The wait is over for Pakistan fans

Afridi and Co. launch their World Cup campaign against Kenya today.

HAMBANTOTA: Pakistan kick off their World Cup campaign against Kenya today as captain Shahid Afridi vowed to win the World Cup for millions of weary fans back home who lost out on the showpiece event when their country became a no-go zone.

International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan ever since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore two years ago which left eight people dead and injured seven visiting players and their assistant coach. Pakistan were among the four co-hosts of the 2011 World Cup but the International Cricket Council was forced to move the matches.

“Not playing in our country is on our minds,” said Afridi. “We feel for our nation, our people who are missing the World Cup.”

Besides the suspension of international cricket, Pakistan has also been hit by the spot-fixing scandal, which ended in lengthy bans on Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. Afridi admitted it was hard to keep the team in the right frame of mind against a background of such problems.

“It was difficult to keep the team settled in the beginning,” said Afridi, himself banned for two matches on charges of ball-tampering during a One-Day International (ODI) in Australia in 2010. “We had to rebuild but now our team is settled.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board delayed in retaining him as captain for the World Cup until he won his first ODI series in New Zealand earlier this month.

“It’s difficult to be the captain in India or Pakistan, you have to make sacrifices. But my effort is always that I do well as a captain or as a player.”

‘Team eager to start afresh’

Coach Waqar Younis also sang the same tune and believed the spot-fixing scandal will not have a detrimental effect.

“Whatever happened last year is now history. This is a new place and an important tournament, so we want to be fully focussed and start the event like India and New Zealand did.”

Hapless Kenya aim for improvement

Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande vowed to have a different approach, after his team was shot out for a paltry 69 against New Zealand.

“Next game, it’ll be different opposition and a different approach from us,” said Kamande, whose team reached the semi-final in the 2003 World Cup. “I would be happy as long as we improve.”

Kenya have never met Pakistan in a World Cup match but have lost all five ODIs against the 1992 champions.

Junaid ready to seize chance

Barely a month ago rookie fast-bowler Junaid Khan was planning to watch the World Cup on television. But Sohail Tanvir’s injury gave him the chance to play on the biggest stage.

The 21-year-old is now aiming to step into the shoes of Mohammad Amir, who is serving a five-year ban on charges of corruption.

“I wish I was given a chance with him,” said Khan, who is from Sawabi, a small town in Pakistan’s troubled Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. “But it’s fate. I am happy to be part of the Pakistan team and want to do my best. We started our careers almost at the same time and were part of the junior team for the under-19 World Cup in 2008.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2011.