Pakistan team beware of Canada, Kenya, Zimbabwe: Miandad

Former skipper Javed Miandad has warned Pakistan team to be aware of underdogs teams like Canada, Kenya and Zimbabwe during their matches in the Cricket World Cup 2011.Cricket minnows Canada, Kenya with Zimbabwe and Defending Australia, last championship runners-up Sri Lanka and semifinalist New Zealand are drawn in group “A”.Shahid Afridi’s team was due to meet Kenya in their opening match at Hambantota on Feb 23.  “If top players perform well against minnows that doesn’t get any credit. So it was important for seniors to perform and give their best against these teams,” Javed Miandad told APP Sports Correspondent Ehsan Qureshi in an interview on Sunday. “I always use to make extra efforts to perform well against smaller teams. If you don’t perform against these unfancied teams it dents your reputation,” he pointed out.  “Look at these teams. They always proved dangerous because these minnows are under no pressure,” Miandad, who played a pivotal role on Pakistan’s triumph in 1992 World Cup at Melbourne, maintained. “World Cup is a top event and whole nation is fully into it and looking at you to excel in all areas of the game,” he said. “The players must take their responsibility seriously,” he added. “There is too much talking by Pakistan team in the media.Its better that their bat and ball talk and seniors perform in the middle,” he commented. “Greats of the game doesn’t talk much but their performance with the bat and ball do the talking,” Javed Miandad, who represented Pakistan in six World Cups from 1975 to 1996, said. He said there is great responsibility on the shoulders of 15-member Pakistan squad who are picked from among the 180 millions. “There are lots of expectation from the team. So it was imperative to accomplish thing big,” veteran of 124 Test matches said.  “There is great impact of victory and defeat on the nation.  So it was duty of the players to patriotically give their best in such an event,” he said.

 

Tougher the circumstances,sweeter the success: Afridi

An all-rounder capable of making a big difference, Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s captain in limited overs cricket, is clear about his priorities.

The 30-year-old, who (believe it or not) is in his 15th year at the international level, spoke to The Telegraphat the Sheraton on Friday, before Pakistan’s practice match against England.

Being pressed for time (“itne official commitments hote hain”), Afridi couldn’t spare more than 15 minutes.

Following are excerpts

Thoughts as Pakistan’s first match in the World Cup, against Kenya (on February 23), gets closer

We’re about to start a difficult journey... Safar mushkil rahe ga, but the tougher the circumstances, the sweeter the success... Only good players are able to complete a difficult journey and I’m hopeful that everybody in my team is going to rise to the occasion. It’s in tough situations that the quality of a player comes out.

If he’s happy with the way his team is shaping up

Definitely... At one time, I did worry that it would be tough putting together a good unit, but I’m happy... I have a mix of seniors and players without much experience aur motivationmein kami nahin hai.

The responsibility on his shoulders

Bilkul hai, but I’m ready for the challenge of captaining Pakistan in a World Cup... It’s nice that I have (former captain) Younis Khan around, as also (Test captain) Misbah-ul Haq... I can go to them for guidance... Then, having played under so many captains, I’ve picked up a few things.

Priority as captain

Team ko ek saath rakhna... There’s nothing bigger than that... Whatever the situation, I’ve got to carry the team with me.

Whether he spoke to idol Imran Khan before leaving Pakistan

Absolutely.

Imran’s advice...

That I must stay positive, lead from the front and ensure that it’s a happy dressing room... I value whatever Imranbhai says.

If, after the scandals, it’s time for Pakistan to prove a point

I won’t talk about proving a point or not, but all of us know the importance of this World Cup... Victory will raise our stock in the fraternity and help bring international cricket back to Pakistan.

The scandals

I’m looking ahead.

Not being affected by pressure

Look, pressure is there... Every day has its own challenges and brings a different kind of pressure... The more you think about it, the greater it will be. So, I don’t worry.

If the 1992 World Cup win, under Imran, is the biggest inspiration

Of course... We didn’t have a great tournament in the early stages, but played superbly in the key matches... That’s a lesson... We’ve got to raise our game when it matters the most... Our defeat in the 1999 final (to Australia) is also a lesson — no point playing very well in the lead-up to the most important match and failing there.

Difference between a World Cup and other tournaments

As the name signifies, it’s the World Cup... The difference really is in the expectations-driven pressure.

His approach

That I’m learning... Har din kuch na kuch seekhne ko mil sakta hai.

Message for his players

That crores of people are looking at you, that their hopes are on you. We just can’t disappoint our awaam.

Finally, the Indo-Pak rivalry

Do I need to say it’s the biggest?

Win World Cup for the late Woolmer: Inzamam tells Pakistan

KARACHI: Pakistan's most capped ODI player, Inzamam-ul-Haq has urged Shahid Afridi's men to put up a stellar show in the ongoing World Cup for late coach Bob Woolmer who, the former captain said, always believed in the team's ability to be the best in the world. 

"Pakistan should try to do well in this World Cup not only for the country but also for our late coach Bob Woolmer, who always believed we had the potential to be the number one side in the world," Inzamam said. 

"It will also help ease the pain of crashing out in the first round of the last World Cup when we had a fine combination that was disturbed by injuries," he added. 

Inzamam also reckoned that senior batsman Younis Khan has a pivotal role to play for his side in the tournament 

Younis, who played many a splendid knock under Inzamam's leadership, gave up captaincy in November 2009 to focus on his batting. 

"He is a key member and has the capability to anchor the innings and play out the full 50 overs. He must bat at number three, a position he is most comfortable in, and has scored most of his runs in Test matches," Inzamam, who played 375 ODIs and 120 Tests, said. 

The former batsman noted that Younis now have the experience to be the line-up's mainstay. 

"The good thing is that Younis has lately been getting back his form and seems to be enjoying his cricket. I think for a player of his calibre, he will love to perform on the World Cup stage," Inzamam, who had played a stellar role in Pakistan's World Cup triumph in 1992, said. 

He pointed out that experience was crucial in a high pressure tournament like the World Cup. 

"Younis, Afridi, Razzaq, Kamran and Shoaib have played in World Cups and must now show the way to the others. They must perform and guide the others," he said. 

Inzamam also felt that Pakistan's strength lies in their attack, especially considering the sub-continental conditions. 

"Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar and Wahab Riaz they can all bowl at good pace and can reverse swing the ball. In the conditions in Sri Lanka and the two other host countries, these three have the ability to bowl out any side." 

The former great noted that Pakistan's strategy must be based on attacking bowling. 

"This plan worked well for us in 1992 and 1999 (Pakistan reached the final). The bowlers should be told not to worry about giving away runs in the powerplay, which that can happen to any bowler nowadays. They must be told to look for wickets. 

"In any form of cricket, wickets keep the batting side under pressure. The good thing for Pakistan is that it has the pace and spin bowlers with the ability to take wickets." 

Inzamam said that Pakistan were blessed with a potent spin attack. 

"No other team has four quality spinners in every variety like we do and these guys are capable of not only taking wickets but also tightening up things under pressure and in middle overs." 

He also saw no reason why Pakistan couldn't win the World Cup. "The team has tremendous potential and lately, it has been gelling well and performing under pressure. It is just a matter of getting a good start." 

The former captain also felt that it should not be a surprise if Pakistan beat both Sri Lanka and Australia in their group matches as the team has the ability to do that.

Shahid Afridi looks to senior Pakistan players

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has urged his side's experienced players to shoulder the burden of responsibility at the World Cup after a disappointing defeat in their final warm-up match.

The dashing batsman and leg-spinner missed Friday's 67-run defeat by England in Dhaka, but insisted bouncing back was nothing new for his side.

"This is not the first time we are saying sorry for our performance," Afridi told the Press Trust of India (PTI). "All of us as a team now have to perform and give our best in the World Cup."

"The senior players including myself have a very important role to play in this World Cup. We must show the way to the youngsters who are playing in the tournament for the first time," added Afridi, one of the stars of Pakistan's 2009 World Twenty20 triumph in England.

Afridi stressed there was no question of Pakistan holding back key players for their tournament opener against World Cup outsiders Kenya in Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

"What is clear is that everyone has to now perform and play responsibly if the team is to do well in this World Cup. There is no time now to experiment."

"It is a good sign that the players are concentrating hard on the tournament and everyone wants to do well. It is important for us to make an early impact in this competition and get the momentum going," he added.

The presence of several potential match-winners with both bat and ball in their side, including Afridi, means Pakistan could yet mount a strong challenge for the trophy at this year's World Cup.

"I think Pakistan are really dark horses who can change the game any time. They have the firepower," said Sri Lanka batsman Thilan Samaraweera of their rivals in Group A, which also includes title-holders Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Canada.

Pakistan, the 1992 champions, were originally slated as one of the four co-hosts but were stripped of hosting rights after an armed attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in March 2009.