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Rediff.com  » Cricket » World T20 snapshots: 'If I could dance like Gayle, I would have danced all night'
This article was first published 10 years ago

World T20 snapshots: 'If I could dance like Gayle, I would have danced all night'

March 29, 2014 14:05 IST

Image: West Indies' Chris Gayle,right, celebrates victory against Australia with his teammates
Photographs: Andrew Biraj/Reuters

Australian chief coach Darren Lehmann made no bones about the fact that his team has produced "disappointing performance" in the ongoing World

Twenty20 as they are virtually out of contention for a semi-finals berth.

"It's very much disappointing as we have had around 70 per cent success in all three formats coming into the tournament. We have enjoyed a good six months prior to this. But this is a learning curve for the team. For a coach and the captain, it is both good and bad situation to be in," former Aussie left-hander Lehmann said prior to their third group league encounter against India.

He was asked about Chris Gayle's 'Gangnam Dance' and the coach replied in a cocky manner, "If I could dance like Gayle, I would have danced my way all night!"

Lehmann was unhappy that his boys have lost matches from a potentially winning situation. But he does not think that it has got anything to do with sub-continental jinx.

On the India game, Lehmann said that the experience of the seven-match series in the sub-continent last year will come in handy.

I want another shot at Indian batsmen: Ajmal

Image: Saeed Ajmal
Photographs: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Pakistan off-spinner, Saeed Ajmal wants another shot at the Indian batsmen in the ongoing World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

"We have two more group matches to play in this tournament and they are must win matches for us if we want to qualify for the semi-finals," Ajmal said.

"Right now my focus is just to win these two important games. But yes I would love to have another duel with the Indian batsmen in this event," he added.

The off-spinner, who is a leading bowler in the ICC rankings in different formats, said if Pakistan were able to qualify for the semi finals he would not rule out another match with India in the tournament.

Pakistan lost to India in the group match in an one-sided encounter with Ajmal also not firing on all cylinders. But the off spinner made it clear he always enjoyed his duels with the Indian batsmen.

Saqlain's presence in West Indies camp makes Pakistan uneasy

Image: Saqlain Mushtaq
Photographs: Arko Datta/Reuters

The presence of former Pakistan spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq in the West Indies camp has made the Pakistan management and players uneasy ahead of a clash between the two teams in the World T20 which is expected to decide the semifinals line up.

Saqlain, 37, who took 208 Test and 288 one-day wickets for Pakistan has been working with the West Indies board as spin consultant and is with the West Indies team in Bangladesh. His role has so far got praise from West Indian spinners, Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine.

And in return, Saqlain who has also worked with the Bangladesh and New Zealand teams has described Badree and Narine as world class operators.

Badree said Saqlain had a calming influence on the team and that helped their performance.

Sources in the Pakistan team said that having played with Saqlain for a long time, head coach, Moin Khan was aware the influence the former off-spinner could have on the coming match.

Saqlain, who is seen as a trend setter and was perhaps the first off-spinner to fully master the "Doosra" delivery, said he was a professional and his primary job as spin consultant was to see the West Indian spinners deliver their best against any opponent.