12-11-2010, 03:01 PM
LAHORE - Pakistan ODI skipper Shahid Afridi on Friday said that he had great ambition to win the World Cup for his country and he was very hopeful about it.
Afridi told the media here at Gaddafi Stadium that he had an ambition to see Pakistan win the World Cup and added that the current selection comprised the best of those available and he is satisfied with the squad which was finalised for New Zealand tour.
Afridi said that the team is facing certain challenges but he was trying to resolve them. He also said that he was focusing on his performance and was working hard to improve it as much as he could.
Talking about the New Zealand tour, Afridi said he was expecting a tough and thrilling competition as the kiwis had advantage of playing in their home grounds. He also said that he would be opener in the Twenty20 matches from now on as he wanted to get maximum benefit of first power-play which would obviously help Pakistan team to score maximum runs in early overs.
The captain said that he was grateful that former batsman Javed Miandad was helping out the team to improve its batting. He did not believe that any team could be considered as favourite for the upcoming world cup, he added.
Afridi said 2010 had been a very demanding year for Pakistan cricket and he wanted to see the team start off on a winning note in 2011. “In the new year we will try to give Pakistan cricket the place it deserves,” said Afridi.
The skipper also clarified that he had never said that the national team was not on the right track as far as preparations for the World Cup is concerned.
Afridi told the media here at Gaddafi Stadium that he had an ambition to see Pakistan win the World Cup and added that the current selection comprised the best of those available and he is satisfied with the squad which was finalised for New Zealand tour.
Afridi said that the team is facing certain challenges but he was trying to resolve them. He also said that he was focusing on his performance and was working hard to improve it as much as he could.
Talking about the New Zealand tour, Afridi said he was expecting a tough and thrilling competition as the kiwis had advantage of playing in their home grounds. He also said that he would be opener in the Twenty20 matches from now on as he wanted to get maximum benefit of first power-play which would obviously help Pakistan team to score maximum runs in early overs.
The captain said that he was grateful that former batsman Javed Miandad was helping out the team to improve its batting. He did not believe that any team could be considered as favourite for the upcoming world cup, he added.
Afridi said 2010 had been a very demanding year for Pakistan cricket and he wanted to see the team start off on a winning note in 2011. “In the new year we will try to give Pakistan cricket the place it deserves,” said Afridi.
The skipper also clarified that he had never said that the national team was not on the right track as far as preparations for the World Cup is concerned.