Aamir Sohail hopes Pakistan would not repeat mistakes (17 November 1998)

17 November 1998

Aamir Sohail hopes Pakistan would not repeat mistakes

By Our Sports Reporter

KARACHI, Nov 16: Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail has said that Pakistan would be aiming to salvage some pride when his team faces Zimbabwe in the forthcoming series starting at Gujranwala from Nov 20.

"We would be trying to put up a more convincing and improved performance against Zimbabwe," Sohail said from Lahore.

The opener said the team's thrust would be not to repeat the mistakes committed in the series against Australia. "Cricket is about learning. If we lost (to Australia), definitely we would have made mistakes. Like a good team, we shouldn't repeat the errors and the end result would be productive."

The skipper opined that fielding was the crux of all problems. He added that injury to key players in crunch matches did no good to the morale and confidence of the side.

"We will have to lift the standard of fielding and the batsmen will have to apply themselves more.

"When you win, your mistakes fall in the background. But a defeat exposes you and then you get a better account of yourself as then you know where you stand," he said.

He said he would hate to compare the two sides but minced no words in saying that they were a better fielding side by all means. "In cricket, you don't compare the two teams because even a weak side can win on it's day. But their fielding is definitely better than ours."

Sohail maintained that Zimbabwe were a balanced team "and it's an insult to call them an under-rated team. They have good batters like Flower brothers and the skipper himself."

Sohail said it would be a good tussle between Pakistan batsmen and Zimbabwe bowlers. "When Paul Strang (the wrist spinner) came here last time, he was not that effective as he is now. Besides, Eddo Brandes and Heath Streak have good experience behind them and Henry Olonga is a good future prospect."

Sohail said he was being compared with rival captains who are rich in experience. "Alister Campbell is leading the team for nearly four years and so was Mark Taylor. I would make mistakes because I am raw as compared to the two. But I am learning by every game.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)