Afridi, who left for New Zealand on Monday night, told ‘The News’ in an interview that each and every player of his team will have to contribute if Pakistan are to do well against New Zealand and more importantly in the World Cup which rolls into action in the subcontinent from February 19.
“Individual performances can win you a match or two but you can get good results on a consistent basis only if each and every player is doing his job,” said the flamboyant allrounder, who is expected to lead Pakistan in World Cup 2011.
“That’s why I’m asking my players to pull up their socks and start giving their best because from now on each and every match is going to be vital for us,” he stressed.
Pakistan, the 1992 champions, flopped miserably in the 2003 and 2007 editions of the World Cup after featuring in the 1999 final.
Their preparations for World Cup 2011 have been hampered by unconvincing results on the field and morale-shattering controversies off it and most critics don’t believe that they have any realistic chances of winning the title.
But Afridi remains confident that his team can lift the World Cup on April 2 in Mumbai.
“I have great faith in my team,” said the 30-year-old, who has scored 6431 runs and bagged 288 wickets from 306 ODI appearances.
“On our day we can beat the best in the world,” he said. “What we need is self-belief.”
To get that much-needed self-belief and confidence, Afridi is eyeing a forceful showing in the six-match ODI series against the Black Caps starting January 22 in Wellington.
“It’s going to be a crucial series,” said Afridi. “At the moment our team needs some big wins because that’s going to give our confidence a huge boost. That’s why we will be going all out to win this series and win it convincingly,” he added.
Under Afridi, Pakistan lost the three-match Twenty20 International series 1-2 against New Zealand last month. But the tourists are doing better in the ongoing two Test series under Misbah-ul-Haq as they clinched the opening match by ten wickets earlier this month.
Afridi believes that Pakistan’s emphatic triumph in the final T20 game turned out to be the turning point.
“That win has really lifted the team’s spirits and that’s showing in the Test series,” he said. “It would be great that we go into the one-dayers after winning the Test series because nothing works like victory.”
Afridi is confident that he would raise his own game to inspire his teammates.
“I have to lead from the front,” he said. “As captain I will have to deliver to set an example for my players.”
Afridi is hoping to shine with both the bat and ball against New Zealand.
“Personally, it is going to be an important series for me because it will be played just before the World Cup. I will really work hard on my individual performance because as a senior player and allrounder it’s important for the team that I do well in the series.”
Afridi, in fact, is expecting all of his senior players to click. “Obviously, the seniors have a lot of responsibility and I’m sure that all of them are going to fulfill it.”
