Title defence virtually over,Pak begin blame games

It was on expected lines. After their one-run defeat against New Zealand that has all but eliminated Pakistan from the World T20 competition...

It was on expected lines. After their one-run defeat against New Zealand that has all but eliminated Pakistan from the World T20 competition,skipper Shahid Afridi,reflecting on the teams poor performance at the post-match press conference,criticised the selection policy. Their title defence virtually over,the blame game,an integral part of Pakistan cricket,has begun.

For the second time in a row,the holders seem to be going out of the tournament. In 2009 in England,it was India coach Gary Kirsten who came up with the fatigue theory,insisting that the IPL was a detrimental factor as key players had picked up injuries. In West Indies a year later,its Afridi,albeit with a different set of reasons.

This is the team that the selectors have given to me. For me,those were the best 15 guys I had,I also expected them to do well but at this point of time,I dont want to criticise any of the players in particular. Our fielding in both games was bad and that let us down, he said.

To do well in T20,we need to take some good T20 players in the side. The selectors first announced the team and then they announced the captain. May be in the future this will all change. I certainly feel that skipper should be named first so that he can have a say.

The players are trying their best,but I cant explain why the team is not winning games. Maybe,the new boys lack the mental strength. We need to be mentally strong, he added.

After months of turmoil that included bans on two senior players and fines on a few others,an early exit from the tournament will mean yet another round of inquiry. More heads might roll.

The team is going through difficult times since the Australia and New Zealand tours. My performance is always very important as captain,but this time I havent performed. Maybe thats why we havent had a good result, Afridi said.

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Pakistan still have a mathematical chance if England win their third and final game against New Zealand,while South Africa lose to Pakistan for a three-way tie for the second spot.

Its been just nine months since Younis Khan held aloft the World T20 title,overcoming many obstacles to prove a point. Then again,Pakistan,who had finished as runners-up in the first edition,were back then a far more experienced and consistent team than the present lot.

Playing for pride

Meanwhile,their title defence virtually over,Pakistan will be out to salvage pride against South Africa in their final Super Eight match on Monday. Their batting order,barring Salman Butt,has looked patchy with batsmen like Mohammad Hafeez and Misbah-ul-Haq coming a cropper while the Akmal brothers Kamran and Umar also lacking consistency. Their bowling,though,has been better.