Pakistan aims for ‘maximum’ victories before cricket World Cup
October 12th, 2010 - 2:24 pm ICT by IANSKarachi, Oct 12 (IANS) Pakistan’s one-day captain Shahid Afridi aims to put his faltering team back on track by winning the “maximum number” of matches in the lead up to next year’s cricket World Cup.
“Victories serve as a tonic, which is why we should try our best to win as many matches as possible before the World Cup. It will raise our morale and give us much-needed confidence before playing the World Cup,” said Afridi.
“For us, the World Cup is an all-important assignment and we have to ensure that Pakistan field the best possible team in the event,” said Afridi.
“It’s critical for us to try out our best possible players in the upcoming series against South Africa and New Zealand so that we are clear about our World Cup squad.”
Afridi, 30, is often accused by some critics of “interfering” in selection matters but the all-rounder believes that as captain, it is his job to give much-needed inputs before the national team is decided.
“I make it a point to give the selectors my input because I’m the one who has to get the desired results from my team on the field,” said Afridi.
“What I want from them is a pool of 20 players from which we can finalise our World Cup squad and I was hoping to get it ahead of the series against South Africa.”
Pakistan are scheduled to leave for Abu Dhabi Oct 23 for playing two Tests, an equal number of Twenty20s and five One-day Internationals against South Africa.
The series, which begins with a T20 game Oct 26 is Pakistan’s home series but will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai because of security-related issues.
While Afridi will lead Pakistan in the limited-overs matches, experienced batsman Misbah-ul-Haq will be their captain in the Test series.
After the UAE, Pakistan will play a full series against New Zealand in New Zealand. The series will conclude just weeks before the World Cup and Afridi believes that Pakistan should make up their mind about their World Cup squad before the New Zealand series.
“I would suggest that we should send those players to New Zealand, who will be playing in the World Cup,” said Afridi.
- Pakistan can improve World Cup chances, says Afridi - Oct 19, 2010
- Afridi hoping to revive Pak cricket by clinching one-day series against S. Africa - Oct 19, 2010
- Afridi "not worried" about losing Pakistan captaincy - Jan 19, 2011
- Contenders Afridi, Misbah have "no issues" over Pak captaincy for World Cup 2011 - Feb 03, 2011
- PCB boss Butt 'secretly' leaves for NZ to decide on Pak captain for World Cup - Jan 21, 2011
- Pak, SA hope UAE one-dayers will help them gear up for 2011 World Cup - Oct 29, 2010
- Win in New Zealand will boost our confidence for World Cup: Afridi - Jan 18, 2011
- Shoaib Malik hopeful of comeback in series against SA - Oct 02, 2010
- Shahid Afridi retained as Pak captain for ICC World Cup: Intikhab Alam - Feb 04, 2011
- I spoke in the interest of the team: Afridi - Oct 13, 2010
- Proteas, Pak to focus on one-dayers ahead of World Cup in India - Oct 29, 2010
- Pak 'determined to win finals' against Proteas to clinch 'very close series': Afridi - Nov 08, 2010
- Axe Afridi from captaincy, reshuffle Pak team: Sarfraz Nawaz - Dec 30, 2010
- 'Competitor' Misbah says Afridi "doing good job" as Pak ODI skipper - Feb 02, 2011
- 'Not 100 per cent satisfied with Pak team's World Cup preparations': Afridi - Dec 04, 2010
Tags: abu dhabi, cricket world cup, day internationals, desired results, dubai, karachi, limited overs, maximum number, pakistan, rounder, selection matters, selectors, shahid afridi, south africa, test series, tonic, uae, ul haq, world cup squad, world cup victories