Pakistan coach Waqar Younis on Wednesday insisted his team would bounce back despite a demoralising defeat against India, a loss he blamed on an inability to handle big-match pressure. “We can all see what went wrong,” Waqar told reporters. “We didn't play well, India played better than us by building partnerships, and probably we took more pressure. But we have to realise that it's just the start and there are more games to play and we will come back in the matches ahead.” “Unfortunately our batting did not click,” he said of Pakistan’s batting which failed to chase a target of 301, wrapped up for 224.
No internal rift: PCB
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday denied rumours of any internal rift between players and the team management over the attitude of some players. “It is clarified that the news is absolutely false and that nothing of the sort has happened,” a PCB statement said Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Pakistan fielding coach-cum-trainer Grant luden reportedly tendered his resignation after being dejected over the attitude of three cricketers — Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal.
“The entire team trained together on Wednesday where some players were put through their paces by all coaches, with Mr luden putting in an extra hour on both days with a select group of players,” the release said. A PCB spokesman clarified that luden did offer to quit a few days before the start of the World Cup, but that was for personal reasons. The team management however managed to convince him to withdraw his resignation after assuring him that all his grievances will be addressed. The Pakistan team is currently training in Christchurch ahead of their Pool B clash against the West Indies on February 21.