Dav Whatmore, coach of the Pakistan cricket team, is happy with the form of Nasir Jamshed and hopes that the stylish left-handed opener will deliver the goods in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, which is going to be played in England next month.
Having made his international debut in 2008, Jamshed failed to cement his place in the national team due to fitness issues and loss of form. The cricketer from Lahore, however, worked hard at the domestic level and earned his way back to the highest stage of the game last year during the Asia Cup 2012 in Bangladesh.
Since then, Nasir has been a permanent member of Pakistan’s limited-over sides, having done brilliantly in various events, including a Player of the Series performance in the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against India earlier this year. The stylish batsman, however, failed to live up to the expectations during the recent tour of South Africa.
While speaking to reporters, Whatmore revealed that Nasir is looking in impressive form once again, which augurs well for the Green Shirts’ chances in the mega event.
“Nasir Jamshed is highly talented, though he didn’t perform well in South Africa, he practiced hard here in the camp. Nasir Jamshed looks in good touch for the Champions Trophy,” said the national coach.
Whatmore is not taking things for granted but the coach is optimistic about his team’s chances in the all-important event, although the conditions in England are totally different to those in Pakistan.
He mentioned: “If the Pakistan team play up to their abilities, they can defeat any team in the world. It is difficult to predict our chances for the Champions Trophy, but we can certainly win it.”
The coach further added that the whole team is fit and ready to go for the Champions Trophy. He also thanked the PCB for providing brilliant practice facilities in Abbottabad.
“Fitness issues can arise with any team, but we don’t have any. Our team is fit and geared up to prove their mettle,” said the Pakistan coach. “The facilities provided to us here were state-of-the-art.”
