NZ and Australia are better than us ATM. Players like Hafeez and Sarfraz might not able to find a spot in A team of many countries.

How are NZ better than us when we comprehensively beat them in their own home just a few months ago.


Australia you will find out how much 'better' they are than us when we meet them tomorrow.

 

[Sadevdesai]

Most other Teams do not care about the T/20 format !!!!

 

[ManFan]

Most other Teams do not care about the T/20 format !!!!

Yes they do.

Otherwise they would not compete.

These “meaniningless” T20 series provide them with the platform for the WC.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Only England or a pumped up West Indies, with all the superstars, can have an advantage over this Pakistan T20 side. Against every other team, this current side starts as heavy favourites

 

[anonymous_guy]

We might be ranked at top in T20 but not among the top 3 teams in reality. India, England, NZ and Australia are better than us ATM. Players like Hafeez and Sarfraz might not able to find a spot in A team of many countries.

Agreed.

Sarfraz might not be able to be a part of the A squad for many countries but he is a part of the Pakistan National team infact is the CAPTAIN of the Pakistan team and is winning matches for them, that is all that matters.

The A, B or C squads of MANY countries are their concern not Sarfraz 's.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Nawaz has definitely been a key player in the T20I for us. Much better than Imad.

 

[Mamoon]

[MENTION=1650]Usman Chadda[/MENTION]

The delusion is ridiculous. This team by no means, starts as heavy favorites against the likes of Dhawan, Rohit, Kohli, Rahul, Raina, Dhoni, Pandya, Chahal, Kuldeep, Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah.

Apart from maybe 2-3, hardly any of our players will get into that lineup.

Hassan and Amir will get games, but no one else will get a sniff.

Fakhar is explosive, but he is comfortably inferior to Dhawan, Rohit and Rahul.

Babar maybe the top ranked T20 batsman, but he doesn’t get into the Indian top four ahead of Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli and Rahul. He will be a liability anything below the top four for a team like Pakistan, let alone India.

Raina is a far better middle-order batsman than Malik and Talat. He has been reduced to a periphary role in the Indian team, but had he been in Pakistan, he would have been a Limited Overs superstar.

Dhoni on his last legs is still a better T20 batsman than Sarfraz.

Pandya is comfortably a better all-rounder than Fahim. His batting is a lot more explosive and dangerous, he is quicker and a far better fielder as well.

Fahim might be better in terms of bowling control and variations, but he is hardly doing enough with the ball to merit selection over Pandya who is much better in other aspects.

Shadab is a better all-round cricketer than Kuldeep, but the latter is a superior leg-spinner and has develop an excellent partnership with Yadav, who is 10x the bowler Nawaz is and will get ahead of him every time.

Our artificial ranking has been built on bullying weak teams with our spin, but the likes of Shadab, Nawaz and Imad will be cannon-fodder against the Indian lineup.

Ultimately, it will come down to the batting prowess of both teams, and India blows us out of the water.

Kohli alone would win 3-4 games against this side, let alone the overall superiority of their team.

Pakistan might beat them in a one-off game, but India would prevail in a series 9/10 times.

 

[Mamoon]

How are NZ better than us when we comprehensively beat them in their own home just a few months ago.


Australia you will find out how much 'better' they are than us when we meet them tomorrow.

We are facing Australia’s third string team tomorrow.

 

[Khan12]

[MENTION=1650]Usman Chadda[/MENTION]

The delusion is ridiculous. This team by no means, starts as heavy favorites against the likes of Dhawan, Rohit, Kohli, Rahul, Raina, Dhoni, Pandya, Chahal, Kuldeep, Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah.

Apart from maybe 2-3, hardly any of our players will get into that lineup.

Hassan and Amir will get games, but no one else will get a sniff.

Fakhar is explosive, but he is comfortably inferior to Dhawan, Rohit and Rahul.

Babar maybe the top ranked T20 batsman, but he doesn’t get into the Indian top four ahead of Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli and Rahul. He will be a liability anything below the top four for a team like Pakistan, let alone India.

Raina is a far better middle-order batsman than Malik and Talat. He has been reduced to a periphary role in the Indian team, but had he been in Pakistan, he would have been a Limited Overs superstar.

Dhoni on his last legs is still a better T20 batsman than Sarfraz.

Pandya is comfortably a better all-rounder than Fahim. His batting is a lot more explosive and dangerous, he is quicker and a far better fielder as well.

Fahim might be better in terms of bowling control and variations, but he is hardly doing enough with the ball to merit selection over Pandya who is much better in other aspects.

Shadab is a better all-round cricketer than Kuldeep, but the latter is a superior leg-spinner and has develop an excellent partnership with Yadav, who is 10x the bowler Nawaz is and will get ahead of him every time.

Our artificial ranking has been built on bullying weak teams with our spin, but the likes of Shadab, Nawaz and Imad will be cannon-fodder against the Indian lineup.

Ultimately, it will come down to the batting prowess of both teams, and India blows us out of the water.

Kohli alone would win 3-4 games against this side, let alone the overall superiority of their team.

Pakistan might beat them in a one-off game, but India would prevail in a series 9/10 times.

Yeah a superstar with same batting average as Malik. You need to look at cricket without your indian glasses.

 

[Khan12]

Guys Babar can't replace panday in indian team. I have heard it all now.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

We are facing Australia’s third string team tomorrow.

The same Australian 3rd string team plus David Warner beat the "best England team" a few months back multiple times.

 

[The_Odd_One]

The same Australian 3rd string team plus David Warner beat the "best England team" a few months back multiple times.

It's a win-win situation for him. If we lose to Australia, he will say we lost as soon as we faced a non minnow team. If we win then it's their 3rd string team.

 

[The_Odd_One]

LOL at Dhoni being better than Sarfraz in T20s. Dhoni might be the worst elite player in the T20Is. Even Dinesh Karthik has more MoM performances as compared to Dhoni's none.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan could easily build a huge points lead to stay on top and stay there for a very long time

 

[Khan12]

Pakistan could easily build a huge points lead to stay on top and stay there for a very long time

Doesn't matter there are 10 better teams then us and they will beat us 9 out of 10 times.

 

[Usman Chadda]

[MENTION=1650]Usman Chadda[/MENTION]

The delusion is ridiculous. This team by no means, starts as heavy favorites against the likes of Dhawan, Rohit, Kohli, Rahul, Raina, Dhoni, Pandya, Chahal, Kuldeep, Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah.

Apart from maybe 2-3, hardly any of our players will get into that lineup.

Hassan and Amir will get games, but no one else will get a sniff.

Fakhar is explosive, but he is comfortably inferior to Dhawan, Rohit and Rahul.

Babar maybe the top ranked T20 batsman, but he doesn’t get into the Indian top four ahead of Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli and Rahul. He will be a liability anything below the top four for a team like Pakistan, let alone India.

Raina is a far better middle-order batsman than Malik and Talat. He has been reduced to a periphary role in the Indian team, but had he been in Pakistan, he would have been a Limited Overs superstar.

Dhoni on his last legs is still a better T20 batsman than Sarfraz.

Pandya is comfortably a better all-rounder than Fahim. His batting is a lot more explosive and dangerous, he is quicker and a far better fielder as well.

Fahim might be better in terms of bowling control and variations, but he is hardly doing enough with the ball to merit selection over Pandya who is much better in other aspects.

Shadab is a better all-round cricketer than Kuldeep, but the latter is a superior leg-spinner and has develop an excellent partnership with Yadav, who is 10x the bowler Nawaz is and will get ahead of him every time.

Our artificial ranking has been built on bullying weak teams with our spin, but the likes of Shadab, Nawaz and Imad will be cannon-fodder against the Indian lineup.

Ultimately, it will come down to the batting prowess of both teams, and India blows us out of the water.

Kohli alone would win 3-4 games against this side, let alone the overall superiority of their team.

Pakistan might beat them in a one-off game, but India would prevail in a series 9/10 times.

Nah, I'm confident this Pakistan side will be more than a match in LOI cricket against India, specially in T20 cricket. ODI cricket Kuldeep and Chahal might cause our lot a few problems on decent wickets, but in Fakhar, Hafeez and Malik we have three very good players of spin. Sharma has bottled it against Pakistan more often than not recently, while Dhawan blows hot and cold in T20 cricket. Kohli is the only threat, but he cannot be the Superman and bail India out again and again. I don't see KL Rahul, Dhoni, Raina doing much consistently against our bowling line-up.

This T20 team is in a good zone and has a fantastic combination, where in pretty much everyone chips in. If it was individual brilliance winning Pakistan games, I wouldn't be saying all of this. But just have a look at the recent T20 matches and everyone has collectively contributed. I'm not worried about India much, neither am I worried about Australia, South Africa or New Zealand. England has the firepower to pummell our bowling attack consistently, which is why Pakistan might struggle against them

 

[Syed1]

We are facing Australia’s third string team tomorrow.

Not our fault

 

[cricketerB94]

We are facing Australia’s third string team tomorrow.

Australia is facing Pakistan's 3rd string team too (Babar the No.1 ranked batsman and Imad the No.1 ranked bowler not long ago are missing and Hussain, Asif and Shinwari are still unknown names in international cricket). So please keep your excuses to yourself if you don't want to appreciate the good work. Thanks..

 

[Itachi]

Most teams don't care about t20

They prepare for the test. T20 in those cases are just to give chance to newcomers or to acclimatized.

Its like being topper in a subject which no one pays attention to.

 

[Syed1]

Most teams don't care about t20

They prepare for the test. T20 in those cases are just to give chance to newcomers or to acclimatized.

Its like being topper in a subject which no one pays attention to.

Yeah most teams don't pay attention to T20s that is why India rolled out their first eleven for the 2 T20s against Ireland.

 

[MenInG]

Good opportunity for Nawaz to rack up some rating points

 

[asadee]

It seems like some posters here have withdrawal symptoms if they don't come and vent their displeasure of seeing Pakistan win. Pretty pathetic to say the least.

 

[Itachi]

Yeah most teams don't pay attention to T20s that is why India rolled out their first eleven for the 2 T20s against Ireland.

Answer is right there in the post you quoted.

 

[Itachi]

It seems like some posters here have withdrawal symptoms if they don't come and vent their displeasure of seeing Pakistan win. Pretty pathetic to say the least.

Why its pathetic? Stating facts and being honest is a trait that everyone should thrive for.

 

[par]

Yeah most teams don't pay attention to T20s that is why India rolled out their first eleven for the 2 T20s against Ireland.

India played their first eleven against Ireland because India has no other practice matches scheduled before the England matches.

 

[Mamoon]

Nah, I'm confident this Pakistan side will be more than a match in LOI cricket against India, specially in T20 cricket. ODI cricket Kuldeep and Chahal might cause our lot a few problems on decent wickets, but in Fakhar, Hafeez and Malik we have three very good players of spin. Sharma has bottled it against Pakistan more often than not recently, while Dhawan blows hot and cold in T20 cricket. Kohli is the only threat, but he cannot be the Superman and bail India out again and again. I don't see KL Rahul, Dhoni, Raina doing much consistently against our bowling line-up.

This T20 team is in a good zone and has a fantastic combination, where in pretty much everyone chips in. If it was individual brilliance winning Pakistan games, I wouldn't be saying all of this. But just have a look at the recent T20 matches and everyone has collectively contributed. I'm not worried about India much, neither am I worried about Australia, South Africa or New Zealand. England has the firepower to pummell our bowling attack consistently, which is why Pakistan might struggle against them

Got pummeled by a third string Australia, yet they will start favorites against a full strength India. Our fans needed this reality check, but it should have come sooner. The T20 honeymoon is over.

 

[Mamoon]

Australia is facing Pakistan's 3rd string team too (Babar the No.1 ranked batsman and Imad the No.1 ranked bowler not long ago are missing and Hussain, Asif and Shinwari are still unknown names in international cricket). So please keep your excuses to yourself if you don't want to appreciate the good work. Thanks..

Pakistan's best XI is equivalent to the third string of a top team, but that is a reflection of our mediocrity. Yes there was no Babar, but he is not a game-changing T20 batsman. Moreover, there is no difference between Imad and Nawaz.

Pakistan was playing its full team barring 2-3 players. It is not comparable to Australia missing nearly half of their main players.

There is no good work - we were lucky to play non-stop T20 matches against weak opposition which artificially inflated our ranking. Our fans deserve this humiliation for overrating this team.

 

[BlackShadow]

Imagine what rankings would look like if top sides actually took the format seriously. For now, most of them are happy sending their 3rd string squads for mickey mouse format.

 

[Mamoon]

LOL at Dhoni being better than Sarfraz in T20s. Dhoni might be the worst elite player in the T20Is. Even Dinesh Karthik has more MoM performances as compared to Dhoni's none.

A past it, over the hill Dhoni wipes the floor with Sarfraz in any format. Dhoni was never elite in T20s, but he has the caliber and pedigree to turn it on against against any team in the world. On the other hand, Sarfraz is a proven mediocre player.

There is not a single team in the world that would prefer to have Sarfraz over Dhoni in any format.

 

[BlackShadow]

Yeah most teams don't pay attention to T20s that is why India rolled out their first eleven for the 2 T20s against Ireland.

And sent their C squad in several other tournaments. Fact is that most sides use T20s as an opportunity for youngsters to make an impression. Come the world cup, a full strength India/Aus/Eng will wipe floor with most other sides.

 

[Xoib]

And sent their C squad in several other tournaments. Fact is that most sides use T20s as an opportunity for youngsters to make an impression. Come the world cup, a full strength India/Aus/Eng will wipe floor with most other sides.

Yet windies have the Most t 20 titles and Aus has never won it

 

[Usman Chadda]

Got pummeled by a third string Australia, yet they will start favorites against a full strength India. Our fans needed this reality check, but it should have come sooner. The T20 honeymoon is over.

Fits with your narrative where one loss means our cricket is finished. Bad day today, these boys will come back I'm sure

 

[Syed1]

And sent their C squad in several other tournaments. Fact is that most sides use T20s as an opportunity for youngsters to make an impression. Come the world cup, a full strength India/Aus/Eng will wipe floor with most other sides.

India last won the T20 WC in 2007 and England won it in 2010 while Aus have never won it. So idk what you mean when you say they will wipe the floor with everyone. I'm sure had India been number one in T20 then the rankings would have been fine and acceptable and every single T20 being very important.

 

[Thomaskutty]

I just saw the scorecard. What is this ? I thought Pak was no.1 t20 team in world. They were getting an easy ride drubbin weak teams all along

 

[Usman Chadda]

I just saw the scorecard. What is this ? I thought Pak was no.1 t20 team in world. They were getting an easy ride drubbin weak teams all along

You'll look quite stupid now when Pakistan goes on to win this tournament

 

[ManFan]

I just saw the scorecard. What is this ? I thought Pak was no.1 t20 team in world. They were getting an easy ride drubbin weak teams all along

Top teams can lose to minnow teams. It happens.

India lost to the WI 1-0 in 2017.

 

[cricketerB94]

Pakistan's best XI is equivalent to the third string of a top team, but that is a reflection of our mediocrity. Yes there was no Babar, but he is not a game-changing T20 batsman. Moreover, there is no difference between Imad and Nawaz.

Pakistan was playing its full team barring 2-3 players. It is not comparable to Australia missing nearly half of their main players.

There is no good work - we were lucky to play non-stop T20 matches against weak opposition which artificially inflated our ranking. Our fans deserve this humiliation for overrating this team.

At least wait for this series to finish before bashing Pakistan side. One match does not mean anything and any team can have a bad day. Never seen you bashing India this much after having a bad day in a final.

And if New Zealand (the then No. 1 team), West Indies (the current champions and decent performers against all other teams especially India) and England are weak oppositions then I cannot argument further regarding this.

 

[MenInG]

At least wait for this series to finish before bashing Pakistan side. One match does not mean anything and any team can have a bad day. Never seen you bashing India this much after having a bad day in a final.

And if New Zealand (the then No. 1 team), West Indies (the current champions and decent performers against all other teams especially India) and England are weak oppositions then I cannot argument further regarding this.

Our armchair experts usually need an over to make this pronouncement so give some credit to him to wait for one game

 

[Thomaskutty]

You'll look quite stupid now when Pakistan goes on to win this tournament

Why do I see that as unlikely now? The top team lost to a 3rd string aussie team ravaged by scandals. I suspect the fans of Pakistan have been taken for a ride by their team with this abnormal ranking. They have yet to face any tough team.

 

[ManFan]

Why do I see that as unlikely now? The top team lost to a 3rd string aussie team ravaged by scandals. I suspect the fans of Pakistan have been taken for a ride by their team with this abnormal ranking. They have yet to face any tough team.

So NZ in NZ is not tough?

ENG IN ENG?

WI in WI? (To whom IND lost)

World XI? (Which had Morkel, Amla, du Plessis, Paine, Malan)?

 

[Markhor]

This guy seemingly has no pressure to maintain his place.

Why didn't the selectors pick a specialist spinner in the squad A) given you're touring Zimbabwe which has slow surfaces and B) the weakness of both opponents against quality spin ?

Have Raza Hasan and Zafar Gohar fallen off a cliff ?

 

[Brodipet_baadshah]

So NZ in NZ is not tough?

ENG IN ENG?

WI in WI? (To whom IND lost)

World XI? (Which had Morkel, Amla, du Plessis, Paine, Malan)?

Ind lost to Windies in WI? When did that happen?

 

[OmarKhan99]

Ind lost to Windies in WI? When did that happen?

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/.../west-indies-vs-india-only-t20i-wi-v-ind-2017

 

[Usman Chadda]

Why do I see that as unlikely now? The top team lost to a 3rd string aussie team ravaged by scandals. I suspect the fans of Pakistan have been taken for a ride by their team with this abnormal ranking. They have yet to face any tough team.

Thats the thing with following a team as mundane as India. When the going is tough, India proceeds to take consistent beatings. Pakistan turns it around and flogs the opposition. You wouldn't understand mate, hard to blame you on this