Azhar Mahmood on Pak’s Champions Trophy, Trophy is not surprising they proved in last ODIs and Test series

Karachi :After making history by beating India comprehensively in the final of ICC Champions Trophy 2017 at the Oval Azhar Mahmood is bursting with pride.

He said that their turnaround was not new and that it was also present during their last ODIs and Test series against West Indies.

Pakistan hammered India by 180 runs to lift the ICC Champions Trophy. Mahmood said. “Our improvement in all departments was phenomenal and whether it was batting, bowling or fielding we seemed to click at the right time to win the trophy. The improvement we saw was not only there in the way we turned around our fortunes during the Champions Trophy, but this was also there beforehand with our performances in the West Indies series where we showed great energy not only in ODIs but also in the Test matches as well.”

He added. “There is no better feeling than knowing that we have won the ICC Champions Trophy or any major tournament for that matter. One can only praise the Almighty for His reward for our hard work before and during this tournament not only in our bowling but in the overall sense.”

Mahmood said that he felt quite disappointed to see that no one credited his side for the hard work they had put in during the tournament.

“As a coach involved with the winning side, this is the best feeling one can have, but it gets better if we consider the fact that we won the final against our arch-rival India and lifted the Champions Trophy. We did so, at a time when no one gave us any chance of success. No one gave us any credit for the hard-work we put in as we prepared for this tournament and we were written-off after our defeat to India in the tournament opener.”

Praising all the players he said that both young as well as senior players responded really well to their objective of playing good brand of cricket.

“It was a team effort at the Champions Trophy and especially pleasing if we consider the fact that this is a young team which helped us win. The lads represent the future for Pakistan but it was also great to see the seniors responding well. So, players like Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez responded really well to our objective of playing the brand of cricket which we now want to play,” he said.

This is Pakistan’s first ICC title triumph since their 2009 World Twenty20 win by winning the finals by massive 180 runs. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also announced price money of Rs.1 crore each for every player of the national cricket team, as a reward for winning their maiden Champions Trophy.