Pakistan Cricket: Shahid Afridi and the Green Shirts ready for Asia Cup
Pakistan’s national coach Waqar Younis and Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi, in a joint press conference on Wednesday, asserted that the national squad is fully fit and geared up for the next week’s Asia Cup to be played in Dambulla, Sri Lanka.
Addressing the press conference after the conclusion of a short training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium, the captain said that all the players were fully prepared for the quadrangular one-day event.
Shahid Afridi “All the players including Shoaib Akhtar and Shoaib Malik are quite fit and they have been asked to keep their focus on cricket as the dressing room atmosphere has changed”.
He further added that he has talked to the Shoaibs, Akhtar and Malik to ensure no shenanigans take place during this crucial time for the Pakistan cricket team. Afridi said that a win in the opener of the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka will boost the team’s morale, which will help the Green Shirts in subsequent matches.
30-year-old dashing all-rounder, Shahid Khan Afridi claimed that his side is a balanced one and the players are geared up to perform. He accentuated that better results in the Asia Cup would help the Green Shirts to perform well in the upcoming tour of England. Afridi said that all the teams featuring in the Asia Cup are equally competent and he does not consider any of them as weak rivals.
Supporting new faces included in the squad, Afridi said they have a lot of potential and will certainly be given exposure in the continental event. He emphasized that team efforts are the key to success and he would try his level best to keep unity in the team.
The national coach Waqar Younis said that though the training camp was of a shorter duration but he has taken all steps to achieve maximum results in improving the talent of the players in all departments of the game.
He said that the conditions at Dambulla were kept in mind while selecting the national squad. On the absence of seniors, Younis Khan and Muhammad Yousuf from the side, Waqar said that no doubt both are great players but every team needs some fresh blood and he has great expectations from youngsters accompanying the squad.
Waqar rebuffed rumors about his clash with assistant coach Aaqib Javed and said Aaqib is his old time ally. He said that the dressing room atmosphere would not be affected due to the statements Aaqib had given against some players before the PCB inquiry committee.
On the other hand, injury-prone Shoaib Akhtar who will don the Green Shirt after over a year is also working hard to make his international comeback. Maverick Pakistan pacer was seen sporting a dressing on his left calf during a training camp for the Asia cup at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Monday. This has raised questions over controversial Shoaib Akhtar’s fitness.
Team sources revealed that the bandage was actually a precautionary step taken by the speedster to avoid any injury niggle as he had to bowl extra overs on the first two days of the training camp.But looking at Akhtar’s career stuffed with disciplinary and fitness problems, injury problems cannot be ruled out in his case.
On the other hand, the Express pacer was also unhappy for being asked to bowl extra overs in the training camp as his selection was favored by the captain, Afridi who assured that he would utilize Akhtar’s skills carefully in short bursts.Knowing how injury-prone the Express pacer is, he was selected for the quadrangular one-day tournament that kicks off from 15 June in Sri Lanka with an anticipation that, if fully fit, he will make impact in short bursts to disturb and dismiss the oppositions batting line at crucial stages of the matches.
Captain of the Pakistan side Shahid Afridi has denied hearsays regarding 34 years old Akhtar not being completely fit: “I don’t know who is spreading such false rumors. There is nothing wrong with Shoaib. He is fully fit and it’s showing in his output during training sessions. He is going that extra mile which is a great sign for us”.
However, Afridi made it clear that the continental event will be a make-or-break tournament for the Maverick Rawalpindi Express. Skipper said that if the fast bowler proves his form and fitness in the next week’s Asia Cup then he will not only be going to England but may also get a way to the 2011 World Cup.“He has got enough experience and can be a threat against the best batting line-ups in the world”.
Conditions for fast bowlers will be quite difficult in Dambulla’s humid weather and the Rawalpindi Express will face a big challenge. The training Camp at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore ended yesterday. The players will reassemble in Karachi on June 12 to leave for Sri Lanka. The team needs to perform to prove they are committed to improving the state of Pakistani Cricket.
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