Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood has hinted at potential changes in the playing XI for the final match of the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand.
The Green Shirts have lost the five-match series, having lost three out of four previous games. However, the team looks to end the series on a positive note.
Speaking about the team’s bowling struggles, Mahmood admitted that the unit hasn’t been delivering up to expectations. He emphasized that, much like batting, bowling is a collective effort, and Pakistan’s bowlers haven’t clicked together as a group.
“We need to understand that bowling, like batting, requires teamwork. All three bowlers need to perform together,” said the former all-rounder.
“While one bowler may bowl well, others are not always able to deliver the same level of performance.”
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One of the key concerns for Pakistan has been the lack of consistency in their bowling attack. Azhar Mahmood acknowledged that while Haris Rauf has bowled brilliantly at times, the rest of the attack hasn’t backed him up.
“Our job is to motivate the players, and we are working hard to ensure that we finish the series with a 3-2 result,” he said. “We have lost the series, we’re not out of any tournament.”
Addressing Shaheen Afridi’s underwhelming performances, Mahmood pointed out that luck hasn’t been on his side, with several edges not resulting in wickets.
He also highlighted that the pitch conditions have played a role, with extra bounce making things trickier for the bowlers.
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