Manager Intikhab Alam praises Pakistan’s performance
Intikhab Alam, manager of the Pakistan national cricket team, has praised the side for winning the ODI series against New Zealand and finding form at the right time just before the ICC World Cup 2011.
Speaking to reporters, Alam said, “Its great emergence by Pakistan team after they were hit by problems on and off the field during the tour of England last year. It is a great turnaround by the team and each and every member of the team and the team management are to be complimented for their contribution in the success of the team.”
Alam praised the head coach Waqar Younis for putting in extra effort during the practice sessions. This effort by Waqar ultimately made possible for the Men in Green to win a Test and ODI series in New Zealand after 18 years.
“Boys have shown improvement in all areas of the game and coaching staff was working tactically and technically to make players perform consistently in the World Cup,” he said.
After losing the three-match T20 series 2-1, Pakistan came back strong by winning the two-match Test series 1-0 and then the six-match ODI series 3-1, with one match still to go on today at Eden Park, Auckland.
Pakistan’s performance against the Black Caps has come at a time when their ace bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif are suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for being allegedly involved in spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England last year in August.
Alam praised the batsmen and the bowlers for clicking at the right moment and insisted that the win against New Zealand was a combined effort by everyone.
Alam reiterated that the players would have to maintain consistency in order to do well in the World Cup, which is set to begin from the 19th of this month, jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. “We have developed good combination and if players maintained their rhythm and consistency that will bear fruits in the World Cup,” said a confident Intikhab.
The series in New Zealand was the last competitive fixture for Pakistan before the World Cup and this series helped the Shahid Afridi-led eleven prepare for cricket’s mega event of the year.
Pakistan came to New Zealand after losing the T20 and ODI series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which raised concerns about the lack of preparedness of the Pakistan squad for the World Cup. However, the Test and ODI victories in New Zealand must have served as a morale booster for Pakistan right before they take on the rest of the world in the World Cup.
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