Flower hopeful Pakistan can still make comeback against NZ

DUNEDIN: Batting coach Grant Flower is positive that Pakistan can make a comeback in the five-match ODI series against New Zealand that they are trailing by 2-0.

“We can still make a comeback,” said Grant Flower ahead of the third ODI. “The guys are positive, they are good players, they have not become bad players overnight, there is no reason why we cannot produce a good result this Saturday,” he added.

New Zealand have registered comprehensive victories in their backyard against Pakistan in the first two ODIs of the series.

Flower accepted the fact that Pakistan need to work hard on all three aspects of the game, batting, bowling and fielding to perform well in the rest of the series.

Flower also shed light on Pakistani batsmen’s unimpressive batting so far, and also gave credit to New Zealand’s bowlers for some fantastic bowling that put his men under pressure.

“There have been some soft dismissals, but I think it has been achieved by the pressure created by a very good bowling attack of the Kiwis,” he stated.

“The guys struggled a bit with the bounce, they have been playing quite a bit in Pakistan before coming over here, so the change in conditions have been a bit of shock to the system. Quite a few of them have played here before but (they are) getting used to the bounce,” he went on to say.

The former Zimbabwean said that players have been training hard, but they need to be strong mentally. The coaching staff is giving them positive feedbacks to keep players motivated, however, their shortcomings are also being addressed.

When Flower was asked about Fakhar Zaman’s availability in the next game, he replied that he is likely to be fit for the third ODI of the series.

“He has struggled a little bit, but he is a navy man so he should be tough enough to get through it, so hopefully we will see him,” he told.

“He landed on the ball while fielding in the first ODI, but then when he came out to bat, he batted pretty well, then it just stiffened up overnight,” he shared how Fakhar suffered the injury.

Grant Flower has advised the batsmen to have quick feet, practice as much as they can in the nets with a slab to help them get used to of the extra bounce.

The Pakistan batting coach rated Blackcaps very high, but he is still hopeful that Pakistan can replicate their performance of Champions Trophy in the remaining of the tour.

“We won the Champions Trophy when we were down and out, there is no good reason why we cannot do it again,” he concluded.