PAK vs SL | Wanted to give youngsters from PSL and domestic cricket a chance, says Sarfaraz Ahmed
Sarfaraz Ahmed has revealed that Pakistan wanted to reward the players who excelled in PSL and domestic cricket and hence made six changes to their side. Despite a stunning Mohammad Hasnain hat-trick, the home team slumped to a 64-run defeat at the hands of a young and determined Lankan team.
After comprehensively winning the ODI series, Pakistan were not quite able to replicate their form in the first T20I, slumping to a crushing defeat at the hands of a spirited Sri Lankan team led by young Dasun Shanaka. After posting a solid score of 165 batting first, the Lankans, thanks to three-wicket hauls from Isuru Udana and Nuwan Pradeep, bowled out Pakistan for a modest total of 101 and in the process, going 1-0 up in the series.
Skipper Sarfaraz, who could only manage a dull 30-ball 24, credited the Shanaka-led Sri Lankan team for their spirited effort which saw them outclass the hosts. The skipper also said that he wanted to reward players who were racking up the runs on the domestic circuit, evident from the fact that the likes of Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal, and Iftikhar Ahmed featuring in the XI.
"In T20s we can't take any team lightly. They had a good start but our bowlers brought us back well," Sarfaraz told in the post-match presentation, reported Cricbuzz.
"Credit to them (Sri Lanka), they kept it tight with the ball and in the field in the middle overs. We had six new boys in the team today, and we wanted to give people coming in from the PSL and the domestic circuit a chance," he added.
A shining light for Pakistan was young speedster Mohammad Hasnain, who lit up Lahore with his hat-trick, becoming the youngest bowler to do so in T20Is. The Pakistani skipper showered praise on the young quick, who eventually ended with figures of 3/37 and helped his team restrict the Lankans to a score of 165.
"We didn't have a good day with the ball, but at one stage it looked like they would get to 170-180 and Hasnain brought us back well. God willing, we'll do well in the next game," Sarfaraz said.
One of the architects of Sri Lanka's win was opener Danushka Gunthalika, who struck a blazing half-century, tonking the ball to all parts of the ground. The opener also credited the spirit shown by his team, which helped them get over the line, though carrying a lot of inexperience with them. The 28-year-old also believes that the more they play, the better they will get.
"It was a great win. We did very well in the ODIs as well and got a lot of confidence in the last game. As a team we did really well. We had a plan before the match to get a good start. Avishka batted really well with me and it was a good batting performance to get to 165. As a team, we haven't played many games. We had two debutants and when we play more we can win a lot of games," he signed off.