15 June,2017 09:00 AM IST | Cardiff | PTI
Sarfraz Ahmed lauds pacer's three-wicket haul as Pakistan registered an eight-wicket win to knock out hosts England to seal berth for Sunday's Champions Trophy 2017 final clash
Sarfraz Ahmed, Hasan Ali
Pakistan's Hasan Ali celebrates the fall of an England wicket during the first semi-final yesterday. Pic/AFP
Pakistan Sarfraz Ahmed yesterday credited the support staff for keeping the team in good spirits after loss against India, following which the side staged a sensational turnaround to reach the Champions Trophy final.
"Credit goes to the bowlers. We really bowled well. Mohammad Amir did not play but Rumman Raees came and bowled really well," said Sarfraz after Pakistan stunned England in the first semi-final.
He was all praise for pacer Hasan Ali, who took a three-wicket haul for the third time in a row. "He's very impressive, hopefully he will do that in the final. Whenever he comes on he's gets wickets."
What led to the turnaround after the India game? "After India, every game was a knockout game, I said to the players to just play your game," he said.
Asked about a possible re-match in the final on Sunday, Sarfraz said: "Both teams (India and Bangladesh) are playing well, so we will play whoever gets through."
Sarfraz Ahmed
England captain Eoin Morgan said his team did not simply adapt to the conditions.
"We did not adapt to conditions. Pakistan outplayed us. It was a used pitch but you should be able to play on all kinds of surface at this level.
"Pakistan did that well and played better. We did prepare, Pakistan bowled well but we didn't adjust and 200 isn't competitive, 250-270 would be a good score."
