LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team manager Intikahab Alam said on Tuesday that Pakistan team was capable of beating West Indies, leaving behind the memories of their semifinal loss to India in the ICC World Cup. “Now the team is embarking upon a new journey, on a new venture and if the players play to their full potential we can beat the West Indies in their own backyard,” he said here on the first day of the Pakistan team’s short duration training camp for the tour of West Indies. The team had two training sessions of strenuous physical training and net practice.
He said what happened in the World Cup was history and the team was at the threshold of facing a new challenge that needed collective efforts to thwart tough challenge from West Indies.
The team official was of the view that at present West Indies were not of that might which they used to be in the past because of their fearsome bowling and strong batting. “We have to re-group in the same manner, the way we did in the World Cup for an improved performance and every team member must play to his full potential to justify his inclusion,” he maintained. He said after Pakistan’s defeat in the World Cup, the entire team members broke into tears, which showed that they were deeply upset with the outcome of the match. “I think the defeat was a lesson and I believe the players have learnt to play in pressure situations and this could add to the team’s performance in the coming tour,” he added.
Pakistan’s tour to West Indies begins with a warm-up game on April 18, while the only Twenty20 will be played on April 21 in St Lucia. The five-match ODI series will begin on April 23, and the Test leg of the tour will commence on May 12. “Efforts are being made on improving physical fitness and fielding of the players.” Intikhab said it was a good omen that young players were part of the squad and the tour would help them to identify their promise and talent. “It is a good chance for the young players to excel in their respective departments of the game and I have a lot of hopes from the new comers for putting up some good performance,” he added. He also advocated the idea of having a batting coach to overcome batting flaws and boost the performance of the batsmen. The team will leave for West Indies on April 14.
