Hundreds of Pakistani cricket fans gathered at Allama Iqbal International Airport February 11 to see off their World Cup-bound heroes.
The team’s departure for Bangladesh came less than a week after the International Cricket Council issued multi-year bans to three top players for spot-fixing. While some believe the ban will weaken Pakistan, team members and coaches say they still have the talent to surprise.
Captain Shahid Khan Afridi is optimistic that the team could still reach the final four, despite the loss of fast bowlers Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir, and former captain Salman Butt.
“(Our) players have developed a good winning combination, which would help Pakistan in the mega-event,” Afridi said.
The opening ceremony of the 10th Cricket World Cup is scheduled for February 17 in Dhaka, while formal matches start February 19. The World Cup is jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The 15-member squad includes Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq (Vice-Captain), Muhammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (Wicket Keeper), Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umer Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umer Gul, Wahab Riaz, Ahmed Shehzad and Junaid Khan.
Junaid, a left-armed young fast bowler from Khyber Agency, replaced senior left-armed fast bowler Sohail Tanveer, who was injured during the team's recent New Zealand tour.
Pakistan will play practice matches against Bangladesh February 15 and England February 18 in Dhaka before the World Cup starts.
Pakistan will play all its Cup matches in Sri Lanka; the green shirts open against Kenya February 23.
Afridi expressed satisfaction with the performances of his teammates and praised the skills of newly inducted fast bowler Junaid. “Junaid has the ability to surprise, and I hope that he will be the talk of this World Cup,” he said.
Coach Waqar Younis called fast bowler Akhtar a dark horse capable of terrorising opponents.
Manager Intikhab Alam said that he would try to enforce discipline to prevent controversy.
“We can’t afford any controversy at this moment; we are focusing only on cricket and will not disappoint the nation,” he said. The team faced problems during a recent trip to England with spot-fixing.
Senior sports journalist Sohail Imran said Pakistan could pull an upset, but he does not expect much success for the team.
“The main three players – Salman Butt, Muhammad Amir and Muhammad Asif – are not playing, which will affect its performance in the World Cup,” he said. “Pakistan has some good and energetic rising stars, but hoping to win the World Cup is beyond expectations.”
The team’s departure for Bangladesh came less than a week after the International Cricket Council issued multi-year bans to three top players for spot-fixing. While some believe the ban will weaken Pakistan, team members and coaches say they still have the talent to surprise.
Captain Shahid Khan Afridi is optimistic that the team could still reach the final four, despite the loss of fast bowlers Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir, and former captain Salman Butt.
“(Our) players have developed a good winning combination, which would help Pakistan in the mega-event,” Afridi said.
The opening ceremony of the 10th Cricket World Cup is scheduled for February 17 in Dhaka, while formal matches start February 19. The World Cup is jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The 15-member squad includes Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq (Vice-Captain), Muhammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (Wicket Keeper), Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umer Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umer Gul, Wahab Riaz, Ahmed Shehzad and Junaid Khan.
Junaid, a left-armed young fast bowler from Khyber Agency, replaced senior left-armed fast bowler Sohail Tanveer, who was injured during the team's recent New Zealand tour.
Pakistan will play practice matches against Bangladesh February 15 and England February 18 in Dhaka before the World Cup starts.
Pakistan will play all its Cup matches in Sri Lanka; the green shirts open against Kenya February 23.
Afridi expressed satisfaction with the performances of his teammates and praised the skills of newly inducted fast bowler Junaid. “Junaid has the ability to surprise, and I hope that he will be the talk of this World Cup,” he said.
Coach Waqar Younis called fast bowler Akhtar a dark horse capable of terrorising opponents.
Manager Intikhab Alam said that he would try to enforce discipline to prevent controversy.
“We can’t afford any controversy at this moment; we are focusing only on cricket and will not disappoint the nation,” he said. The team faced problems during a recent trip to England with spot-fixing.
Senior sports journalist Sohail Imran said Pakistan could pull an upset, but he does not expect much success for the team.
“The main three players – Salman Butt, Muhammad Amir and Muhammad Asif – are not playing, which will affect its performance in the World Cup,” he said. “Pakistan has some good and energetic rising stars, but hoping to win the World Cup is beyond expectations.”
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