AUS vs PAK | Youngsters will get better as they play more Tests, opines Waqar Younis

12/04/2019

Pakistan bowling coach Waqar Younis has admitted that the teen talents failed to live up to the expectations but they will evolve into potent bowlers as they are exposed to international cricket. Pakistan were handed back to back innings defeat as Ricky Ponting called it the “worst bowling attack.”

As Pakistan headed into the Test series against Australia, the teenage pacers named in the squad were touted as surprise packages. And they justified all the praise with a great performance in the tour game against Australia A but as the Pandora's box opened in the first Test match, there was nothing but distress.

Pakistan named as many as three teenagers in the squad as they put all their faith in their inexperienced hands and all they got was criticism. Pakistan fell bitterly short in both the Test matches as they were handed two back-to-back innings defeat with Australia piling up mammoth totals.

As the youngsters failed to take wickets as well as stop the flow of runs, former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting termed it the “worst bowling attack.” Following all the criticism, Pakistan bowling couldn’t help but admit that it was an utterly disappointing performance.

“Yes, I admit that we didn’t get the sort of performances or results we wanted from them. But for teenagers you tend to be unable to maintain the line and length you need to bowl in test matches,” Waqar said in a podcast from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The former Pakistan captain, however, insisted that the teenaged pacers like Naseem Shah, Musa Khan, Muhammad Hasnain and Shaheen Shah Afridi were all the future assets of Pakistan cricket.

“I think once they play a few matches more over a period of a year they will get better and Shaheen is an example of this.”