Pakistan bowling coach Shaun Tait came very close to losing his cool in a tense conversation with a journalist during the press conference at the end of day 4 of the second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi.

Pakistan has been set 319 runs to win the second Test and the series and finished day 4 on 0/2 losing Abdullah Shafique and Mir Hamza.

The point of contention has been the poor performance of the Pakistani fast bowlers in Test matches at home, especially in the last three Test series including this one. Pakistan lost to Australia 0-1 and then was whitewashed and humiliated by England 0-3.

While making this the main point of contention, a journalist asked Shaun Tait to justify the performance of fast bowlers.

He said: “Poor performance by Pakistan fast bowlers in the 5 Tests in home series. How can you justify their performance?”

Tait replied: “That’s your opinion”.

The question was repeated once more: “It’s not the opinion of Majid Bhatti (the senior journalist who asked the earlier question) but an opinion of entire Pakistan nation that Pakistan did not bowl well – I am talking about fast bowlers. I am asking you are you satisfied by your performance as bowling coach?”

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Tait’s answer to this was: “You are answering your question before you ask it. You are saying that’s your opinion. You are saying performances have been poor – okay, that’s your opinion! What do you want me to say? Ask me the question”.

The journalist then presumably repeated the last part of the question asking him if he was satisfied with his performance as a bowling coach.

Tait replied, “Yes, I am satisfied!” And he smiled, got up, and left.

New Zealand made 449, and restricted Pakistan to 408 before declaring their second innings at 277 for 5. In their chase, Pakistan is 125/5 at lunch on day 5 chasing 319 runs to win.

Here is the video of the interaction: