Pakistan ODI captain Shahid Afridi is confident that his team would bounce back during the third ODI at The Oval to keep their five-match ODI series against England alive.
Pakistan is currently trailing 0-2 following the four-wicket defeat at Leeds and the 24-run loss at Chester-le-Street. “We came agonisingly close to winning the last match, but the good thing is that our team has regained its confidence,” the News quoted Afridi, as saying. “I’m sure that the boys will keep the series alive by giving their best at The Oval,” he added.
The 30-year-old skipper admitted that his team has missed the services of suspended Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended the trio after a British tabloid accused them of accepting bribes to bowl deliberate no-balls during the Lord’s Test. “I would lie if I say that we are okay without those three players. I mean without Asif and Amir, our bowling is not the same. We are also missing Salman because he is such an experienced opening batsman,” Afridi said.
However, Afridi reckons that rest of the bowlers can overcome this handicap and lead Pakistan to a much-needed win. “Bowling has traditionally been Pakistan’s strength. It can still be that way,” he added.