Moin thinks team was within striking distance

Faisalabad, Dec 3: Pakistan captain Moin Khan said he thought his team was at a striking distance to knock England out in the second cricket Test which ended in a draw at the Iqbal Stadium here on Sunday.

"I think we played exceedingly well to capture five wickets. But the wicket didn't play as we expected it would on the fifth day. Probably the cold conditions here didn't allow the cracks to open wide to help the spinners more," Moin said in a post-match conference.

His opposite number Nasser Hussain, however, minced no words in saying that he would have hated had his team lost the game "because we didn't deserve to lose.

"We played well by first restricting Pakistan to 316 despite losing the toss and then securing a first innings lead. Of course it is very satisfying to play such good cricket."

Moin, however, admitted that his team fell short by 40-50 runs in the first innings which was also one of the contributing factors to the result of this game. "But overall, it has been a good performance by my boys."

"Karachi is a happy hunting ground where 90 overs would be bowled in a day's play. I have only heard about the wicket prepared for the third Test but the team combination will only be decided on the morning of the game," Moin said, hinting that if required three pacers would be played.

Hussain said the second Test pitch was a bit different than the Lahore one because it was difficult to score on it. He termed the surface as a doubled paced one.

"I didn't fancy my chances to successfully chase the target because it was difficult to score on. Had it (wicket) been the Lahore one, we might have taken a shot at the target," Hussain said.

The England captain said he had no problems with the umpiring decisions that abruptly halted his both the innings in the match.

"I know the umpires have a difficult job to do. I believe that when we play, we should realize how difficult is their (umpires) job. But I don't mind if they are consistent. Nevertheless, there has been a lot of scrutiny on umpiring decisions all over the world because of the technology.

"Several people have different theories about the implementation of technology. But my job is to play and I leave the issue to the people who are involved and concerned."

However, the Essex player didn't mince words in saying he was `bewildered' and `shocked' at being given out.

"In the first innings I was shocked and bewildered and didn't know what to do. In the second innings, I thought I have been given a leg before decision until I was told in the dressing room that I have been given caught by Moin."

"Things are going against me but I am mentally tough enough to come out of it in the next Test which is very crucial for both the teams."

Hussain, however, believed that had things gone in his team's favour, England would have been leading 1-0 in the series. "We could have forced a follow on in the first Test but when we came here, we knew we are up against a very talent side like Pakistan."

Commenting on the general impression that his batsmen were uncomfortable against the spinners, Hussain said: "We are still working on how to play spin."

Moin Khan praised the performance of Abdur Razzaq saying he was now a mature player on whom the team can reply on. "He has learned the rigours of this game very quickly. But it is a long way to go and he still has to do a lot of hardwork to establish himself as a genuine Test all-rounder like he is in the shorter version of the game."