May 17, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1428

LAHORE, May 16: Pakistan’s new cricket captain Shoaib Malik on Wednesday denied he would be nervous as he tries to rebuild his beleaguered side after a disastrous World Cup.

Shoaib spoke ahead of Pakistan’s departure on Wednesday night for Abu Dhabi for a three-match One-day International series against Sri Lanka, the World Cup runners-up in the Caribbean.

“I am not nervous at all,” Shoaib asserted. “I know the season ahead is difficult but I will live up to the confidence placed in me by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the fans.

”I am confident that all the players will work hard to put the team back on winning track and forget what happened in the World Cup,” added Shoaib, who has played 18 Tests and 137 one-dayers.

The games against Sri Lanka on May 18, 20 and 22 are Pakistan’s first assignment after crashing out in the first round of the World Cup in March after losing to minnows Ireland.

Coach Bob Woolmer was also found dead at the team’s hotel in Jamaica the day after the defeat. Jamaican police insist he was murdered despite reports that Woolmer died of a heart attack.

Pakistan’s humiliating exit forced burly Inzamam-ul-Haq to relinquish the captaincy and quit one-day cricket. Shoaib replaced Inzamam as captain after senior player Younis Khan refused to take over.

Shoaib, 25, said Pakistan, the 1992 World Cup champions, were determined to forget the 2007 World Cup.

“Whatever happened in the past is now past and the best thing about this current team is that all the senior players are very co-operative and once we win the morale of the team will go up,” he said.

Shoaib admitted that Pakistan would have to be on top form to win against Sri Lanka, who lost to Australia in a farcical World Cup final.

“Sri Lanka are a formidable team and even without Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Kumar Sangakkara, we will have to be at our best to beat them,” he insisted.

Pakistan would also be tested by their rigorous coming season, he said.

“We have a tough season ahead in which we face South Africa, India and Australia so we must shape up quickly and all the players are experienced and know what it takes to become world's best side,” stated Shoaib.Pakistan feature in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in Sept before hosting the Proteas in Oct. They tour India in Nov-Dec and then host Australia early next year. —AFP

Our Sports Correspondent adds: Pakistan’s young skipper Shoaib Malik and manger-cum-coach Talat Ali are hopeful about Pakistan’s chances of victory in the three-match One-day International series against Sri Lanka commencing from May 18.

Addressing a joint press conference at the conclusion of a three-day training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, the newly appointed captain said morale of the team was high and all the players had given 100 per cent at the camp set up for the series."We have done a lot of hard work in the camp, specially to improve fielding, and I believe it can play a vital role if we are to win at Abu Dhabi," said Shoaib who will be undertaking his first assignment as captain in the UAE event.

The 16-member team is scheduled to leave for Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night. Shoaib said he had no fear that his performance could be affected by the added burden of captaincy. "Though I can't really make up my mind about my batting position, I feel no extra burden with captaincy," he said.

"We are aiming to win the series and that is my prime goal. We will, Inshallah, go all out for that," he said.

Commenting on Pakistan’s age-old problem of finding a reliable opening pair, Shoaib said the combination of left and right in Salman Butt, Imran Nazir and Mohammad Hafeez may well be the answer for it.

Asked if he was comfortable with PCB's decision of appointing Mohammad Asif as vice-captain, Shoaib said it entirely the board's prerogative and “I am comfortable with the decision.”

The Sialko-born all-rounder, however, discreetly avoided a query regarding him taking any advice from former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq.

He, however, said that former fast bowler Wasim Akram gave fine tips to all the players during his short visit to the training camp. He admitted that the boys did face some problems due to the non-availability of a full-time coach but senior players and manger-cum-coach Talat Ali Malik handled the training well.

Commenting on Sri Lankan team’s strenghts, he said Malinga was a very dangerous bowler and the batsmen needed to play him quite carefully.Manager Talat Ali Malik also spoke to media on the occasion and termed the series win as vital for Pakistan. He admitted the series will not be an easy one since Jayawardene’s men were on a high after their superb show in the 2007 World Cup recently.