Cricket: Buoyed Pakistan hungry for more success

Team manage­r hails achiev­ement after sixth straig­ht ODI series win.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s record sixth consecutive One-Day International (ODI) series triumph has left the players hungry for even more success and they intend to achieve it by bringing improvement in their performances, says team manager Naveed Akram Cheema.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 76 runs in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match  series  and  also secured their sixth straight series win this year.

Earlier in the year they defeated New Zealand and West Indies by identical margins of 3-2 before whitewashing Ireland (2-0) and Zimbabwe (3-0). In their comparatively tougher challenge, they outclassed Sri Lanka 4-1.

Previously Pakistan had captured five successive series-wins twice: the first one under Imran Khan’s leadership in 1989-90 and the second one in 2002 when Waqar Younis and Inzamamul Haq led the team.

However, according to Cheema, setting records was not on the minds of the players, who are instead targeting wins on a series-by-series basis.

“It’s a great achievement but the team doesn’t aim to stop here,” Cheema told The Express Tribune from Dhaka.

“During our team meetings, I can see the determination of the players and the hungriness they display for more and more victories. All the players want to continue the momentum by winning the series.”

The manager was also impressed by the players’ keenness to bring improvement in their game.

“Besides team spirit and discipline, the boys have also shown their willingness to bring improvement in their game, which is very vital. It’ll help the team in important series ahead against England.”

Cheema also said that the team is keen on completing a whitewash by winning the third ODI against Bangladesh tomorrow.

“There’s no such thing called complacency in this team. We are aiming for a win.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2011.