Disappointed with Pakistan's attitude: Vettori

[Kool Guy]

Disappointed with Pakistan's attitude: Vettori
Tapan Joshi (Sportz Interactive) Saturday, September 22, 2007 9:27:25 PM

Cape Town: The semi-final clash in the ICC World Twenty20 Championship at the Newlands cricket ground here on Saturday left New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori with a bitter tongue, and it had nothing to do with the crushing defeat against Pakistan. The left-arm spinner suggested that Pakistan had acted against the spirit of the game, when Imran Nazir called for a runner citing groin injury.

The New Zealand players believe Nazir had faked the injury. "We are disappointed," said Vettori, "The way he was charging down the wicket, running around and finally leapt in his teammate's arms proved he was not injured. This is not the way we play our cricket."

On their part, the Pakistanis insist Nazir was injured and he couldn't run. "He definitely had a groin injury and he needed a runner. Nothing more should be looked into it," said skipper Shoaib Malik.

Vettori, however, was full of praise for seamer Umar Gul. "When someone takes three for 15 in a Twenty20 game, it simply kills you," he said.

For Pakistan, this Ramzaan is a special occasion, like it was in 1992 when they won the World Cup in the holy month. "The entire nation is praying for us and we hope to give them this World Cup as Idd ul Fitr gift," said Malik.

Added Malik, 'Hum apni jaan laga denge (we will fight with all our might) but we will win this Cup." His sentiments were echoed by Gul, declared man of the match. He said, "Now, we just have to win this World Cup. It is a special occasion for all of us and we will do everything we can to win."

Talking about his preparation, Gul said, "We had camps prior to this event where we practiced bowling yorkers and other stuff. Aaquib Javed, the former Pakistan paceman, helped me and lot and I also benefited from attending camps conducted by Wasim Akram."