Waqar hopes stars would emerge from his young team

The cricket team on Thursday left Pakistan for Zimbabwe tour from Lahore to play a one-off test match with a bunch of fresh faces. Under the captaincy of Misbahul Haq, the team will take connecting flight from Abu Dhabi. The teams will play a Test match, three One-Day Internationals and two T20 matches. Talking to journalists at the airport, coach Waqar Younis said that he hoped the players will perform well according to prospects and the results of a good performance would be visible despite a one week training camp. Younis also welcomed the inclusion of all-rounder Shoaib Malik in the squad. The outgoing coach said that his team would have to guard against complacency and put up a disciplined performance to beat Zimbabwe in their own backyard.
Pakistan squad that includes former captain Shoaib Malik — back after a one-year gap — and some new faces left this morning for a tour during which they will play a Test, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches. It is Pakistan’s first bilateral tour to Zimbabwe since 2002/03. “Zimbabwe has played some disciplined and planned cricket to beat Bangladesh for which they deserve credit and respect. Our team will also treat this series with great importance and there is no question of any complacency in our side,” Waqar, who will step down as coach after the tour, told reporters at the airport. He pointed out that Zimbabwe were a resurgent side and eager to prove themselves on the international stage. “They have made a comeback to Test cricket after nearly six years and they have inducted some new players so they are hungry to make their mark and we have to be very careful to play disciplined and patient cricket,” he said. The former Test captain also noted that the Pakistan squad included a number of young players who were touring Zimbabwe for the first time so it would be a learning experience for them.
“We are not underestimating Zimbabwe at all and we know it is going to be a tough series but we have a lot of exciting talent and also the presence of some proven performers in Younis, Misbah, Hafeez and now Malik,” Waqar said. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said that he hoped his team would put on a winning performance against Zimbabwe to give outgoing coach a befitting farewell. The new-look team left for Zimbabwe after Waqar announced he would step down as head coach following the 24-day tour due to health problems.
“We were shocked by the sudden announcement of him leaving after the tour, but we all respect that and want to do well and win the coming series for the coach,” Misbah said. Pakistan will open the tour on Sunday with a two-day practice match in Bulawayo before the only Test of the trip, at the same venue, starts on September 1. Misbah said the young players were ready to make their mark. “All the players have performed well at the domestic level and were selected on merit so they are fully committed to take their chances and contribute in team’s performance,” he said.