The introduction of Power play in the One-Dayers has made the job of bowlers all the more difficult to maintain consistency while playing on the batting pitches in the subcontinent, Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan said in Mirpur on Sunday.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had some tongue lashing of his bowlers for leaking runs in the tri-series here but Zaheer said One-day cricket's new rules have made his tribe's job more difficult, especially on the pitches that do not favour fast bowling.
"Consistency in bowling is required for the team to win matches. But it is a tough job for fast bowlers to bowl on subcontinental pitches. Then you have the new Power plays which has made our job all the more difficult," he said, after India qualified for the tri-series final, beating Sri Lanka by eight wickets.
"We are trying hard to do well and to maintain the consistency in bowling. But often it is difficult to bowl well for fast bowlers on batting pitches of the subcontinent. As a player it is important to be positive and give the best shot even on difficult situations for you," he said.
Zaheer, who was adjudged man of the match, said he was enjoying the role of a mentor to younger pacers but said coming in of a bowling coach would benefit the side.
"I am enjoying my role of giving advice to the youngsters. You learn from experience and so I am happy to share how I made the mistakes and rectify them," Zaheer said.
"That is why coming in of a bowling coach will help the bowlers. A specialist bowling coach will be a lot of help to the team especially the youngsters," said Zaheer who expressed satisfaction that he was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for bowling on batting pitches like at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Asked about when the bowling coach will join the team, he said, "I have no knowledge about it."
The senior pacer felt that One-day cricket has changed a lot with the advent of Twenty20 cricket and players playing in the T20 mode.
"I feel that Twenty20 has absolutely changed how the ODIs are played. Now lots of runs are being scored and the teams are adapting to T20," he said.
He also said that bowling first change was the team strategy and he would do whatever role he was assigned to by the team management.
Zaheer also praised the performance of young bowlers like Sudeep Tyagi and Ashok Dinda.
"Tyagi bowled well in Delhi (in the abandoned match last month against Sri Lanka) and he bowled well today also. Even Ashok Dinda is doing well so there is competition to break into the team and within the team. This is good for Indian cricket," said the pacer.
Team manager Arshad Ayub hinted that the side may field the same playing XI on Monday in the inconsequential match against Bangladesh, meaning Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra would be rested.
"We may play with the same strategy tomorrow but it may be different for the final against Sri Lanka (on January 13)," he said, adding that Sehwag was fit and fine.
