Pakistan Coach – Waqar Younis
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has said that he expects the team to do well in the five one day matches that the team is going to play against West Indies over the next two weeks.
He further said that the Pakistan team had performed very well in the World Cup by reaching the semi-finals.
“The boys have done a wonderful job especially in the World Cup. We knew if we played well, cricket interest would come back in the country. The only way we could have done that was to do well. It is the first time in our history that we have lost in a semifinal or even before that stage, and going back home and being praised. I am really pleased the way the people started understanding cricket.”
On being asked about the present tour of Pakistan, the former Pakistan captain said that he was expecting some good performances by the young blood. “We have brought some young cricketers on this tour.”He also adds that this phase in Pakistan cricket is going to be a rebuilding one.
Speaking on similar lines was former Pakistan captain Mr. Zaheer Abbas, who said that the hosts would be the under dogs in the series with the absence of some major players like Gayle, Sarwan and Chanderpaul in the team. Thus he feels that “it shouldn’t be difficult for the Pakistan team to win the series emphatically”.
He also reasons out that since Pakistan had defeated West Indies in the World Cup match last month in Dhaka by ten wickets to spare, Pakistan certainly have all the odds in their favor to capture this series without much trouble.
However Pakistan hasn’t had a great start to the series with a loss to West Indies in the only T20 match in the series on Thursday by 8 runs.
Darren Sammy, the West Indies captain said that he was very happy with the win and that he hope to continue in the same way in the 5 ODI matches to be played. He said, “We have to continue to play as a team. We created some great opportunities and we took them. The batsmen gave us a good total to bowl at and the bowlers followed up well. The fielding was outstanding and you could see the total commitment in the outfield. We’re happy with the positive start.”
But the 27-year old all-rounder also acknowledges that the ODI series is going to be a completely different affair, especially after Pakistan’s god performance at the World Cup.
He concludes by saying that West Indies have a good bunch of boys and that he believes in players like Bishoo, Simmons and Russell.
Tags: Coach, Cricket, Darren Sammy, ODI Series, PAK, Pakistan, Waqar Younis, West Indies, WI, Zaheer Abbas
