Yawar upbeat on Pakistan’s chances

KARACHI: Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed is confident that the team will get the best results when they will meet their neigbouring counterparts in the upcoming Asia Cup starting from June 15 in Dambulla, Sri Lanka.

The national players are busy flexing their muscles at the training camp under lights at Lahore’s Qadaffi Stadium and with the return of banned senior players to the side, Saeed expressed satisfaction at the national team’s preparation level to win the continental event.

“All the boys are working very hard and they are enjoying their drills. I am confident they would give better results in Asia Cup,” the manager told The Express Tribune on Tuesday. Saeed, also a former first class cricketer said equal emphasis is being given to all the departments of the game including fielding, batting and bowling in the camp concluding later today.

“The players are working in all aspects of the game including bowling, fielding and batting and atmosphere in the camp has been great,” he added.

Pakistan will meet hosts and defending champions Sri Lanka in the opening match of Asia Cup on June 15 before locking horns against arch rivals India on June 19, followed by Bangladesh on June 21. They will depart on from Karachi June 12 for Sri Lanka. The manager believes the team is ready for the challenge and expressed faith in the youngsters that have been included in the squad.

“The players are ready, it is a balanced side and the presence of youngsters in middle-order is also not an issue,” said Saeed, adding the inclusion of Umer Amin and Asad Shafiq may also prove to be a huge boost by saying the duo has performed well in domestic season. “Shoaib Malik is also there to give a boost to our batting,” he said.

Akhtar preparing hard

Shoaib Akhtar who will be making a comeback after over a year is also preparing hard to make his international comeback, a success.  “We are so far satisfied with Shoaib’s performance. He is training hard and there are no injury issues with the pacer,” said Saeed, adding that Pakistan has enough bowling options to cope up with world’s top batsmen during the competition.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2010.