LAHORE: Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi wants his players to give their best against New Zealand. Talking to journalists here during the camp training at the National Cricket Academy, Afridi said his comments recently on the World Cup preparations were taken out of context and he did not mean that the team was selected against his wishes.
He said that the team was facing many challenges and his main focus would be to keep the team united and not let the controversies disrupt the team’s preparations for the World Cup in 2011.
He said that the best available lot of players was picked for the tour. “The current selection comprises the best of those available and I am satisfied with the squad and my statement regarding team’s preparation for World Cup 2011 was taken negatively,” he added.
Earlier, the all-rounder was reported to have said that the controversies would hamper the team’s preparation for the World Cup and players like Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik should be part of the team for the big events.
Afridi said that the team was facing challenges but he was trying to resolve them. “Apart from resolving the challenges, I also need to lift my own game and for the purpose I am working in the nets both with the ball and the bat. Hopefully, after a little work on my game things will improve,” he added.
Afridi said New Zealand series was going to be an exciting one. “Although New Zealand is playing on home ground but Pakistan has also done well during their recent series against South Africa,” he added. Afridi also said that he would be opening the innings in the Twenty20 matches from now on.
The captain said that he was grateful that former batsman Javed Miandad was helping out the team. He also said that he did not believe that any team could be considered as favourite for the upcoming World Cup.
“It’s the performance on the day that matters and all the players need to do is to give their hundred per cent,” he added. Afridi also said that the year 2010 has been very hard year for Pakistan, but he is positive about the future. “We need to look forward although Pakistan cricket suffered a lot due to many issues in 2010,” he added.
