'We are grateful to India for this gift': Pakistan head coach confuses everyone after loss to Team India

Islamabad, Sept 14: Pakistan was thrashed by arch-rivals India in a lopsided Asia Cup Super Four clash in Colombo on Monday. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul smashed centuries as the Men in Green were beaten record margin of 228 runs.

 

This was Pakistan's second-biggest loss in ODIs. There are some harsh words spoken by fans, former cricketers, etc. But Pakistan head coach Grant Bradburn did nothing of that sort. What he said after the confidence-denting defeat to India, was least expected.

  

 

Bradburn termed the loss a "gift" and thanked India for the treatment in the match. The former New Zealand international said the heavy pounding against India will serve as a "wake-up call" before the World Cup for a side that hasn't lost much in the last three months.

 

"My gut feeling is that we are grateful for the gift that has been this last two days," Bradburn told reporters.

 

"We don’t get to play some of the best players in the world very often," he added.

 

“We haven’t lost a game of cricket for the last three months, so it’s a timely reminder that we need to turn up every day, put in our best on the park, and it’s actually a gift in the last two days we haven’t done that.”

 

Reflecting on the game against India, the former New Zealand all-rounder did not mince words and admitted that his side was beaten in all aspects of the game. “We lost at all facets of the game. No excuses, we weren’t good enough in the last two days.”

 

Bradburn was appointed as the head coach of Pakistan on a two-year deal after a successful spell as consultant. The former Scotland head coach previously served as the fielding coach of the Pakistan side from 2018 to 2020 before a stint at their National Cricket Academy (NCA).