Mohammad Hafeez optimistic about the ODI series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898, is hopeful that his side will perform well in the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against Australia to boost their morale, which has been found wanting since their defeat against
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 earlier this year.
The two teams will take on each other tomorrow in the first of the three-match ODI series at Sharjah, before locking horns for the T20s in the first week of September. Previously, Pakistan and Australia played a five-match series
in UAE in 2009, which the latter won by three games to two.
Acclimatizing in the desert is going to be the real challenge for the Aussies, with extreme humidity and heat. The matches however, are scheduled to begin late in the evening (6 PM local time) to counter the weather, which means that
play will continue after mid-night as well, which is not very common in cricket.
Hafeez, the opening batsman, admitted that timing is going to be different but being professionals, the players should adjust accordingly.
"We have to deal with that, as professionals we are ready to play and although the timings are odd but we will manage once the series gets underway," the vice-captain said.
The Green Shirts have been doing well in international cricket over the last couple of years but they have had a miserable time in the 50-overs format this year, despite winning the Asia Cup 2012. Misbah ul Haq and company were whitewashed
in the four-match ODI series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 earlier this year and were defeated by Sri Lanka as well.
On the other side of the coin, Australia is also low on confidence after being thrashed by England recently.
Hafeez is of the view that the ODI series is a massive opportunity for both the teams to regain momentum ahead of some important international assignments.
"Both teams are keen to get some consistency back into the one-day game," the all-rounder expressed. "It's just about performing consistently, getting out and playing some of your best cricket. That's our goal as a team: to make sure
we are playing as well at home and away."
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