Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal has said that he is still not definite how the Decision Review Method (DRS) overturned on-field umpire Ian Gould's lbw ruling against Sachin Tendulkar in the work of the World Cup semi-final against India in Mohali. Gould ruled Tendulkar lbw off Ajmal in the 11th over, but the batsman reviewed the decision. Replays showed that the ball pitched in line but according to Hawk Eye the ball was missing leg stump & the decision was overturned.
"I don't know how the TV replays showed my delivery turning towards the leg side because I had bowled an arm ball & it went straight," Ajmal told AFP on the team's arrival in Lahore. "I was 110% confident when the referral was made that the batsman was out." Tendulkar was on 23 at that point, & survived two dropped chances before he was dismissed after making an important 85 that earned him the Man of the Match award.
Ajmal picked up six wickets & said that he was happy along with his bowling performance but disappointed that Pakistan lost the high-voltage clash to India by 29 runs. "All of us were very disappointed at losing the match because there was a lot interest & hype attached to it. But in cricket one team has to lose & one has to win," he said.
The pick of the Pakistan bowlers in that game was left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz who picked up his first five-wicket haul in ODIs & had India in trouble at 205 for 6 before Suresh Raina's cameo. "The wickets of [Virender] Sehwag & Yuvraj [Singh] were most memorable for me as they are very unsafe players of pace & spin," Riaz said. Riaz had Sehwag lbw for 38 & accounted for Yuvraj Singh for a duck with a swinging, dipping full toss.
Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam praised the team spirit & said the way the team had gelled together & played as a unit through the event was the most satisfying aspect of the campaign. "My main task was to unite the team & make it perform collectively & I think they achieved that to a great extent & that is satisfying for me."
Pakistan were warmly welcomed by their fans when they arrived in Lahore & captain Shahid Afridi, who landed in Karachi, was mobbed by joyful fans on the way to his house. Opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez, who made a quick-fire 43, urged the Pakistan fans to have faith in the team. "This team has plenty of capability & will get better leads to the future," he said.
Pakistan next travel to West Indies to play Twenty20, two one-dayers & six Tests. That tour begins on April 18.
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