World T20: Waqar Younis blasts Pakistan batsmen Shehzad and Akmal: ‘Simply not good enough’

In particular, the Pakistan coach was scathing about the innings of Ahmed Shehzad and Umark Akmal in 22-run defeat to New Zealand that leaves them on the brink of exiting the World Twenty20.

New Zealand's Adam Milne celebrates with his teammate Corey Anderson after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Umar Akmal. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

New Zealand 180/5 (20/20 ov)

Pakistan 158/5 (20.0/20 ov)

New Zealand won by 22 runs

MOHALI // A visibly irritated Waqar Younis has said his Pakistan side are "simply not good enough" after another flat display left them on the brink of an exit from the Super 10 stage of the World Twenty20.

Pakistan started spiritedly in their chase of 181 against New Zealand in Mohali yesterday evening. But once Sharjeel Khan fell halfway through the fifth over, with Pakistan ahead of the rate at 65, their batsmen again proved how much they are struggling in the format.

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Together, they combined for just four boundaries and an alarming 24 dot balls through the rest of the innings, leaving them ultimately 22 runs short.

“We got the platform that we needed,” Waqar said. “While one must admit that they bowled really well, our batsmen just couldn’t find the boundaries in the middle. Simply not good enough.”

In particular, Waqar was scathing about the innings played by Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal. Shehzad started brightly enough, getting to 20 off 14 balls but then ground to a halt, making just 10 off the next 18. Akmal, meanwhile, did not hit a single boundary in getting to 24 off 26.

Before the India game, Akmal had been caught on video asking Imran Khan to tell the management to bat him higher in the order.

“If you see, we didn’t move at all from the eighth to the 15th over,” Waqar said.

“Two of our so-called youngsters, upcoming cricketers, they both batted for a good chunk of time in the middle where we thought you would take the game away.”

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Mathematically the loss still has not shut the door on Pakistan progressing to the semi-final, though they will first have to beat Australia and hope other results go their way.

That, as Waqar did not hesitate to point out, is to live in hope more than anything.

“If you say” that Pakistan can go through, “we will keep our hopes high, but the way we have been playing we don’t deserve to go through.

“Still those who were shouting about not getting to bat in the position they want, this was their perfect opportunity. We were just not good enough. You can cry all you want, you can talk all you want, we are just not good enough. People will have to take a hard look at themselves.”​

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