PERTH
\nDespite getting subjected to a crushing 360-run drubbing by hosts Australia in the first Test on Sunday, Pakistan team director and head coach Mohammad Hafeez believes that the team has got the ability to win a Test match Down Under, a feat that the national side achieved last in 1995.
\nPakistan were outclassed by the Australian bowling attack featuring the seasoned likes of skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood on the fourth day of the first game at Perth\u2019s Optus Stadium as they were bundled out for 89, chasing a mammoth target of 450 runs.
\nWith the ball, Pakistan did take all 10 Australian wickets in the first innings but at the expense of 487 runs before the hosts posted 233-5 and declared.
\nHafeez was of the opinion that Pakistan had prepared well ahead of the series but their poor show was due to the lack of execution of plans.
\n\u201cWe couldn\u2019t execute our skills,\u201d he said in the post-match press conference. \u201cWe made the plans for the team but unfortunately, as a team, we couldn\u2019t execute our plans.
\n\u201cObviously the guys wanted to, but they never applied themselves, to be honest. As a team, we made a couple of tactical errors. There were certain situations where we could have dominated.\u201d
\nThe second of the three-match Test series is scheduled is set to start in Melbourne from December 26 and Hafeez believed that the prospect of Pakistan equaling the series at the iconic venue couldn\u2019t be written off.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen during our preparation the amount of talent these guys have,\u201d noted the former skipper. \u201cThere\u2019s no doubt that they can beat Australia here in Australia.
\n\u201cI still believe that as a team, Pakistan can beat Australia here in Australia, but we must execute our skills when required.\u201d
\nWhile all Pakistan batters failed to make a difference across their two innings in the first Test, veteran wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed\u2019s position in the playing XI had come under criticism despite the availability of Mohammad Rizwan on the bench.
\nHafeez said while Rizwan, who boasts a decent record in Australia, may be considered for the upcoming matches, Sarfraz was included in the side on the basis of his recent performances.
\n\u201cSarfraz has given a lot of performances for Pakistan,\u201d Hafeez observed. \u201cIn the New Zealand series in Pakistan, he was excellent.
\n\u201cYes, five to six months have passed but you give first priority to your best performers from recent series.
\n\u201cUnfortunately, this match didn\u2019t go well for Sarfraz according to our expectations. However, we can\u2019t start thinking something totally different after one match.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PERTH Despite getting subjected to a crushing 360-run drubbing by hosts Australia in the first Test on Sunday, Pakistan team director and head coach Mohammad Hafeez believes that the team has got the ability to win a Test match Down Under, a feat that the national side achieved last in 1995. Pakistan were outclassed by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":375396,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-375380","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n