Pakistan’s flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi reminded the critics that though they are not rating the side as favourites for the World Cup, the team can cause an upset down under if they remain a united front.
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The team has been plagued by injuries and suspensions and is low on confidence after losing back to back ODI series against Australia and New Zealand in UAE, followed by another two-match defeat to the Kiwis.
However, the former skipper feels that the right attitude and important individual contributions can lead to a good campaign.
“We know that people are not rating us but Pakistan has the ability to do well in the World Cup if we play well as a unit,” said Afridi.
“As far as bowling is concerned we have Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan and I’m not expecting them to get five-wicket hauls in every game, but even if they can give us a good start by picking up two or three wickets up front, then the spinners can do the job.
“The coaches have done well in improving Haris Sohail and Ahmed Shahzad as bowlers and small performances from everyone will be important because that will win us matches.”
Afridi said that for him it has always been a joy to play in Australia and the knowledge of local conditions through Big Bash would me a major asset for ‘Boom Boom’ and his team-mates.
The 34-year-old also recalled how 23 years ago he was waking up at 4am in order to see his countrymen lift the 1992 trophy, their only triumph to date.
“I was very young but I still remember getting up early at 4am and it was the holy month of Ramadan. We didn’t start well in the beginning but finished strongly courtesy of the great leadership of Imran Khan so that is a great memory with me,” Afridi mused.
“Now senior players have a big responsibility to do something similar because we’ve played so much cricket. It’s time to give something back to our country with our performances and it isn’t the time to cement my place. So I will go out and enjoy my cricket.”
Afridi added that that, although the current squad resembles the victorious 1992 side’s mix of experience and youth, the two teams can never be compared.
“If you look at the 1992 bowling attack it had Wasim Akram, Aqib Javed, Mushtaq Ahmed and Imran Khan. Even the youngsters in that squad were highly talented, so we can’t compare us with 1992 side,” Afridi explained.
Afridi’s comments come on the day that Mohammed Hafeez saw his hopes of playing in a World Cup dashed and team-mate Saeed Ajmal cleared to bowl again.
“With [Ajmal’s] new bowling action you can’t say how effective he is right now,” said Afridi on talks of a dramatic recall for the spinner. “The ideal thing for him would is to be playing his cricket at domestic level and later we can see where he is standing.”
