ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday urged the Pakistan team to win the World Cup for the cricket-loving nation through physical fitness, discipline and team spirit.

“I back the Pakistan team to win the World Cup but to achieve that, it will have to show fitness, good fielding skills, discipline and team spirit,” the president said.

Speaking at the reception given in honour of the Pakistan and the West Indies teams at the Aiwan-i-Sadar, President Musharraf announced an award of Rs5 million for prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf.

“I congratulate the whole Pakistan team for winning the Test series against the touring West Indies,” he said.

“Mohammad Yousuf stands out with his performance in this series and the nation is proud of him.”

Mohammad Yousuf broke the world records for most Test runs and most Test centuries in a calendar year during the three-Test series against the West Indies.

Yousuf, on the occasion, assured the president that the team would do its best to live up to the expectations of the nation.

About his feat, he said, “I always prayed to Allah to help me and I owe it to the prayers of the whole nation and my family,” he said.

The president, who is the Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, also praised other members of the team.

“Besides Yousuf, I think fast bowler Umer Gul and some others like Abdul Razzaq and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal played very well.”

Talking to pace bowler Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan, he appreciated his bowling based on good line and length.

Speaking to West Indies skipper Brian Lara, he said the West Indies team would put up good performance in the five-match ODI series.

PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf was also present on the occasion.—APP