Misbah-ul-Haq yesterday urged his teammates to take the pressure off high-flying skipper Shahid Afridi who has single-handedly won matches for Pakistan in this World Cup
Misbah-ul-Haq yesterday urged his teammates to take the pressure off high-flying skipper Shahid Afridi who has single-handedly won matches for Pakistan in this World Cup.
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| Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq (centre) and coach Waqar Younis (right) play football during a training session at Pallekele yesterday. Pic/AFP |
Afridi took 5-16 ufffd the best bowling figures by any Pakistani in all World Cups ufffd against Kenya and followed that with 4-34 against Sri Lanka and 5-23 against Canada, giving him a tournament-high of 14 wickets.
His efforts have given Pakistan a perfect six points from three matches and top spot in Group A followed by co-hosts Sri Lanka (five from four) and defending champions Australia (five from three).
Pakistan face New Zealand here today with Misbah telling teammates to take the pressure off Afridi.
"It's really very good for a team that its captain is doing well, but other players are also required to play well, take responsibility and ease pressure off the captain," said Misbah.
Misbah said Afridi has led from the front in the tournament. "I think in all conditions, especially here, Afridi is a difficult bowler to handle, he has got variation and doesn't give the batsmen time. With that kind of aggression he has led from the front," said Misbah, who is anchoring the batting.
