Sports

Follow in footsteps of Imran Khan's 'cornered tigers', PCB chairman advises team

Shahryar Khan says team is determined and he is confident Pakistan will qualify for World Cup quarter-finals

Web Desk February 23, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan served as a ray of hope for dismayed cricket fans when he said he was confident Pakistan would reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup and called on the team to follow the same approach as Imran Khan's 'cornered tigers' .

While addressing a press conference on Monday, Khan pointed out that Pakistan was in a tough spot before the quarter-finals in the 1992 world cup -- which they went on to win.

"We are in the same place today as we were in 1992 when we were facing difficulties to qualify for quarter-finals," Khan said.

The team is at the bottom of Pool B after losing both matches against West Indies and India but hopeful, the PCB chairman jubilantly announced, "We will qualify for the World Cup 2015 quarter-finals."

Read: West Indies bounce back with 150-run rout of Pakistan

"Four matches are still left and we are confident we will win," he asserted, citing the example of England, who, similar to Pakistan, lost their first two World Cup matches but won their third against Scotland today.

Shahryar said the players should not be demoralised by their defeats. "One good match can turn the tables," he added.

"I have heard all of them are determined, we will reach the quarter-finals and then anything can happen," Shahryar said, elaborating on details of his conversation with the team management.

Moin Khan casino controversy

Addressing the controversy surrounding chief selector Moin Khan's visit to a casino ahead of the Pakistan-West Indies World Cup match, the PCB chairman said he can only comment on it when he has facts regarding the incident.

"We have launched an investigation into the incident but cannot say anything till I have facts," he said.

Read: PCB seeks clarification from Moin Khan over casino visit

The PCB sought a clarification from the chief selector earlier today, while the PCB chairman expressed his disappointment over the incident.

COMMENTS (19)

Ibrar | 9 years ago | Reply @Hamood: You are right about Nawaz Sharif. Remember Imran may be seen as straight and honest he does not show much political and governance skills to implement plans. Emotional speeches do not bring much changes just end up as false promises. I like Imran Khan for many qualities he possesses wish him success. But I am not optimistic about his role as a national leader. Look how his dharna politics has let him down. And look at his loss of insight about the importance of waiting for the Chaleeswan to pass before marrying and celebrating following Peshawar School tragedy. Not very tactful !

MAD | 9 years ago | Reply The cornered tigers of 1992 were just that tigers. What we have here is a bunch of hyenas busy biting away at each other. The 1992 team had an Imran a leader who backed himself and his team and stepped up to bat at number 3to fill the gap. Miandad a streetfighter who knew what it took to get the job done, Wasim Akram the worlds best bowler at the time, Inzamam who emerged during that tournament, Aaqib javed and Mushtaq Ahmed who knew the job required and they did it without question. Do we have those players in this team. No we dont. Lets not compare the current team with the 1992 lads. They dont even come close.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Rashid | 9 years ago | Reply "Khan pointed out that Pakistan was in a tough spot before the quarter-finals in the 1992 world cup" "We are in the same place today as we were in 1992 when we were facing difficulties to qualify for quarter-finals" Sheheryar Sahab! Being the Chairman of cricket's governing body, you should know that there were no quarter-finals in 1992 World Cup.

Milind | 9 years ago | Reply They first need to be tigers (like IK-led team) for them to fight like 'cornered tigers'. The present bunch are all sheep and you're expecting them to fight like tigers...

zaman | 9 years ago | Reply A visit to the Casino may have been a training exercise as to taking risk bravely in the world of odds, that is the World Cup. And YES we need to support the team, in good times as well as the bad times.

Hussain Ifzal | 9 years ago | Reply Imran Khan was a tiger. Misbah cannot make a tiger out of any player in the Pakistan team because of his own approach he has turned the entire team into a bunch of mice. Moreover what can you expect from a team whose chief selector is a big time Gambler.Best of luck Pakistan.

Aziz | 9 years ago | Reply There is no point in giving advice based on 20/20 vision in hindsight. The horse has bolted out of the stable. Let the parasites finish the remaining carcass of Pakistani cricket. They will then move on to find a new host or perish with it. No word from Patron-in-chief?

Nasir Islam | 9 years ago | Reply Team has been erratic. It's performance like a pendulum or a yo-yo from brilliant to pathetic. Pakistani team's problems go much beyond just game related issues. It needs to develop self discipline, strong resolve and will to win; deal with pressure and expectations; a strong team spirit and strong professional leadership. Perhaps the ambassadorial or diplomatic skills are not enough to be a Chairman of the Board.

Sam | 9 years ago | Reply Misbah is not IK, Younis is no Miandad, Akmal is not Salim Malik, Sohaib is not Inzy and there is no one that is close to Akram in bowling....foooooooooooooooorget about it.

Hamood | 9 years ago | Reply What else can you expect from Nawaz Sharif's appointees? People like Imran Khan are born once in a lifetime and not every day. Rather than waiting for another Imran Khan, stop corruption and nepotism and work hard to build a team based on merit. And get rid of people like Najam Sethi from PCB.

imran | 9 years ago | Reply In 1992 we had the best available team. Now we have the best perchee team available. That is the difference Mr. Chairman.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply Your Excellency, chairman you should now bother about your chairmanship, you have named Imran khan in good words, patron chief would have called meeting with najum sathi

Shakil | 9 years ago | Reply They could have done it but Misbah is no Imran! Misbah take more batsmen to game in fear of collapse and leave Pakistan strength bowling attack to make it perfect storm, multiply batting problem with huge total on board due to part time bowling. Then he apply part time bowlers only to spent overs instead of attacking the new batsman in! fear, too defensive cricket will not work for Pakistan team.

Hatim | 9 years ago | Reply But I thought Sethi said we shouldn't have high hopes?

raider | 9 years ago | Reply pakistan need peoples like imran, which unlikey to be born daily

Usman | 9 years ago | Reply Ha, what an absolute joke. The chairman didn't see it fit to even consult Wasim Akram or IK on ANY matter, be it psyche, team composition or general cricket advice, and is now referring to them. . Not only that, rather than focusing his energies on the domestic game, the chairman has been racking up airmiles, begging foreign teams to tour. He should have some self respect before begging in front of foreign cricket boards, when the state of the domestic game is in tatters. . This is what Nawaz's nepotism has done to Pakistan Cricket.

SKN | 9 years ago | Reply Easier said than done! This time we dont have the firepower.

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply Mere lecturing and finding hollow coincidences of worst situations doesn't win World Cups.

khalidr | 9 years ago | Reply IK is every where , thanks IK, every one is singing ur name,

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