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Asia Cup

Wasim Akram said Sri Lanka showed tactical foresight by not playing Ajantha Mendis in the group game against India.

Mendis, who ran through the Indian top order in the final of the STAR Cricket Asia Cup on Sunday, had been rested for Sri Lanka's last Super Four game against India on Thursday.

The move had triggered myraid reactions from cricket experts, commentators and in the media, some of whom went to the extent of saying that Sri Lanka had "opted" to play India in the final by not fielding their full strength line-up.

However, Mendis' performance in the final made the experts and mediapersons eat their words.

"Mendis bamboozled everyone including the commentators," Akram told Mobile ESPN.

Akram said he hadn't seen Mendis neither had he heard too much about him before the final at Karachi.

"He's a phenomenal bowler. Picking up six wickets on a flat wicket is a commendable feat," said the former Pakistan skipper.

Sri Lanka's move to not expose the spinner to India in the Super Four game was a "tactical move and it worked very well", Akram admitted.

Speaking about India's strategy to field first after winning the toss, the former pacer said skipper MS Dhoni had relied on his batsmen to chase whatever target was set for them.

"If you're batting is strong, you will chase; if you're bowling is strong, you will defend. But I believe in a big match, you should always bat first and set a target," he said.

He said India had started well when they picked up the early wickets and "it seemed that they will restrict Sri Lanka to under 200, but then they gave away runs".

"Irfan was below average. He got the wickets when they went for the shots, not when India really needed them the most. There was no one in India to go for the kill," Akram observed.

The former Pakistan captain, who had backed India to win the tournament, said India need to be consistent. India have lost 18 of the last 22 finals that they have figured in. "It shows that India does get nervous and India will have to work on the mental aspect of their game," said Akram.