Captains' Comments

Here are the ARY Gold Cup Final, post-match comments by Pakistan captain Waqar Younis and Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya.

On nothing going right for his side?:
`It wasn't our day, I would say. We played so well through the tournament, and on this day of the final the luck wasn't with us. A few catches were dropped, and they turned out to be the turning points of the match. But then that's part of the game. The Lankans played well, especially Atapattu and Jaywardene. They played a great part in the middle overs; when they took charge they really middled everything. That was crucial point, and their prevailing at that time took the game away from us.
Then we batted badly. I don't think 300 was not gettable. You see, we got out in the 42nd over and the margin of defeat still was 70-odd runs. We didn't bat very well. Saeed Anwar once again was terrific but there was nobody else to give him a stand. That was happening in the past, with Inzamam joining him in the middle and staying there. But the Lankans were catching very well, and Inzamam's catch was fabulous. It was just not Pakistan's day.'

On whether nerves gave way on the big occasion?:
`Well, it is a very immature side. They need some time, some more exposure to come to terms with such big occasions. I mean it was a huge game for them; probably they didn't apply themselves as well as they had in the last four games. That is all I have to say.
But I would also say that they are the future of Pakistan. We've got to back them up. This is just the start of their careers. I hope they would learn by their mistakes.'

On whether he should have sent Anwar and Afridi as openers instead of Imran Nazir and Afridi?:
`Well, everyone knows that with a big target to chase Nazir and Afridi are our best bets to give us a good start. Unfortunately it didn't happen for us today.'

On whether Humayun Farhat played the role that he wished him to?:
`Yes, actually he played very well. But we wanted him to go on like he was till the 15th over. But he got out much before that, and to our bad fortune Inzamam got caught chipping one over the short mid-wicket.'

On whether he still thought Pakistan had a chance with six wickets down and Anwar on the crease?:
`We were thinking that we were in the game till I was on the crease. Throughout the asking rate was never more than seven runs an over, and that's not a big deal on this wicket. But we kept on losing wickets and that was that.'

On whether the youngsters were really down in the mouth after losing the final?:
`Well, they had played well throughout the tournament, and we just told them that it was just another game. Winning and losing in any case are part of the game.'

To manager Yawar Saeed:
On whether the display in the final would be analysed to identify mistakes and those who dropped catches or bowled poorly would be taken to task?:
`First of all, all games are analysed. Personally I'm very satisfied the way youngsters have come through. It would have been really good if we had won it. But we lost because better team on the day has won. Congratulations to them. As the skipper has said, this is not the end of the road. These youngsters are very talented. I'm positive that they would do well for Pakistan in the future. In this tournament, Pakistan in fact fielded brilliantly throughout. Our ground fielding was good in the final too; unfortunately it was not as good in the air. We dropped a few vital catches.
No excuses for that. Congratulations to Sri Lanka for winning.'

Back to Waqar Younis:
On whether he thought that Pakistan being without a coach was a disadvantage?:
`Well, not in this tournament. If you look at the entire tournament, we did so well. It was a bit of an additional hassle because I or the manager had to organise nets and to do the motivational job. But I suppose both I and the manager were quite successful at that.
It is not a question of needing a coach or not needing one. Every team has one, so I suppose we also need one.'

On whether he was under pressure because of the absence of a coach?:
`No, I was not under any pressure whatsoever, because of a coach not being there or any other reason.'

Again to Yawar Saeed:
On so much being said about the youngsters, while the real performers have been the experienced ones: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq?:
`The problem here was that the youngsters never really got the chance to play a big innings in the earlier matches because Saeed and Inzamam were doing so well. That is why when they got to play a major innings in the final, they were perhaps not up to. Probably this being a big occasion too played its part. But what I'm really glad about is nobody was lacking in effort.'



'We realised that our potential and our performance were poles apart', says Sanath Jayasuriya

On whether they had saved their best for the last?:
`Well, we played good cricket and everything went right for us. Today everything fell together for us, we batted well, fielded well and bowled well.'

On whether he was determined to play a long innings?:
`Well, somebody had to stay there in the middle for a while. Partnerships are vital and we weren't getting them in the last few games. So when Kaluwitharana was out early, I and Atapattu decided that we have to stay on the crease. We didn't worry about the runs, we just wanted to play 15, 20 overs together.'

On how far the dropped catches helped them get to a good total?:
`Well, any dropped catch would cost a fielding side. Misssing Mahela and missing Marvan definitely cost Pakistan dearly.'

On Atapattu's batting in this match, for he was previously out of form - on whether you as captain had a special word for him?:
(Coach Dav Whatmore interjects)
`Well, regardless of the magic wand that Sanath has I think there was a realisation with every one that they had to do better than they had been recently.'
(Back to Sanath Jayasuriya)
`Well, Marvan has played enough cricket to realise that he had to play a long innings. He is a key player. We in fact want him to bat till the end, till the 50th over. If he had been there till the end, he would have gotten his hundred.'

To coach Dav Whatmore:
On whether he had devised some special stratagem to get Inzamam cheaply?:
`It was a realisation with everyone that Inzamam and Saeed were two batsmen who really could take the game away from us. It was just in the front of everyone's mind to get them out. Even 297 runs on the board, we still had to get them out. And Inzamam played one across the line early and Russel brought up a very good catch.'

On whether losing to New Zealand that badly served as a wake-up call?:
`Yes, it indeed was a very big wake-up call, with everybody realizing that losing to a side which wasn't in the final was not such a good thing. We knew that we had the skill, it was just a matter of turning it around in the final.'

On whether the Lankans had made some special preparations for the final?:
`Well, the captain thought that we were a bit sloppy in the field. So instead of having a day off we had a special fielding. I guess that was the start of a bit of soul-searching and coming to terms with what we were capable of and what we were displaying - both were poles apart.
Pakistan were the form side and they had played very well throughout the tournament, but it is a case of being the better side on the night. That is the way cricket is.'

On whether winning the toss got them a real break?:
`Well, Pakistan always like to bat first, and then defend that total. We enjoyed the captain winning the toss and putting a good total on the board.'

Back to Sanath Jayasuriya:
On whether the Lankans are getting lucky at Sharjah, this being their second tournament win on the trot, which was previously Pakistan's lucky ground?:
`Well, I would like to believe that.'

On whether the increasing Lankan support in the stands has made a difference?:
`Well, the last time we had won all five games, and this time it was not as good. But the Sri Lankans here have really supported us and we are grateful for that.'