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Neither ashamed nor in a mood to quit after Pakistan failed to qualify for the World Cup semifinals, skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed on Sunday said he can take his young team to the "next level".
Addressing a press conference, hours after returning from London, the wicketkeeper-batsman said the team did not fare poorly and was close to making the knockout stage.
He flatly refused suggestions that it's time he gives up captaincy.
Pakistan finished fifth in the World Cup after they lost the semifinal race to New Zealand on Net-Run-Rate.
"I am satisfied with our performance and we should have reached the semis but in overall context and given the tough conditions we faced in England I think we did respectably well. I have not thought about leaving the captaincy.”
"I know that if I get a chance to continue, we as a team will make more progress," he said.
Sarfaraz said Pakistan had not only encountered tough conditions but the criticism and reaction of some people after the defeat to India was very hurtful.
He said that after going through so much after first five matches, the team had really fought back well to win four matches on a trot.
But the pitches variation was something which we didn't expect in the tournament. We were tested and we played badly against Australia and India."
The Pakistan captain made it clear he had no problems or differences with either head coach Mickey Arthur, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq or any players.
"The teams we selected in the World Cup, it was the three of us doing it. There was no dispute. There was no interference in my authority. I think we did our best but yes mistakes were made."
He also defended the decision to not play young bowler Muhammad Hasnain.
"There were senior bowlers available and we did not get a match, where we could give him an opportunity. We picked Wahab Riaz after the bilateral series with England and realising we needed some pace and experience in our bowling attack.”concluded the Pakistan skipper.
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