August 27, 2007	Monday	Sha’aban 13, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 26: Pakistan’s new coach Geoff Lawson is not going to make any predictions about Pakistan’s prospects in the forthcoming Twenty20 World Championship to be held in South Africa from Sept 11.

Speaking to reporters at the end of the national training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, the former Australian Test fast bowler said that the event, a new kind of international cricket, was open for all.

“To win, the Pakistan team will have to perform equally well in all departments – batting, bowling and fielding,” he added.

“The boys are looking fit after hard training in the camp. They have potential and God willing we will do well,” Lawson said.

Speaking about the team’s attitude towards him, Lawson said: “I am quite happy to see their positive nature. They are keen to learn.”

Lawson, who was suffering from de-hydration, said that the team was not really worried about the hot and humid conditions in Lahore and continued with the training with much interest, which according to him was “a good sign”.

About his own condition, he added sportingly, “Such small things don’t really matter. I am a strong Pakistani coach.”

In his brief chat with the press, Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik said that the boys have been training hard and hopefully their level of fitness has increased.

“I did various new exercises for the first time,” he added.

Meanwhile, two key players of the team – fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and all-rounder Shahid Afridi – could not attend the camp on the last day, due to different reasons.

“Shoaib was suffering from fever and shoulder pain and Afridi had some family responsibilities to take care of back home. But they had both informed me about it,” Camp-commandant and Manager Talat Ali, who had earlier imposed a fine on Shoaib for missing camp in Karachi, said about the two boys’ absence.

Talat, who has been in touch with Shoaib, said that his fever had come down by the evening.

After assembling at Karachi on Wednesday, the Pakistan team will first head towards Kenya for the four-nation warm-up tournament being held there, after which they will proceed to South Africa, on Sept 5, for the Twenty20 event.