Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi on Sunday said the team is fully prepared for the World Cup T20 in India.
"The team is mentally ready to play in India and its practice is going on well," the captain said while addressing the media in Kolkata.
Boom boom termed every match of the World Twenty 20 cricket tournament important and said his team wants to begin their campaign with a triumph. “All matches in the World T20 are important for us. Team India are playing very good cricket and if you look at the last match we played against India in Asia Cup they did really well specially Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh. But we also gave them a tough time,” Afridi said.
World T20: Pakistan arrives in Kolkata amid high security
India are playing very good cricket. If you look at last game against us in Asia cup, Virat & Yuvraj did really well: Shahid Afridi #WT20
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2016
The 36-year-old all-rounder said he rarely enjoys playing cricket in any other part of the world as much as he enjoys playing it in India. “There are very few nations where I've enjoyed cricket as much as I've enjoyed cricket in India.”
India mein humne humesha cricket enjoy kia,yahan ke logon se humein bahut pyar mila,itna pyar humein Pak mein bhi ni mila jitna yahan-Afridi
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2016
There are very less nations where I've enjoyed cricket as much as I've enjoyed cricket in India-Shahid Afridi #WT20 pic.twitter.com/U3dr75miSM
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2016
Further, responding to a question whether it will be Pakistan’s bowling versus India’s batting Afridi replied with a wide smile on his face that: “The same has been happening for sixty years.”
World T20: Azhar Mahmood tells Pakistan to play fearless cricket
Regarding the recent criticism on his team’s dismal performance in the Asia Cup, the Pakistani captain said: “When you have played for 20 years you obviously face ups and downs but the real player is the one who faces the criticism and takes it positively. There has been a lot of criticism against me and I have taken it positively and gave a response only through my performance.”
Need to improve our skills in batting: Shoaib Malik
Meanwhile, veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik said his team needs to improve skills in batting and techniques, hoping that it will help them get “back on track”.
We are working, we need to improve our skills in batting and techniques. Soon we will be back on track-Shoaib Malik pic.twitter.com/BDNvWdPIXv
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2016
Yes, we are little bit behind if you talk about short-term versions & little bit of ODIs as well: Shoaib Malik pic.twitter.com/kMbKXscenX
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2016
Waqar confident team will do well in World T20
The former Pakistan captain thanked the Indian government for providing ample security for the Pakistani team in wake of security threats. “I am very happy to be in India, I always get a lot of love. I am honoured to be in India.”
I would like to thank the Indian Govt, security is very good-Shoaib Malik #WT20 pic.twitter.com/8ogRsdoy0k
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2016
I am very happy to be in India, I always get a lot of love. I am honored to be in India-Shoaib Malik pic.twitter.com/nO7FQxWKUh
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2016
My wife is from India. I come to India a lot, I never had any security- Shoaib Malik #WT20 pic.twitter.com/0FWENSSgId
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2016
Malik further said the World T20 was a great opportunity for his team “to perform well and bring Pakistan where the rest of the world is.”
Batsmen must play responsibly in World T20: Afridi
This is a great opportunity for us to perform well and bring Pakistan where the rest of the world is: Shoaib Malik #WT20
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2016
It’s a new tournament; we are here to give our best: Shoaib Malik #WT20 pic.twitter.com/vFBZeMkYxm
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2016
The Pakistan cricket team arrived in Kolkata, the capital of India’s West Bengal state, on Saturday evening amid tight security to take part in the World Twenty20 cricket tournament.
Before arriving in the Indian city, the 27-member Pakistani squad reached Abu Dhabi from Lahore and rested for some time before boarding a flight for Kolkata.
The contingent, comprising 15 players, 12 officials and support staff, reached the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 7:55 pm amid tight security only a day after the cricket board received a green signal from the government to travel to India.
Their first match of the main tournament will be held at Eden Gardens on March 16 against a qualifier team, followed by the marquee clash against arch-rival India at the same venue on March 19. They will then take on New Zealand (March 22) and Australia (March 25) in their remaining Group B matches — both in Mohali.
Pakistan green-lights World T20 appearance
The Pakistan team was to fly out on Wednesday but the government put their departure on hold, citing security concerns. On Thursday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan ruled out sending the team until special security assurances were met from India.
The matter was solved following security assurances from the Indian government.
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