Ex-Pak cricketers lament `perennial` flop batting show in Champions Trophy

Islamabad: Former Pakistani cricketers have criticised the team`s poor batting performance after their ICC Champions Trophy defeat to South Africa, which has left them on the verge of dropping from the tournament.

Pakistan were bowled out for 167 in their crucial clash at Edgbaston ground even though they chased a modest 234 against a weakened South African bowling attack, which was missing the injured Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. Only captain Misbah-ul Haq (55) and Nasir Jamshed (42) crossed double figures, while top order batsmen Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal flopped miserably. Lamenting the batting failure, former captain Zaheer Abbas said that the side`s failings with the bat were all too familiar and urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to come up with a proper strategy to address the problem. Stating that the batsmen looked nervous both against South Africa and in the first game against the West Indies, Abbas said that he cannot understand why the fear had set in, adding that the batsmen play Tests like one-day games and one-dayers like Tests. Abbas, once dubbed the `Asian Bradman` for his prowess at the crease, further said that it is necessary to change the attitude of the Pakistani batsmen, adding that for that the team needed a good and able batting coach who can teach the batsmen to fight. Agreeing with Abbas, former spinner Tauseef Ahmed said that the batsmen lacked guts, adding that people are now used to batting failures and defeats from Pakistan as it has been going on for a long time. ANI