Shahid Afridi insists openers to play stress-free cricket – ICC World Cup 2011 news
Pakistan captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 has urged his openers to play tension-free cricket during the ongoing ICC World Cup 2011 and bat as if they are batting in domestic cricket.
“I've told them (openers) 'play to your strengths, like you play in domestic cricket, play like that,” said Afridi on Sunday while talking to the media. “Over the last couple of days they've worked really hard and the coaches have worked
hard with them as well.”
Afridi reckoned that the reason behind their poor performance in the World Cup so far could have been their double-minded approach to the game.
He said, “At the moment, boys (openers) are thinking let's play 15 overs, but don't lose wickets and another way they are thinking is to play their positive game.”
The opening duo of Pakistan featuring http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ahmed-Shehzad-c42359 have so far compiled just 93 runs from four games putting the middle-order under a lot of pressure. The middle-order handled the pressure quite successfully in the first
three matches but the whole line-up collapsed against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 attack recently as Pakistan faced their first defeat of the tournament.
Afridi said that Hafeez-Shehzad opening combination is a very good one but the only problem with them is that they have not performed in the mega event so far. He further added that the coaches are working hard with them to give them confidence
to perform.
Pakistan have six points from four games and Afridi is eying two more points as his side is gearing up to face minnows Zimbabwe on Monday. A victory against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s berth in the quarterfinals and Afridi said that
he will play with his full strength against the Rhodesians who have only two points from four matches.
He further added that they should be more focused on how they start with the bat and the way they bowl with the new ball. He said that the upsets have taken away the tag of favourites from all the participating teams adding that whoever
performs well on the day and at the right time will come out victorious.
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