TAUNTON, United Kingdom: Veteran Pakistani batsman Mohammad Hafeez has urged his side to take the confidence from their win over hosts England into their next World Cup match against champions Australia.
The 38-year-old was Pakistan’s savior in their sensational 14-run win over England in Nottingham, riding his luck on the way to a match-turning 84 off 62 balls.
That helped Pakistan post a challenging total of 348-8 and set up a confidence-boosting win after they flopped badly in their opening seven-wicket defeat by the West Indies.
“I think all 10 teams are beatable,” Hafeez told AFP on Sunday. “If you look at England they were playing top cricket and people were thinking it would be hard to beat them.”
Hafeez, speaking before Australia suffered a 36-run loss to India at the Oval on Sunday, added: “But all teams are beatable ... if you talk of our next opponent (Australia) they are also playing very good cricket but they too can be defeated.”
Pakistan, who face the title-holders at Taunton on Wednesday, have a dismal recent record against Australia — they’ve won just one of the last 14 one-day internationals between the teams dating back to October 2014.
Australia — who have won four of the last five World Cups — completed a 5-0 whitewash of Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in March, albeit Pakistan rested seven of their top players.
“Yes, we don’t have a very good record against Australia because they play tough cricket but every day is a new day,” said Hafeez.
“This is a World Cup and we now have momentum after our win over England.”
Pakistan were left to rue persistent rain in Bristol on Friday, which led to a no-result washout in their match against Sri Lanka with both teams receiving a point.
“Yes, that was frustrating but you cannot do much about the weather and now we have moved on. But I am sure when we play again we will put up the same game that we played against England,” Hafeez promised.
Hafeez said Pakistan’s remarkable turnaround in their first two games — they were bowled out for a paltry 105 by the West Indies in Nottingham — was down to acknowledging their mistakes.
“I think we realized that we played a very bad game and we gave confidence to each other and convinced each other that we can win and that positive thinking helped bringing the change,” said Hafeez, a veteran of 212 ODIs.
Their win over England, who defeated them 4-0 shortly before the start of the World Cup, ended Pakistan’s sequence of 11 consecutive defeats since losing the fifth and final one-dayer against South Africa in January.
“Yes, we had been losing but we were playing good cricket,” Hafeez explained. “The best thing about the England win was that everyone contributed.
“Even Hasan Ali, who didn’t get a wicket, but his last three overs were good and brought us back,” said Hafeez of the medium-pacer who finished with 0-66 in 10 overs.
“When you play like that you get confidence and momentum.”
Pakistan need not fear Australia, says Hafeez
Pakistan need not fear Australia, says Hafeez
- The veteran Pakistani batsman was Pakistan's saviour in their win over England in Nottingham
- Pakistan will face the title-holders Australia at Taunton on Wednesday
Barca suffer title defense blow in Girona derby defeat
- Girona ended the game with 10 men when Roca scythed down Yamal to cut short a desperate Barca attack deep in stoppage time
GIRONA, Spain: Spanish champions Barcelona fell to a damaging 2-1 defeat at Girona on Monday to leave them trailing Real Madrid by two points at the top of La Liga.
Los Blancos beat Real Sociedad on Saturday to overtake the Catalans and Hansi Flick’s side could not defeat Girona in an gripping derby clash to reclaim the lead.
Teenage star Lamine Yamal missed a penalty for Barcelona, who took the lead through defender Pau Cubarsi just before the hour mark.
However goals from Thomas Lemar and Fran Beltran helped Girona, 12th, mount an impressive comeback.
“We have to improve because they can’t score these two goals against us,” Cubarsi told DAZN.
“We have to be self-critical, we didn’t play a great game, we have to improve, but now we have to rest and charge our batteries.”
Both sides were attacking with abandon in the first half and it was remarkable they went in goalless at the break.
Raphinha whipped a shot narrowly wide and Yamal fired straight at Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga when through on goal.
At the other end Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Vanat missed a slew of presentable opportunities.
Ferran Torres fired a good chance wide for Barca and Raphinha drove against the upright as Flick’s side pushed for the opener.
They should have got it when Dani Olmo was clumsily felled in the box by Daley Blind, but Yamal hit the post from the spot.
Barcelona eventually took the lead through Pau Cubarsi’s header from Jules Kounde’s cross after 59 minutes, but Girona swiftly pulled level.
Thomas Lemar slipped away from Eric Garcia and turned home Vanat’s pass from close range.
It shifted the momentum in Girona’s favor and Barca were left relying on some stunning saves from goalkeeper Joan Garcia to keep them afloat.
The stopper denied Ivan Martin and Vanat with a remarkable double save, and then thwarted Joel Roca with his leg.
Barca could not stem the tide and Girona forced their way in front after 87 minutes, with Fran Beltran stroking home from the edge of the area.
The visitors, who last week made an official complaint to the Spanish football federation over perceived refereeing inconsistencies, were left fuming after Kounde was fouled by Claudio Echeverri in the build-up and it went unpunished.
Girona ended the game with 10 men when Roca scythed down Yamal to cut short a desperate Barca attack deep in stoppage time.
It did the job and the hosts celebrated wildly at the end with their jubilant fans at Montilivi, as Flick demanded explanations from the referee.
“It seemed like a foul (on Kounde) to me, but we shouldn’t focus on decisions we can’t control,” said Barca defender Gerard Martin.
