Talking to newsmen during a short Pakistan team’s training camp here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, he said: “Now team is embarking upon a new journey and if the players play to their full potential no matter we can beat the West Indies in their own backyard.”
Pakistan cricket team manager Intikhab Alam said the team needed a batting coach and Javed Miandad was approached for this assignment but he denied the job.
Intikhab said that fitness level of the team has improved while no controversy was found in discipline. He said efforts would be made to maintain the same standard in the team during the upcoming West Indies tour.
The manager said the players were also disappointed on defeat in the World Cup semi-final against arch-rival India and added that he was grateful to the people and the government besides media for getting a favourable response despite defeat in the mega event and this was a good tradition.
He said that the PCB selected several uncapped players for the tour to polish their talent and if they played to their potential then Pakistan would be able to replace senior players.
He said that the Shahid Afridi also wanted to rest the senior members of the team while Coach Waqar Younis considers the tour of Caribbean as the perfect opportunity for young guns in the side. Pakistani Coach wants new players to take this opportunity to replace seniors.
Younus said: “The tour will be important for youngsters and it will be a test for them.”
Pakistan team started their two-day training camp at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
“We will have around four to five days before the series gets underway and that will be ample time for the players to adapt to the playing conditions in St Lucia,” Intikhab said.
Team Pakistan will reach West Indies on April 16 and tour will start with a warm-up match on April 18.
The only Twenty20 will be played in St Lucia on April 21. ODI series of five matches will start on April 23 and the Test matches will be played in the middle of next month.
