Cricket Update: Pakistani Skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 vows his team will make a comeback in the series against New Zealand
Pakistan ODI skipper Shahid Afridi has reiterated that his side has full potential and firepower to comeback in the series and give the hosts (New Zealand) a tough time.
Afridi, who contributed 15 runs in Pakistan’s unimpressive total of 124 runs in the first match against the Black Caps in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 leads the six-match
ODI series 1-0.
Talking to newsmen, Afridi said, “The guys were struggling to play 50 overs but I think they realise how important our start is."
The struggling all-rounder pinned hopes on the senior players to come up with commendable performances in the series. Afridi believed that the team was evenly balanced by youth and experience.
Perhaps the experience of the veterans and the aggression of the youth will change http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s fortunes at Queenstown today, when the two teams meet in the second ODI.
“We have some experienced players so we are expecting some good performances and we are very confident and positive that we will come back,” said Afridi.
Pakistan batting collapsed in the first encounter, where the Kiwi bowlers completely dominated the visitors by restricting them to a meagre total.
None of the Pakistani batsmen managed to find an answer to the bowling attack that they were faced with. Middle order batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 was the only highlight of the Pakistan innings. He managed to score 50 crucial runs by staying on the wicket for as
long as he could while he saw wickets tumble on the other end.
The young brothers Kamran and Umar Akmal were a complete disappointment. Kamran while opening the batting could score just 8 runs, while his younger brother Umar went for a duck. Pakistan management seemingly had high hopes from the brothers but unfortunately,
they failed to impress anyone in Wellington.
However, Kamran is well known throughout the cricket world for his prolific batting while opening for Pakistan and perhaps he will find his lost form in today’s encounter.
Afridi termed the New Zealand tour as a great preparation for the 2011, World Cup in the subcontinent, which is now just 23 days away.
"We are all trying to win as much as we can before the World Cup and we have the players to do it," he said.
The ODI skipper faced a barrage of criticism from former Pakistan cricketers after the loss in Wellington. That loss also weakened his case to lead the team in the World Cup because speculations are that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is keeping an eye
on the all-rounder and his future as the ODI captain will determined by the outcome of the ongoing series.
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