JOHANNESBURG, Feb 2: Nearly half the Pakistan cricket team utilized the optional training session on Sunday morning and underwent a gruelling 150-minute training session at the Wanderers.

The training session had been made optional after Saturday’s tour opener against Gauteng Invitation XI that Pakistan won by nine runs.

The boys who took part in the training session included Saeed Anwar, Wasim Akran, Waqar Younis, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi.

Pakistan coach Richard Pybus supervised the session.

Meanwhile, Wasim Akram is recovering from the stomach bug that kept him away from Saturday’s match.

“I had stomach upset and I have been feeling very weak for the last couple of days. Today I felt better and therefore, I started nets. I think I will be allright by Monday and will be ready for Tuesday’s match against Gauteng at Lenasia,” Wasim said.

The Pakistan team is to attend a civic reception on Sunday evening that has been arranged by the local authorities.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Shahid Afridi said Pakistan was like a wounded tiger and promised that they would play 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,” Afridi said.

“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 better than Australians,” Afridi promised.—APP