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| January 24, 2003 | Friday | Ziqa’ad 20, 1423 |
Pakistan should not be written off: Waqar
LAHORE, Pakistan, Jan 23: Skipper Waqar Younis warned on Thursday that Pakistan should not be written off as one of the top contenders for the World Cup.
“I was surprised to read some analysis in South Africa where people have written us off even from the Super Sixes stage,” Waqar told a press conference here.
“It’s a wrong impression and with the focus on the Cup we are among the top contenders. I have told the boys to leave the luggage of bad memories behind and prove everyone wrong with some positive, aggressive cricket,” Waqar said.
“The whole team is looking forward to the challenge of the World Cup. It’s time that we turn the tables on other teams.”
Waqar denied that the team had been sidetracked by reports of his imminent sacking and of rifts within the ranks.
“There is nothing wrong in our preparation for the World Cup and I was never in a worry over my captain’s seat but it’s the team that is above everything else.”
Pakistan’s base will be Johannesburg where they will play several warm-up games before taking on defending champions Australia on Feb 11 in a repeat of the 1999 World Cup final in England.
“It would be like a final before the final and we must beat Australia so that we leave an impact on other teams,” he said.
Pakistan is pitted in Pool A alongside Australia, England, India, the Netherlands, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The top three teams will qualify for the Super Sixes stage.
“In fact our games against India and England will also be crucial because every team carries points in the Super Sixes stage and that’s crucial.”
“Our pool does look tough but what teams you have in pools become a minor thing when you start winning,” Waqar said.
“We have a very bad track record against India in the World Cup having lost to them in the last three Cups, so it’s time we turn the tables on them.”
Waqar refused to nominate a favourite for the Cup.
“Besides Australia and South Africa and Pakistan, New Zealand is a dangerous team, the West Indies are an emerging outfit and you can’t even write off Sri Lanka.
“No one is reckoning West Indies but they have a very good team and with a battery of new fast bowlers, they are a threat.”—AFP
Our Lahore Correspondent adds: Waqar believed that the inclusion of Saeed Anwar was a wise decision and expected the classy left hander to come upto the expectation of the nation.
He declined to answer when asked at which number Shahid Afridi would bat. “That will be decided in South Africa”, Waqar said.
Waqar, however, said that Inzamam was likely to be tested at No 3 position, a trouble position for Pakistan batting.
Replying to a question Waqar admitted that it was point of worry for him that Pakistan was not completing its quota of 50 overs during the regulation time but expressed the hope that the problem would be solved.
Manager Shaharyar Khan said that his job was a tough one as he had to control the team and also eight accompanying officials.
Shaharyar admitted that a small unit of officials was most effective and it had been decided that two or three officials would return home after the start of the tournament.
Shaharyar added that team spirit, discipline and conduct were necessary to earn positive result.
Vice captain and star batsman Inzamam-ul Haq said the top order players would find their form after recent poor performances.
“We know our responsibilities and will make up for our recent lack of showing,” he said.
“We are positive that the team will win the Cup,” Inzamam added.
The Pakistan team was scheduled to leave for Johannesburg late Thursday night from Lahore.
Team: Waqar Younis (captain), Saeed Anwar, Saleem Elahi, Taufiq Umar, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, Abdul Razzaq, Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami.
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