NEW DELHI: Pakistan's bowling coach, Morne Morkel, expressed his team's support for Usama Mir after his dropped catch provided an opening for Australia to secure a crucial victory in the ICC World Cup match in Bengaluru on Friday.
Mir, a leg-spinner making his World Cup debut, missed a straightforward catch off bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, which would have dismissed David Warner in the fifth over of the game.
At the time of the drop, Warner had scored just 10 runs, but he went on to make a magnificent 163, hitting nine sixes and 14 boundaries, helping Australia post a formidable total of 367 for 9.
Warner and Mitchell Marsh (121) put together a partnership of 259 runs for the opening wicket.
Pakistan faced a middle-order collapse and were eventually bowled out for 305 in 45.3 overs, resulting in a 62-run loss.
Morne Morkel stated: "Fortunately, the team atmosphere is very strong, and everyone in that dressing room will support Usama. It was a dropped catch. Anyone can drop catches on any given day; it's part of the game."
Usama, 27, was playing in only his ninth one-day international match, replacing fellow leg-spinner Shadab Khan. Morkel emphasized that this is a significant learning opportunity for Mir, expressing confidence in his ability to overcome the setback.
"This is a big opportunity for Mir to learn, and I am sure that he will overcome this," added Morkel. "It is up to us to support him during tough times. The character he has shown as a player is strong, and I am sure he will get through it."
Morkel, who had a distinguished career for South Africa, acknowledged the pressure that comes with playing in a World Cup, describing it as a big stage with narrow margins and occasional brutality.
He also praised Shaheen for his resilience, as the Pakistani strike bowler overcame the disappointment of the dropped catch to take 5 for 54 in the game.
Morkel added that the absence of pace bowler Naseem Shah due to injury had impacted Pakistan's fast bowling resources, and he expressed his support for Haris Rauf, another pace bowler who gave his best despite conceding 24 runs in the first over he bowled in the match.
Pakistan have now lost two consecutive matches, and their position in the 10-nation tournament is fifth, with only the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals.
(With AFP inputs)
