Shafiq rues lack of adequate first innings total

Pakistan’s middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq, in a press conference at the National Stadium in Karachi on Thursday, claimed that his side would have benefited from adding 30 to 40 more runs to their total on the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka.

The Men in Green were all out in their first innings after scoring 191. Shafiq credited the bowlers of the opposition for wrapping up Pakistan’s innings in an efficient manner.

“Sri Lanka’s bowlers bowled brilliantly and we kept losing wickets. It would have been better if we could have made around 30 to 40 more runs,” said Shafiq. “We got under pressure after losing early wickets in the morning. I haven’t seen so many wickets falling in Karachi on the first day of a Test match. The moisture in the pitch helped the bowlers.”

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Shafiq backed the struggling captain Azhar Ali and expressed hope that the batsman would find his form soon.

“The entire team is working hard. The wicket had a good covering of grass. This is why we went with just one spinner. The ball was swinging and seaming till the end. I try to play a longer innings once I get settled but I usually have to play with tailenders,” he said. “Azhar Ali is going through a rough phase. We are all supporting him. He will soon come back into form.”

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya credited Sri Lanka’s Consultant Head Coach Mickey Arthur for helping him in planning against Pakistan’s batsmen.

“Mickey told me how to bowl against Pakistan batsmen,” said Embuldeniya. “I bowled at the right areas according to our plan, which helped me in picking wickets.”

“Pakistan batsmen are good against spin. Pitch is providing support to spinners as it is turning from day one,” he added.