Imran too busy to give World Cup-bound team a 'pep talk'
PCB chairman says he had requested the PTI chief to spare some time to meet and motivate the World Cup-bound players
PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: ONLINE
LAHORE:
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan was unable to take time out from his busy schedule to meet up with the World Cup-bound Pakistan squad members for a much-needed 'pep talk', (NDTV) reported on Wednesday.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan told the media in Lahore that he had requested the former captain to spare some time to meet the players and give them a motivational lecture.
"But unfortunately he has not been able to give us time and we were told that if the team went to Islamabad he could try to meet them for a while," Khan said.
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Imran captained the team that surprised everyone by winning the World Cup in 1992 in Australia and New Zealand.
The PCB chairman further said that the players were very keen to meet with Imran before flying off for the World Cup. The cricketer-turned politician who also recently got married a second time is revered and respected by players of the present generation and team who were keen to meet with him to talk to him about the World Cup before going to Australia and New Zealand.
Shaharyar Khan also admitted that since the Pakistan team didn't possess world class batsmen like Virat Kohli or AB de Villiers, they would have to rely on team spirit and collective effort to get good results in the World Cup.
The Pakistan squad is due to embark on their World Cup campaign on Tuesday night from Lahore and will play two one-day internationals against New Zealand on January 31 and February 3 before flying to Australia for their warm up games.
Khan said the team would have short conditioning camps in New Zealand and Australia to acclimatize to the conditions there.
"I have told the players that if they win the World Cup we will reward them handsomely. What every Pakistani wants from them is 100 per cent effort. In cricket nothing is impossible and we have won ICC events in the past as well," he said.
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan was unable to take time out from his busy schedule to meet up with the World Cup-bound Pakistan squad members for a much-needed 'pep talk', (NDTV) reported on Wednesday.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan told the media in Lahore that he had requested the former captain to spare some time to meet the players and give them a motivational lecture.
"But unfortunately he has not been able to give us time and we were told that if the team went to Islamabad he could try to meet them for a while," Khan said.
RELATED: Destination World Cup: Sans Junaid, the chosen 15 depart for New Zealand
Imran captained the team that surprised everyone by winning the World Cup in 1992 in Australia and New Zealand.
The PCB chairman further said that the players were very keen to meet with Imran before flying off for the World Cup. The cricketer-turned politician who also recently got married a second time is revered and respected by players of the present generation and team who were keen to meet with him to talk to him about the World Cup before going to Australia and New Zealand.
Shaharyar Khan also admitted that since the Pakistan team didn't possess world class batsmen like Virat Kohli or AB de Villiers, they would have to rely on team spirit and collective effort to get good results in the World Cup.
The Pakistan squad is due to embark on their World Cup campaign on Tuesday night from Lahore and will play two one-day internationals against New Zealand on January 31 and February 3 before flying to Australia for their warm up games.
Khan said the team would have short conditioning camps in New Zealand and Australia to acclimatize to the conditions there.
"I have told the players that if they win the World Cup we will reward them handsomely. What every Pakistani wants from them is 100 per cent effort. In cricket nothing is impossible and we have won ICC events in the past as well," he said.