ICC World Cup: I was very nervy, says Azhar Mahmood

LEEDS: Pakistan’s close, heart-stopping wins are beginning to take a toll on not just their fans, but the team’s coaching staff too.
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After they kept their 2019 World Cup semifinal hopes alive with a thrilling three-wicket win over a resurgent Afghanistan at Headingley here, their bowling coach Azhar Mahmood termed the dying moments of the match as his “worst time in the dressing room”.
And this is coming from a man who has played 21 Tests, 143 ODIs and more than 300 List ‘A’ games around the world.
Chasing a target of 228 to beat Afghanistan, Pakistan were staring what would have be an embarrassing defeat when they slid to 156/6 after 40 overs. “Throughout my whole career, I think this was the worst moment for me in a dressing room,” said a relieved Mahmood.
“I was very nervy. Afghanistan wanted to win and we didn’t want to lose. It was quite nerve-wracking because you can’t control anything when you are in the coaching staff.
“When you have to bat next, you are ready for that. But sitting in the dugout, it’s definitely very nerve-wracking,” confessed Mahmood.
Meanwhile, though young left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi continued to impress taking 4/47 in 10 overs to help Pakistan reduced Afghanistan to a total of 227/9. Mahmood said the 19-year-old is still a work-in-progress.
“He’s got potential, he’s a very good bowler, but he’s very young,” said the 44-year-old former allrounder. Pointing out some technical issues, Mahmood said: “Sometimes, he needs to control his emotions and when he bowls the delivery stride is a main concern for me when he lands on the crease.
“Sometimes it’s quite a big stride so when he shortens it, that is when he’s most consistent. He also needs more balance at the crease, and the other thing is his wrist position. But we are working on all that.
“Since he joined the Pakistan team, he’s the guy who has been taking the wickets for us.”
Mahmood said it was helping Shaheen that he was being able to bowl alongside the more experienced Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, who too are left-arm pace bowlers like him.
“The young guy gets a lot of encouragement from the other two,” Mahmood explained. “All three of them are left-armers, so that’s very helpful,” while complimenting his battery if left-arm pacers.
“If we have to restrict the opposition to less runs, these guys are very important for us. That’s the difference because when we don’t take wickets, other teams get 300. Now these guys are taking wickets, we can restrict sides,” the bowling coach praised.
Just about everyone is comparing Pakistan have now won three games on the trot, something that they needed to do to have a chance of making it to the last four.