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Pulling off a surprise: Happy that Pakistan aren’t favourites, says Waqar

The head coach hopes senior players can deliver

Afp January 17, 2015

Waqar has said he is happy that Pakistan do not have the ‘favourites’ tag and will therefore have less pressure on them. PHOTO: AFP

LAHORE: Head coach Waqar Younis has said he is happy Pakistan are not among the favourites to win the World Cup, saying the tag often puts unnecessary pressure on players.

After completing the World Cup training camp in Lahore, Pakistan have now turned their focus towards the two ODIs against New Zealand on January 31 and February 3. The two ODIs will be their final competitive action before they begin their World Cup campaign against arch-rivals India in Adelaide on February 15.

“I am happy that we are not the favourites to be very honest because it is a big pressure; being the favourites. We were not the favourites last time either but we played excellent cricket and reached the semi-finals,” said Waqar, who was also head coach in Pakistan’s 2011 World Cup, when they lost to hosts and eventual winners India in the semis.

Waqar added four-time champions Australia and South Africa stand a better chance. “Of course, teams which play on those bouncy wickets like Australia and South Africa are probably bigger favourites than we are,” he said. “But...I have lots of hopes.”

Waqar admitted injury problems have disrupted Pakistan’s preparations. Frontline paceman Junaid Khan injured his leg during practice on Thursday but an MRI revealed he will be fit within a week.

“We had problems with our fast bowlers for a few months and, of course, the recent episode with Junaid — it’s a setback. If you have injuries you can’t move forward.”

Waqar, ruled out of the World Cup which Pakistan won in Australia and New Zealand in 1992 due to injury, admitted the mega event was never good for him.

He was also captain of the team which crashed out in the first round in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

“The World Cup was never kind to me as a player; there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

Waqar added he has hopes of strong play from captain Misbahul Haq and Shahid Afridi, who will both retire from ODI cricket after the World Cup.

“Of course Afridi is number one, we have big hopes for him and Misbah; they are going out after the World Cup,” he said. “In the camp over the last four to five days I have seen both want to finish on a high, which is a very good sign.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2015.

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