While speaking to media reporters after winning the tour-opening T20 International here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, on Tuesday night, Hafeez said that the team played according to the plan and did not take unnecessary risks. He also termed lanky seamer Mohammad Irfan as a surprise package for both India and Pakistan.
"It is a great effort as we wanted to do well at the start of the series," said Hafeez at the post-match presentation ceremony after winning the first T20 encounter by five wickets.
"Mohammed Irfan was the surprise package for us and everybody. We knew that we had a good attack with Umar Gul who has always been good with the old ball. Our bowlers restricted India where we wanted them to," he added further.
After opting to field first, the Pakistan bowlers restricted India to a middling 133 for 9 in their allotted quota of twenty overs. None of the Indian batsmen, except openers Gautam Gambhir (43) and Ajinkya Rahane (42), could manage to get past the 10-run mark, as the hosts slumped from 77 without loss to 133 for 9 at the end of the 20th over.
Umar Gul was the pick of the visiting attack, finishing with three wickets, including the prized scalp of Yuvraj Singh. Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets, while debutant Mohammad Irfan removed danger man Virat Kohli (caught behind on 9).
In reply, Pakistan got off to a wobbly start, losing three wickets inside first three overs of their chase, with the team’s total just 12. However, skipper Hafeez (61) and experienced Shoaib Malik (57 not out) rescued the side sharing a 106-run stand between them for the fourth wicket.
About their batting plan the Pakistan skipper, who walked away with the Man of the Match award, said, "Once the spinners came on, after the new ball, we knew we had a chance, we took a risk at the right time."
The second and final T20 International between India and Pakistan will be played in Ahmedabad on Friday.
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