Imran tells cricketers to inculcate team spirit

Premier in a meeting with T20 squad says Pakistan is a safe country and international cricket will soon return

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday advised the national cricket team to inculcate the team spirit, adopt aggressive posturing and play with the passion for winning.

The prime minister, who had captained Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup winning team, met the national cricket team and gave the players tips to become a successful cricketer, while sharing his success story.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shahbaz Gill, Senator Faisal Javed and Pakistan Cricket Board (PBC) Chairman Ramiz Raja were also present during the meeting. During the meeting, Imran described truthfulness and honesty as the principles of success.

“One can change his fate through hard work and struggle,” he said. He advised the players to opt for the course of earning respect and not money; and play for the team and the nation which had their eyes on their performance.

The prime minister said that the whole nation wished their success for being the representatives of Pakistan in the world. “You have no dearth of talent as the whole world recognises the talent of the Pakistanis,” he remarked.

Referring to the Islamic history, the prime minister exemplified the defeat of a huge army by 313 Muslims in the Battle of Badr and conquering of huge empires like Rome and Persian just within 13 years.

Underscoring the importance of team spirit, Imran Khan told the players to enter the playground with full confidence and a passion to win. “The team playing to avert defeat could never win,” he remarked.

Recalling his cricketing career, Imran said they had steered the Pakistan cricket from decrepitude to win the World Cup. “You have to play offensively. The team playing in defensive mode can never win. It were we who had introduced attacking technique in cricket,” the prime minister commented.

He said every successful individual had to meet failure, which became a source for learning. The prime minister called for teams’ nerve strengthening and teaching them to enjoy the pressure instead of getting frustrated.

He also guided the team to focus on taking the wicket, which was different from run blocking. He also advised the players to emerge as a strong team as the whole nation had pinned hopes on them.