LAHORE: Talented youngsters Sarfraz Ahmed and Haris Sohail, who will make their World Cup debut next month, vowed on Wednesday their main target was to give their best at the mega event being staged in Australia and New Zealand.

“It is my first World Cup and my target is to make it memorable by helping the team win the title, while giving my best both as wicket-keeper and batsman,” Sarfraz told reporters after attending the second day of the national training camp here at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

The camp due to rain on Wednesday was shifted from the Gaddafi Stadium to the indoor training facility at the NCA.

“We are expecting bouncy wickets in Australia and New Zealand and for that reason similar type of pitches have been prepared for the training camp here at the Gaddafi Stadium. But unfortunately, we could not practise on these pitches today due to rain,” he said.

He negated the impression that he was in competition with Umar Akmal, who was also in the World Cup squad as regular batsman and back-up wicket-keeper.

While acknowledging the role of third opener he has been entrusted with by the selectors, Sarfraz said the captain and the team management would decide to test any player at any specific batting position.

To a question, Sarfraz paid rich tribute to Misbah-ul-Haq as captain, who will be no more on this post in ODIs after the World Cup.

“Misbah is an asset for Pakistan, the way he leads the team with his calm posture is really admirable. Besides serving Pakistan in a very impressive way, he has set several [batting] records.”

Responding to a query, the 27-year-old player said like every cricketer his dream was to become part of the World Cup-winning party.

About the potentially high-voltage World Cup opener against arch-rivals India, Sarfraz said the team was not focusing on just one particular match, rather they were treating every game as important.

However, he added: “By winning the opener against India, Pakistan can gain the confidence to do better in the latter stages of the showpiece.”

Meanwhile, young batsman Haris, who was in fine touch in the recently concluded ODI series against New Zealand in the UAE, said he was confident that he would excel both as spinner and batsman for Pakistan in Australia and New Zealand.

“Captain and coaches, ignoring the fact that it is my first World Cup, are also encouraging me which is also boosting my confidence,” the left-handed batsman told reporters.

Haris said he was also doing a lot of hard work to further improve his bowling, believing it would not effect his batting performance.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2015

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