Cricket World Cup: Hafeez lauds total team effort after Pakistan's superb win over England

Waseem Ahmed 23:01 03/06/2019
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  • Hafeez starred in Pakistan's 14-run win over England.

    Man-of-the-Match Mohammad Hafeez credited a total team effort after Pakistan opened their 2019 ICC World Cup account with a superb 14-run win over favourites England.

    Hafeez scored a 62-ball 84 with the bat before picking up Eoin Morgan’s wicket with the ball as Pakistan bounced back from their seven-wicket defeat against West Indies in their campaign opener.

    Hafeez was at the thick of things as Pakistan posted their second highest World Cup total of 348-8 before they restricted England to 334-9.

    Speaking after the game to Star Sports, Hafeez said, “Everyone was believing we could do this.”

    “Everyone chipped in today and gave everything which was required to win the game.

    “We needed one winning performance and then everyone contributed accordingly. It was a total team effort. It is a very happy dressing room.”

    His sentiments were echoed by skipper Sarfraz Ahmed who also credited Pakistan’s improved fielding as an important factor in the win.

    “It was a great team effort. Bowlers bowled really well. We tried a couple of different things. We started with Shadab (Khan) because we know their openers are not good against spin,” he said.

    “Fielding is a very important part. In the last ODI series it was different. Today we feel better and we bowl better.”

    Joe Root scored the first century of the 2019 World Cup but the England batsman was left to lament his dismissal to Shadab Khan at a crucial stage.

    “Very disappointed if I’m being honest. One thing we have to make sure we don’t do is panic and go away from what’s been so successful for us,” Root said.

    “Credit to Pakistan, they played some really good stuff, I thought it was a great game of cricket.

    “We probably just left a little too much to do at the end. That’s probably my fault.”

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