ICC World T20: Professor unravels success formula

Captain pins hopes on winning opening match against India.

KARACHI:

Pakistan are banking on their recent performance in limited overs cricket as they gear up for the International Cricket Council World Twenty20 starting this weekend.

Pakistan are going into the tournament after playing the Asia Cup final, having defeated South Africa and Sri Lanka in their previous One Day International series.

For Mohammad Hafeez, also known as ‘Professor’, thinks his players are in fine nick ahead of the mega event.

“Two things are very important in a big tournament,” the Pakistan Twenty20 captain told a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday.

“One is momentum which you have to carry, we did well in the Asia Cup second is luck and with the prayers of the countrymen, the luck factor will also be with us.”

Pakistan are tied in the group also featuring India, Australia and the defending champions West Indies. Hafeez’s team will open their campaign against traditional rivals India on March 21 and the skipper is content with the schedule.

“India-Pakistan match is always a pressure match.  As a player and as a captain I am very happy that our first match is against India.

Hopefully, we will get a good take-off from there and we will perform better in all matches of the tournament.”

“When you perform well against them, it gets easy for you.”

However, the senior all-rounder predicted a stiff competition ahead for his team.

“A lot of teams are playing this format now and you can’t take any team easy, you have to be positive in your thinking against all the teams.”

The captain hoped that his side will completely mould into the format before the event.

“Our last T20 was against Sri Lanka and since then, we have played one-dayers. However, we have the advantage of having played in Bangladesh recently and we have one week to get back into the mould.”

Captain hopes fast bowlers will excel

Commenting on Umar Gul and Junaid Khan, who struggled in the Asia Cup, Hafeez hoped the fast bowlers will regain form in the World T20.

“During the recent Asia Cup our fast bowlers could not fare well, as a captain and as a player I am concerned with their form and so is the management”.

“But, these are the same individuals who have performed well in the recent past. I have confidence in their abilities and hopefully they will come back into the form during World Twenty20,” he said before stressing the importance of quick bowlers.

“The performance of the fast bowlers will be the key for us. If they start and finish well, we are going to perform.”

He added, “In the recent past Afridi and Ajmal had done well because fast bowlers gave them good starts.”

Hafeez concluded with the promise that his team will perform at their optimum best.

“As a captain I always tell players that there should be no fear of failure. In this tournament we will not fear failure; our aim is to deliver for the country.”

Meanwhile, team manager Zakir Khan confirmed at the press conference that Afridi would join the team in Bangladesh on March 17.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.

______________________________________________________________

 [poll id="1297"]