Shahid Afridi: The team has belief in its ability

JOHANNESBURG (South Africa), February 2: Flamboyant allrounder Shahid Afridi Sunday said Pakistan was like a wounded tiger and promised that his team would play the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup with a vengeance.

"We have lost almost three one-day tournaments in a row, two out of three Test series and it's too much. It's not something we are used to as it is not the way we like to play our cricket. The boys know this and that's precisely why they all are motivated and geared up to make amends and promise do something exceptional in the tournament," Afridi said.

"Imran (Khan's) 'cornered tigers' did the trick in the 1992 World Cup and Waqar (Younis's) 'wounded tigers' will hopefully do this time," Afridi said.

He added: "The team has belief in its ability and it is not scared of any team. In fact, it is the other way round as most of the teams are wary of our potential. We will play the hardest cricket we can in this tournament and leave the rest to the almighty.

"As a true Muslim, I am convinced that hard work doesn't go waste. The boys are training religiously with a purpose and we are optimistic that results would be favourable."

Pakistan, since its arrival in Johannesburg on January 25, has been making full use of the pre-World Cup training camp in hot and humid conditions. Extensive training sessions are being held while the boys also attend gymnasium and swimming pool sessions. In addition to this, team meetings are held in which cricket, opposition and game plan is discussed.

"History shows that we, as a nation, are not accustomed to series of loses. It has to change and inshallah it will be in the World Cup. We know that 140 million back home and billions in other parts of the world would be praying for our success. Inshallah it would be the combination of their prayers and our hard work that would produce results," Afridi said.

Pakistan, despite poor recent form, has been billed as one of the most dangerous sides by the pundits of the game. Most of the experts have placed Pakistan as one of the four semifinalists.

"Trust me if we reach the semifinal, we will play the final. When we are in momentum, we are difficult to stop. At full potential and flow, I think we are a better team than Australia.

"Australia or South Africa look formidable because they are winning and we are looking vulnerable because we are losing. That's what winning or losing does to the reputation of the team," Afridi observed.

Afridi said his team needed to get the acts together. "The key to success would be an allround team effort. Yes, there has to be one or two significant performers but overall, it has to be a team effort.

"In Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar we have probably the most destructive bowling attack with Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq to follow. If I am not wrong, they share almost 1500 wickets between them and I think that's plenty.

"In batting, there is Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan who share nearly 25,000 runs between them. There is variety in the team and plenty of options for the skipper and coach. We just need to combine all the performances to produce the best team performance of our careers."

Samiul Hasan
Media Manager
Pakistan Cricket Team
February 2, 2003