Miandad confident team will fight back (6 October 1998)

6 October 1998

Miandad confident team will fight back

The Dawn

RAWALPINDI, Oct 5: Coach Pakistan team Javed Miandad has said that Pakistan team will fight back with confidence in the next games.

Talking to the press after Javed Miandad said that there was no excuse for the loss. "We played badly and Australia performed outstandingly in all departments of the game," he said.

Miandad said that knowing it was a turning track they went all out for the game by playing three spinners. "One had to decide either way, so we decided to play the spinners. We won the toss although the batting opportunity was lost, we were very much in the game after getting the Aussies reeling at 28 for 3."

The former skipper said that Pakistan team had not done so badly in the first innings when they posted 269 after being down at 147 for 8 at one stage.

Miandad stated that it was bad bowling by the spinners to give away 513 runs. "The Aussies spinners did what we were suppose to do."

The coach rejected the feeling in certain quarters that Pakistani cricketers lacked mental toughness. "These cricketers have played more than 30 to 40 matches each, and they have proven their worth with fine performances."

Miandad said that when the team performs badly everything, from rift in the team to pressures, comes to the fore front.

The long gaps between in Test series was given as one of the reasons for Pakistan's poor show. "It takes time to adjust that's why we have tried playing different cricketers in the four-day games".

Miandad said that the same team won the Sahara Cup 4-1 over India but one-day and Test are different games.

The coach said that he wants all players to stay together to learn from each other. "I'm thinking of what we are facing ahead," he said.

To a question whether he was thinking of making a comeback himself, Miandad said that since he was a playing coach, he may or may not.

Source :: The dawn (www.dawn.com)