COLOMBO: Pakistan's World Cup victory over Australia has restored the team's battered image and boosted its credentials as champion-in-waiting, skipper Shahid Afridi told pressmen here on Monday.
“We knew that beating Australia would be very important for us and this win has enhanced our image, sending a good signal to the cricket world that we can win despite our difficult situation,” Afridi said.
Pakistan entered the tournament on the back of a spot-fixing scandal which led to bans on former Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.
Pakistan has also been a no-go area for international teams since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore two years ago.
Afridi said Pakistan still had a deep well of natural cricketing talent. “Despite all the problems, Pakistan is blessed with talent and it is because of this talent that we are a dangerous team and can win against anyone. We now hope to carry on the momentum,” said Afridi.
Afridi said he was not thinking of a potentially high-voltage semifinal clash against India.
“Our focus is on the quarterfinal, we have to win that to reach the semifinal, so we are not thinking that far. First we have to win a match against a dangerous opponent,” said Afridi. — AFP
“We knew that beating Australia would be very important for us and this win has enhanced our image, sending a good signal to the cricket world that we can win despite our difficult situation,” Afridi said.
Pakistan entered the tournament on the back of a spot-fixing scandal which led to bans on former Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.
Pakistan has also been a no-go area for international teams since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore two years ago.
Afridi said Pakistan still had a deep well of natural cricketing talent. “Despite all the problems, Pakistan is blessed with talent and it is because of this talent that we are a dangerous team and can win against anyone. We now hope to carry on the momentum,” said Afridi.
Afridi said he was not thinking of a potentially high-voltage semifinal clash against India.
“Our focus is on the quarterfinal, we have to win that to reach the semifinal, so we are not thinking that far. First we have to win a match against a dangerous opponent,” said Afridi. — AFP
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