Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi said his side had to see the back of Eoin Morgan here on Tuesday if they were to level their two-match series against World Twenty20 champions England.
Pakistan lost the first Twenty20 international by five wickets after being held to just 126 at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens ground here on Sunday.
But England collapsed from 42 for one to 62 for five, with leg-spinning all-rounder Afridi taking two wickets.
Pakistan should have had a sixth wicket when Morgan, on 13, reverse-swept Afridi only for Shoaib Akhtar to drop the simple chance at short third man.
Former Ireland left-hander Morgan went on to make 38 not out and shared a stand of 67 with Michael Yardy, unbeaten on 35, that saw England to victory with 17 balls to spare.
Afridi, speaking to reporters here on Monday, said Morgan was the main man in England’s batting order in the absence of the dropped Kevin Pietersen.
“Morgan is a key player at the moment and I told my boys that we just need one wicket Morgan and we will definitely win this (Sunday’s) game.”
Pakistan’s tour has been overshadowed by the ‘spot-fixing scandal that has seen Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif all suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after allegedly conspiring to deliberately bowl no-balls during last month’s fourth Test at Lord’s.
That Akhtar’s reprieve of Morgan did not invite a more cynical reaction says everything about the low-grade fielding that has long plagued Pakistan.
“It’s nothing new with Pakistan,” said Afridi. “We have always struggled with fielding.”
Asked what Akhtar had said after the fast bowler dropped Morgan, Afridi replied: “‘Sorry’.”
“My answer was okay no problem.”
But Afridi insisted his team could both square the Twenty20 series and finish their tour with a strong showing in five subsequent one-day internationals against England.
“The mood is getting better, and I hope it will be fine for the rest of the games. My boys are all determined to try to level the series.
“I’m very focused on this series, because I know how important it is for me, my team and my country. It’s my goal to win a few games at least with this team. I would love that.”
It was Afridi’s shock resignation as Test captain after Pakistan’s 150-run loss to Australia at Lord’s in July that saw Butt promoted to lead the team in the five-day format.
Afridi reiterated on Monday he was standing by the decision, announced after that thumping defeat, to retire from Test cricket but said former captain and top-order batsman Younus Khan should be recalled.
Younus is still in dispute with the Pakistan Cricket Board even though a life ban, imposed after a winless and contentious tour of Australia concluded earlier this year, has since been rescinded.
“I don’t think I’ll be available for Test cricket now, and we need some experience - like Mohammad Yousuf, and Younus Khan as well,” Afridi said.
“Younus Khan had some discipline problems with PCB so let’s see if the PCB and Younus can sit down together, talk and sort it out.”
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