Saqib Mahmood will learn from Barbados nightmare, says Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali, who was named Player of the Match in the second T20I versus West Indies for his all-round contribution, has stated that young Saqib Mahmood, who had a game to forget, will learn from the nightmare he endured in Barbados. 

With West Indies needing 30 to win off the final over, skipper Eoin Morgan summoned Mahmood, whose first three overs had cost 17 runs.

To Mahmood’s utter horror, the unthinkable almost happened as the Windies ended up taking 28 runs off the over, nearly getting over the line. Akeal Hosein hit two fours and three sixes to round off the horror day for the 24-year-old.

Speaking after the game, Moeen asserted that the game on Sunday will help Mahmood, who he believes will learn from the bad experience.

"He will learn a hell of a lot today. He's still young, he's still finding his way. He's been in and around the squad after bowling so well in the summer in England. It just shows that in different conditions, you've got to bowl differently,” Moeen said after the game, reported ESPN Cricinfo.

"I'm sure he'll be thinking about things that he can improve on but he's got so much talent and I think someone like him, you've got to go through this to get better and I'm sure he'll be taking this as a lesson. Hopefully he can learn from it but he's got so much ability.

"I always believe it's good sometimes for a young batsman to fail a little bit and a young bowler to get hit because you can only learn from that. I'm sure he's going to do that."

After a golden duck in the first game, Moeen delivered the goods for the side in the second, scoring a quickfire 31 with the bat before claiming three wickets with the ball. The veteran claimed that, in the absence of several key players, it was important for the senior players in the side to step up.

"With such great players missing - guys who perform all the time almost - we have to step up and show our experience and lead from the front," he said. "That's what Morgs [Eoin Morgan] wants from us.

"We have to do that with the guys who haven't played much, so they can watch, learn and also try and perform as well. I think the senior players have to step up in a series like this for us to compete and win the series.”

The third T20I of the series will be played on January 26.