Sport - Cricket

‘Fatigue factor affecting team’

Karachi: M.S. Dhoni stressed that the Indian team is struggling with the fatigue factor due to constant cricket.

“We hardly get any time for rest and recovery. Here in the Asia Cup, we are having back-to-back matches and that does affect our performance. I think just us and another team (Sri Lanka) have back-to-back matches ahead,” the Indian skipper said during the course of the post-match press conference here late on Saturday.

Queried on the lacklustre fielding, Dhoni’s answer again reiterated the dipping energy levels.

“I don’t know what it is and its not just our players who are dropping catches. Even other teams are suffering from it. Yes we look tired and the intensity wasn’t much on the field. Hopefully the next few days of rest will help us recover,” Dhoni said.

Dhoni also praised Suresh Raina’s hundred. “He played straight in the ‘V’ and he is coming up the order which also helps because when you come at six or seven, you end up scoring 20s and 30s and your average dips and after a few bad matches, you are forced into domestic cricket. Raina has come back well,” Dhoni said.

He also gave due credit to Alok Kapali’s knock that went in vain for Bangladesh.

Dhoni also lauded debutant left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha’s effort. “He bowled with the right pace instead of rushing it and according to the field that we set. He also fielded well. As for our overall bowling, it can improve,” Dhoni said.

The Indian skipper also said that the pitches have stayed firm. These are absolute flat tracks and thankfully there isn’t much wear and tear.

“They are still the same though in our match against Hong Kong, it tended to get a bit slow but largely the wickets have been fine and there are runs in it,” Dhoni said.

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