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Smith wants South Africa to improve to keep series alive
Rawalpindi, Oct 09: South African captain Graeme Smith today said his side must improve by 10 per cent to 20 per cent if it wants to keep its five-match one-day international series against Pakistan alive.
Rawalpindi, Oct 09: South African captain Graeme Smith today said his side must improve by 10 per cent to 20 per cent if it wants to keep its five-match one-day international series against Pakistan alive.
South Africa, who beat Pakistan by 13 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis formula at Faisalabad, meet Pakistan in their fourth one-day international at Pindi Cricket Stadium tomorrow.
"The (South African) players are now adjusting to the conditions, they have adjusted to the heat. The energy in the squad was back in the third one-day international," said Smith.
"If we improve our performance by 10 per cent to 20 per cent, that will be great for us and we will be a difficult side to beat. There will be no tomorrow after the fourth match," he said.
South Africa lost the first two back-to-back day-night internationals at Lahore by eight and 42 runs respectively. It recorded victory in the day game at Faisalabad when Pakistan failed to bowl the required quota of 50 overs in 3 and ½ hours and umpires stopped play due to bad light with South Africa 13 runs ahead under the Duckworth/Lewis formula after the 45 overs. Match referee Clive Lloyd has fined both teams for slow over-rates while Shaun Pollock was fined his full match fee for showing dissent at Faisalabad on Tuesday.
"I think both teams need to be more mature about things at the moment on the field. Every little thing is taken too harsh. It comes to a little bit of a school game," Smith said about the fines.
"It is a big-pressure situation -- you are playing for your country, and pride and passion are involved," he added.
Smith was satisfied with the security arrangements in Pakistan, with more than 2,000 policemen and over 150 commandos being deployed in the first three internationals at Lahore. "As far as security arrangements are concerned we are trying to concentrate on our cricket and there are other people to deal with security," he said.
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who missed the Faisalabad game due to a hamstring injury, has not fully recovered. "I am not fully fit, but if I am 70 per cent to 80 per cent fit, I will play tomorrow," he said.
In Inzamam's absence, Yousuf Youhana led the side but the bowlers took lots of time in completing the overs, which cost Pakistan the match in the end. Bureau Report
South Africa, who beat Pakistan by 13 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis formula at Faisalabad, meet Pakistan in their fourth one-day international at Pindi Cricket Stadium tomorrow.
"The (South African) players are now adjusting to the conditions, they have adjusted to the heat. The energy in the squad was back in the third one-day international," said Smith.
"If we improve our performance by 10 per cent to 20 per cent, that will be great for us and we will be a difficult side to beat. There will be no tomorrow after the fourth match," he said.
South Africa lost the first two back-to-back day-night internationals at Lahore by eight and 42 runs respectively. It recorded victory in the day game at Faisalabad when Pakistan failed to bowl the required quota of 50 overs in 3 and ½ hours and umpires stopped play due to bad light with South Africa 13 runs ahead under the Duckworth/Lewis formula after the 45 overs. Match referee Clive Lloyd has fined both teams for slow over-rates while Shaun Pollock was fined his full match fee for showing dissent at Faisalabad on Tuesday.
"I think both teams need to be more mature about things at the moment on the field. Every little thing is taken too harsh. It comes to a little bit of a school game," Smith said about the fines.
"It is a big-pressure situation -- you are playing for your country, and pride and passion are involved," he added.
Smith was satisfied with the security arrangements in Pakistan, with more than 2,000 policemen and over 150 commandos being deployed in the first three internationals at Lahore. "As far as security arrangements are concerned we are trying to concentrate on our cricket and there are other people to deal with security," he said.
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who missed the Faisalabad game due to a hamstring injury, has not fully recovered. "I am not fully fit, but if I am 70 per cent to 80 per cent fit, I will play tomorrow," he said.
In Inzamam's absence, Yousuf Youhana led the side but the bowlers took lots of time in completing the overs, which cost Pakistan the match in the end. Bureau Report