Senior players should perform in the World Cup: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482
Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has urged the senior players of his side to shoulder the responsibility at the ICC World Cup 2011 after a disappointing 69-run defeat against England in their final warm-up game.
“The senior players, including myself, have a very important role to play in this World Cup,” said the Pakistan captain, who had missed Friday’s game against Strauss’s men in Dhaka. “We must show the way to the youngsters who are playing in the tournament for the first time.”
The aggressive all-rounder insisted that making a strong comeback after losing a game has never been a big deal for his side. He was hopeful that Pakistan will bounce back strongly when they start their World Cup campaign officially against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752 on 23 February.
Afridi, one of the star performers of the World Twenty20 Championship in 2009, stressed that the side will come up with its best playing eleven in every World Cup game irrespective of how strong or weak the opposition is. He further added that there was no question of holding back key players in the tournament opener against minnows Kenya.
The presence of quite a few potential match-winners in the side makes Pakistan strong contenders for the coveted trophy.
Afridi said that not being favourites in the mega event would work in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s favour as it would ease a lot of pressure off their shoulders.
“But it doesn't mean that I agree with the experts,” the flamboyant all-rounder did clarify. “As a member of the Pakistan team as well as its captain I'm confident that we can do it. We can bring back the Cup home.”
Sri Lanka batsman, Thilan Samaraweera, has described Pakistan as ‘dark horses’ in the tournament who can change the course of game anytime.
Pakistan have been placed in the Group A of the World Cup which also includes http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045.
The tenth edition of the quadrennial tournament is being hosted by three Subcontinent nations, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747.
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