Expressing disappointment over defeat in the final of Asia Cup, skipper of Pakistan cricket team Misbah ul Haq said there are bright prospectus for Pakistan cricket team in the upcoming World Cup Twenty20 tournament. "Our players' performance in the Asia Cup raised his hopes for the team in the upcoming World Twenty20 tournament," he said while talking to media on return from Bangladesh along with nine other cricketers after finishing runners-up in the Asia Cricket Tournament held in Bangladesh.
Defending Champion Pakistan went down to Sri Lanka by five wickets in the final on Saturday. Misbah said the morale of the team is very good and we have a very good chance in World Cup Twenty20 because the batsmen are in good form. It may be noted that the ICC World Twenty20 is starting in Bangladesh from March 16. Pakistan is in a challenging group for the World Twenty-20; facing India, Australia, defending champion West Indies and a qualifier.
Pakistan is one of the most successful teams in the shortest format of the game, having qualified for the inaugural World Twenty20 final in 2007 and then two years later won the event in England. Talking to reporters at the Lahore airport, Misbah said, boys showed good performance in all matches but some mistakes in the final cost us the title. He said boys were happy for stunning run chases against India and Bangladesh. He added the run-scoring by the likes of Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi on Bangladesh wickets indicated the team can perform well when that country hosts the World Twenty20 from March 16.
When asked about his performance, Misbah said he could perform as per expectations due to run out in two games. About criticism made by some cricketers about his batting in the final, he said, when 3 wickets are down in just 18 runs, what else way one should perform.
Regarding performance of bowlers, he said: "It was not an easy tour, especially for fast bowlers because in Asia, conditions are conducive for spin bowlers and it does not help fast bowlers." About poor fielding in the final, Misbah said coaches and boys are working hard but unfortunately in important matches we missed a few chances.
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