Leeds: Gulbadin Naib, who was controversially appointed captain in place of the successful Asghar Afghan two months before the World Cup, on Saturday defended his disastrous decision to bring himself on to bowl in the 46th over against Pakistan. The match was titled towards Afghans till the 46th over when Naib decided to put himself to bowl and conceded 18 runs.
Imad Wasim was green shirts' unlikely hero as Pakistan edge past Afghanistan to keep their World cup semifinals hope alive.
Speaking at the post-match press conference after his team's three-wicket defeat, Naib said a hamstring injury to paceman Hamid Hassan was the reason he had to bowl ten overs. Naib conceded 73 runs in his 9.4 wicketless overs.
"We had the feeling they weren't targeting every bowler," said Naib.
2019 WC: Naib defends costly decision to bowl himself against Pakistan
The Afghan skipper, however, also gave credit to Pakistan for their nervy win.
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"Every team has their plans and I thought the crucial point is for the 46th over that I bowled and 18 runs, it's not really good."
"If Hamid was there maybe I didn't bowl more than three or four overs because I do not have enough speed for this kind of surface," Naib added.
The Afghan skipper, however, also gave credit to Pakistan for their nervy win.
"I think the pressure was on the Pakistan side. But credit goes to them, how they played and how they finished the game," he said.
Afghanistan will next take on West Indies in their final match at Headingley on July 4.