We want to play India in the final again : Shoaib Malik
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik rued the team's loss to arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup but attributed it to their failure to adapt to conditions than anything else. The all-rounder also hoped for some sweet revenge sooner than later wishing they could face India again in the Cup final.
The face-off between the neighbours was touted to be a nail-biting affair but it eventually fizzled out after the visitors' batting line-up fizzled out on a green pitch. Malik, who had come in at two-down, also was far from spectacular as he holed out for four runs behind the wicket in the seventh over.
"We all know just how disappointing the defeat to India must have been to our supporters back home. We know how much emotions are involved in a match with India and we would like to make amends," he said, reported PTI.
The only bright side for the visitors was the breathtaking display of fast bowling by comeback kid Mohammad Amir, who rattled India's top order to offer Pakistan a glimpse at a win, even if it was only brief. Malik was all praise for Amir's spell and said, "I thought we also fought hard against India and Aamir's spell was magnificent. The rest of the pace bowlers are also in good form so we are looking at a comeback in this tournament.”
The ex-captain, however, placed the reason for the team's failure on their inability to adapt to the local conditions."I think we failed to read the pitch and conditions properly against India and instead of adapting ourselves we committed hari kari by trying to play overly attacking shots," he said.
Unfazed, Malik added that they are raring to go and want to get into the final of the Asia Cup and meet India once again."We want to play India in the final again and we know we can do well against them. It is all a matter of just adapting to the different conditions here," Malik added.