'Jet lagged', but we weren't good, says West Indies skipper

KARACHI: West Indies’s skipper Jason Mohammad admitted his players felt jet lagged but were not good on the day as they were handed Twenty20 international’s second biggest defeat of 143 runs by Pakistan in the first of three Twenty20 internationals in Karachi on Sunday.

Pakistan equaled their highest Twenty20 total of 203-5 — also made against Bangladesh at this same venue in 2008 — before restricting the West Indies to their lowest Twenty20 international total of 60 all out in 13.4 overs.

The win gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with the second match on Monday (today) and the last on Tuesday (tomorrow) — all in Karachi.

Mohammad, who replaced regular skipper Carlos Brathwaite who skipped the series due to security reasons, fell for nought in an abysmal batting show by the visitors.

“Obviously there was a bit of jetlag, but I think our performance just wasn’t good enough at the end of the day,” said Moahmmad.

“Can’t be happy with our performance like this both with bat and ball, especially with the bat.”

Mohammad said his team needs big lift.

“We just have to improve allround, in all three dpeartments of the game, epecially with batting we need to apply ourselves. Our shot selection needs to be better and build partnerships. Losing wickets in every over put us under lot of pressure. We just have to be positive and be smarter about it.”

Mohammad felt happy at being part of cricket revival in Karachi, having hosted its first international match for nine years.

“Obviously it has been very nice, coming here, they have done excellent job, we feel safe, fans were very nice at the ground. We feel comfortable being here.”

Mohammad hoped his team will lift itself from the first defeat.

“Can’t change everything or do something else after jut one bad performance. These things do happen in cricket. Yes obviously it was a bad day for us, but you know if we get it right today and put in a better performance esepcially with the bat.”

He said losing early wickets pushed them on the back foot.

“Losing three wickets in the first two overs put you in a lot of pressure and that too your three top order batsmen. It’s just for us to put up better performance and build partnerships.

“I don’t think the wicket changed much, we like chasing with a bit of dew. I don’t think there was anything batting first or second.”

Mohammad accepted his team felt the absence of top players, like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Jason Holder.

“Obviously it’s nice when you have experienced players, because we can’t do much at this point of time because the guys have gone off to the IPL, yes we haven’t an experienced team, but I think the guys here can do the job as well, couple of senior guys and some youngsters who have come here they are quite capable of doing the job here. Hopefully we will do the job tomorrow, especially with the bat.”