Misbah tells batsmen to shape up in World Cup
Pakistan captain says they need to set up bigger totals after they scrape past Zimbabwe
Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq put the heat on his batsmen after the 1992 champions scraped a 20-run win over Zimbabwe in the Cricket World Cup on Sunday.
It was Pakistan’s first victory of this World Cup after losing by 76 runs to India and suffering a 150-run hiding at the hands of the West Indies in their previous two pool B fixtures.
Misbah needed his bowlers to set up the win after his side had been limited to a modest 235 for seven by another poor top-order effort. It was Pakistan’s highest total of the tournament but a long way off the 14 totals of 300 and over so far registered elsewhere in the event.
We need to work hard to improve our batting. All the teams are getting to 280, 290 or 300, so we need to start well and capitalise
“We need to work hard to improve our batting. All the teams are getting to 280, 290 or 300, so we need to start well and capitalise,” said Misbah.
So far at the World Cup, Pakistan have scored 224 all out against India and were dismissed for just 160 by the West Indies.
Misbah has his team’s best two scores of 76 and 73. Umar Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood got beyond 50 against the West Indies while Wahab Riaz scored a half-century against Zimbabwe at Brisbane’s Gabba ground.
The win gave Pakistan their first two points. But they are second from bottom in their pool, with just the top four sides going into the quarter-finals.