Pakistan coach Waqar Younis hoped that the enormity of the occasion and condition in India will help his side overcome their recent shortcomings against Bangladesh in the ICC World Twenty20 today.
Bangladesh defeated Pakistan in their last five limited over matches at the bilateral series and in the recent Asia Cup but of all of their success came in familiar home condition.‘Every team has the right to improve and it is good for world cricket and for Bangladesh,’ Waqar told reporters in Kolkata on Tuesday,’ replying to a query whether he thinks it will be a 50-50 game.
‘For the last 18 to 24 months they have been playing really good cricket. We saw it at the World Cup and against us as well, against the South Africans and the Indians.
‘They are becoming a good side and you have to respect that. We have got plenty of respect for them.
‘They are playing very good cricket, but this is a big stage, different
conditions we are hopeful and positive that we
are going to play some really good cricket tomorrow [ today].’
Pakistan match will be Bangladesh’s first against a top opposition outside home since the last World Cup when they played in the quarter-final at the expense of England.
Since then they defeated Pakistan, South Africa and India in one-day international series and carried the success in Twenty20 format to qualify for the final in Asia Cup Twenty20 tournament.
While the success at home made Bangladesh is now a force to be reckoned with but the independent analysts said that Bangladesh must prove their ability in abroad as well. At home Bangladesh prepared pitches that suited their cricket but Waqar said they will be deprived of that advantage in ICC World Twenty20.
‘I have seen the wicket. It’s definitely different conditions to Bangladesh,’ said Waqar.
The former Pakistani great, who watched their all five recent defeats against Bangladesh from the dressing room, however, was quick to admit, condition does not always matter.
‘When you play good cricket, conditions don’t really matter that much. Bangladesh are playing very good cricket. We have to be really watchful, and we have to come out really strong to beat them,’ he said.
Pakistan however have few own issues to deal with as skipper Shahid Afrdi came under fire from former cricketers for his recent ‘ more loved in India’
comments. Adding an insult to the wounds Afridi suffered a duck in their only warm-up match against Sri Lanka.
Afridi, who scored just two runs in his two innings in the Asia Cup, skipped Tuesday’s training session and official press meet, sparking a rumour that suggested he is unwell and might miss the Bangladesh game.
Waqar dismissed the rumour saying that Afridi is perfectly alright.
‘It’s nothing like that he cannot sit in the dressing room,’ Waqar said explaining Afridi’s rumoured illness.
‘It’s better to take rest, its’ warm out there. So we’ve left him in the hotel to rest.’
-With New Age input
