KARACHI: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said that his team will go all out as it seeks to clinch the series against New Zealand with the fourth One-Day International (ODI) today. Pakistan levelled the series in the last match, making a spectacular comeback to beat the hosts by 43 runs.
Opener Mohammad Hafeez struck a maiden ODI century and Afridi hit a whirlwind 65 as Pakistan posted 293 before restricting New Zealand to 250.
Afridi hoped the winning momentum will continue as Pakistan gear up for the World Cup starting on February 19.
“All we need is to carry on the momentum of our last game,” Afridi said from Napier. “The victory in the last game boosted the morale of players and the team is more confident for the rest of the series.”
The all-rounder added his side will go unchanged.
“I would like to go with the winning combination as any change might disrupt the team,” said Afridi. “We will go all out to win the remaining matches and hopefully take a lead to give us an edge.”
Waqar hints one change
However, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis told reporters in New Zealand that Pakistan might see a change in the line-up.
The change is expected to come in the form of a replacement for fast-bowler Sohail Tanvir.
The coach added that Pakistan will gain more from the current series than New Zealand heading into the World Cup in the sub-continent.
“This is going to help us more than New Zealand,” said Younis. “New Zealand are more used to these conditions and we are used to conditions in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India. We’ll probably cope better with that than them.”
‘Unperturbed with past failures at Napier’
Meanwhile, Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam hoped his team will improve its past record in Napier where it has lost all the four matches. Pakistan is yet to cross the 200-run mark at the venue as the batting continues to fail.
However, the manager said the players are less concerned with the past and are looking forward to gaining a lead in the series.
“The team is in good rhythm and is unperturbed with the past records at the venue,” said Alam. “All the players are focused and they remain confident of winning the match.”
‘Captain to be announced on Feb 4’
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will end the suspense on the World Cup captaincy after it makes a formal announcement on February 4.
While speaking to reporters in Napier, the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt said the announcement would be made a day before the sixth and final ODI against New Zealand.
Shahid Afridi has been tipped to retain the captaincy. Meanwhile, the PCB chief also hinted at the revival of the Pakistan-India series.
He said talks are underway and a series is expected at the end of this year at the neutral venue of England and added that the new central contract will be announced soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2011.
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