Share

Mushtaq Ahmed: Pakistan must work on their fitness

England’s James Vince (L) plays a shot while Pakistan’s wicket keeper Sarfraz Ahmed watches during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and England at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on November 27, 2015. We must show our true mettle for a consolation victory.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Pakistan, now fourth in the International Cricket Council’s T20 team rankings compared to England’s sixth, are under orders to improve their fitness levels ahead of next year’s tournament. Mushtaq said Misbah was 40 plus now and still his fitness was admirable therefore the current players should see him as an example to follow.

“If a player is not fit but is skillful, then in today’s game you need to work harder on fitness”.

Assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed said of their latest defeat, by three runs on Friday: “The basics were not done by our players”.

“If you analyse (modern cricket), then it’s a fitness game”. “As coaches, we have to raise our standards and help cricketers improve their games”, he said.

“If after taking a couple of twos, you can’t (then) hit a boundary off a bad ball, that’s a problem”.

Vince admitted he was nervous during his debut, but hoped he could go on to make the squad in the other formats. “It’s a fantastic win and we are very happy”, England’s skipper Jos Buttler said after winning the second match, according to Geo Super. “To come here and win 3-0 would be a great effort, that’s what we’re looking to try and do”, said Vince, who added he enjoyed his first chance in Twenty20.

“With only one Twenty20 against New Zealand and Australia last summer there hasn’t been a huge amount of opportunity, but to come out here and get given a go was really pleasing”.

“So it’s nice to come out here and get an opportunity – (and) I’m enjoying every minute of it. It’s been a steady start”.

His England team-mates will fly home on Tuesday, but Vince is due to stay on to lead the England Lions in another Twenty20 series against Pakistan’s second string.

Advertisement

“I get the chance to captain the Lions, so that will be another good experience”.

Afridi's words were echoed by Pakistan's bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed