Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi warned World Cup rivals not to underestimate his team, saying the players had turned a new leaf after the match-fixing scandal.
Afridi admitted Pakistan had been blown away by the scandal, which saw former captain Salman Butt and two leading pacemen, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, punished for their alleged involvement. All three were banned for a minimum of five years, which ruled them out of the World Cup.
Pakistan rebuild
“We’re going through a very tough situation,” said Afridi. “But I’m very happy because we’re trying to rebuild the team and keep the morale high.
“We all know how important the World Cup is for our country. The message for other teams is that no one should underestimate us.”
Afridi’s team will play practice matches against Bangladesh and England in Dhaka over the next few days, before their first Cup match against Kenya in the Sri Lankan town of Hambantota on February 23.
‘Focused and united’
Afridi said his team was “focused and united” under his leadership. “They’re hungry for a victory at the big event,” he said, adding that wins in New Zealand had bolstered the team’s morale.
“It is good to see Kamran Akmal back in the team. Misbahul Haq is in good form and Younus Khan is also batting well. I am also very happy with our bowling. We have two genuine spinners and some good fast-bowlers, especially Shoaib Akhtar.”
Afridi said fans would see a vastly improved Pakistan in the World Cup. “God willing, we will achieve our goal.”
Afridi also paid tribute to manager Intikhab Alam and coach Waqar Younis for keeping the team in good spirits amid the controversy.
“They are really doing a very good job,” he said. “They have assured the atmosphere in the dressing room is healthy.”
Return of international cricket
Pakistan was initially due to co-host the tournament with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, but were stripped of hosting rights after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team in 2009. Afridi said he hoped international cricket would return to his country soon. “We are desperate to host the best teams. I am sure that will happen in the near future.”
Murali hopes to end on a high
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan bowler Muttiah Mura-litharan goes into his fourth and final World Cup praying that he ends his glorious international career on a high. “My role for this World Cup is to take as many wickets as possible,” says Murali. “I just want to focus on my performance and not think about anything else.”
Muralitharan, the world’s leading wicket-taker in both Tests (800) and one-dayers (517), admitted there had been growing pressure from fans to repeat the 1996 feat. “A win would be a memorable one for me and the fans,” he said.
Sri Lanka will host 12 World Cup matches, including three at a new 22,000-seater stadium in Murali’s home district of Kandy.
England bowler Stuart Broad
“We take every game seriously. We prepare properly and make sure there’s no stone left unturned its important for the group and even our warm-up games to make sure we hit the ground running.”
India batsman Virender Sehwag
“I think I never played 50 overs in one-day cricket. The maximum I faced is 42 to 44 overs. This time I will try my best to bat 50 overs if I can.
I have been trying for the past 10 years, and I’m still trying.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2011.
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