Pakistan aim to Gul-Doze hosts

Brutal fast-bowling by Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq has given Pakistan a chance to salvage their pride.

KARACHI: Pakistan remain confident of completing their remarkable comeback in the One-Day International (ODI) series by winning the fifth and final match to seal the series against England and end the eventful tour on a winning note.

The brilliant comeback, after losing the two opening matches, has been courtesy brutal fast-bowling by Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq and has given Pakistan a chance to salvage their on-field pride after losing the Test and the Twenty20 series.

“We’re improving and getting stronger after every match and that gives me the confidence that we have a better chance of winning the series,” Afridi told The Express Tribune ahead of the day-night clash in Southampton. “I’m very happy with the team’s performance, they clicked at the right time and even if we lose, we have shown a lot of commitment.”

Unperturbed by the verbal onslaught

“The English players are trying to pressurise us by their comments but it’s giving us more courage and it has turned out to be an advantage for us,” said the captain before adding that his team was focusing on the final game. “We know the importance of this match, it would give us the series so we’re keeping our focus on it.”

The final ODI at the Rose Bowl will mark the end of a long tour for Pakistan that started at the end of June and also saw Pakistan play a ‘home’ Twenty20 and Test series against Australia. Pakistan drew the Test series 1-1 after whitewashing Australia in the two-match Twenty20 series.

“It has been a long tour during which we had some nightmarish events. A victory in the last match would end it on a positive note.”

‘Performance is the best response’

Afridi felt that a good performance would be the best reply to critics who are alleging players of fixing and calling for a ban on the Pakistan cricket team.

“These people are trying to isolate Pakistan from the cricketing world and our good performance would be the best reply to them. I don’t want to enter in a war of words but I know that as long as we perform and give our best, no one can isolate us.”

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis, too, expressed his delight at the team’s performance and said that the young outfit was changing into a winning combination.

Abdul Qadir

“Pakistan have a real chance to prove the critics wrong. If they end this series on a winning note, there won’t be much for others to pick on. They’ve won the last two matches, they would have an upper hand in the decider.”

Zaheer Abbas

“England officials and players should be praised for their positive stance despite the controversy. Had the England-Pakistan series been finished it would have been a great loss to the millions of fans.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2010.