United coach underlines importance of bench strength

KARACHI: Keeping in view the hot and challenging conditions of the UAE, Islamabad United head coach Johan Botha said on Wednesday that in the HBL PSL-6 Abu Dhabi leg the bench strength will be very important.

“Obviously there can be a lot of sweat and dew, the ball can get slippery and the batters may change gloves a lot. I think we need to be on top of making sure our guys get cool down between overs and get them drinks,” Johan said in a news conference on Wednesday.

“I think in this tournament at the moment and the way it can go your bench will be so important and they will need to help the guys on the field. It’s going to be a complete team effort, not just the playing XI, it’s going to be the full squad which will be involved and as a squad we can get the job done,” Johan said.

Islamabad United were scheduled to face Lahore Qalandars as PSL-6 was set to resume in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

“The weather has its effect but I think having spent a week already and held different training sessions at different times no one complains and we are focussing on the start not how hot it is,” said Johan, a former South African cricketer.

Johan said they have learnt from their mistakes in the Karachi leg. “It’s obviously a tricky one you know. The trend in early tournament was chasing was a bit successful. Early in the tournament we did not bat really well in our first innings because before us were high scoring games and we thought we needed to do something similar. And I think we learnt a lot from that game,” he said.

He was happy with the job of the bowling consultant Rumman Raees, and rated his young bowlers high. “We are hundred percent happy with the way Rumman is doing his job. He always speaks to the boys, good in both languages, he is a great middleman for me,” Johan said. “Yes all three youngsters are bowling beautifully at the moment. Wasim Junior, Zeeshan and Akif Javed are doing well. Akif, who missed the Karachi leg due to injury, is back and his presence has strengthened our team. I am sure we can see all of them in this tournament and I think Islamabad United can play two of the young guys in one game.