Amjid Javed
13th February 2005, 07:37
KARACHI, Feb 12: Pakistan's top all-rounder Shahid Afridi is looking for top performance in the forthcoming tour of India starting later this month to help the country win the Test and One-day series.
"I am fully aware that India-Pakistan series will be tension-packed and it will be a hard tour but it's my goal to perform under pressure," Shahid Afridi said in an interview on Saturday.
"It's going to be my first full tour to India and I am keen to earn honour and glory for the country against the arch-rivals," he pointed out.
"Indians will be having a slight edge of home conditions. But if our batting clicked it's going to be an interesting series," double world record holder Afridi remarked.
"We have to produce top class performance in batting, bowling and fielding to defeat India at their home grounds," he asserted.
Karachi-born Afridi said Australian tour had toughened the boys and they had improved their performance at the later stage of the tour.
"Tough tour to Australia will benefit the player in the Indian series," he hoped.
Twenty-four-year-old Afridi had the honour of hitting the fastest one-day hundred off just 37 balls against Kenya in 1996. Recently he became the first batsman in ODI history to complete 200 sixes, also have the record of a strike rate of over 100.
He said he was trying to curb his habit of hitting every ball for a six.
He said Pakistan lacked batting experience as compared to India. "Look they have Tendulkar, Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman, who can play long innings," he said.
"Staying at the crease for long periods is key in Test matches. We have only two good batsmen in Inzamam and Youhana," Afridi maintained.
"So in this scenario young lot like Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed and others got to be consistent to help in building the innings," he said.
Shahid Afridi said Pakistan also does not have top class spinner in their line-up. He said leg spinner Danish Kaneria is our main spinner but added that Indian batsmen have good track record against spinners in their home grounds.
He said even the world's top spinner Shane Warne had not been very successful against the Indians.-APP
"I am fully aware that India-Pakistan series will be tension-packed and it will be a hard tour but it's my goal to perform under pressure," Shahid Afridi said in an interview on Saturday.
"It's going to be my first full tour to India and I am keen to earn honour and glory for the country against the arch-rivals," he pointed out.
"Indians will be having a slight edge of home conditions. But if our batting clicked it's going to be an interesting series," double world record holder Afridi remarked.
"We have to produce top class performance in batting, bowling and fielding to defeat India at their home grounds," he asserted.
Karachi-born Afridi said Australian tour had toughened the boys and they had improved their performance at the later stage of the tour.
"Tough tour to Australia will benefit the player in the Indian series," he hoped.
Twenty-four-year-old Afridi had the honour of hitting the fastest one-day hundred off just 37 balls against Kenya in 1996. Recently he became the first batsman in ODI history to complete 200 sixes, also have the record of a strike rate of over 100.
He said he was trying to curb his habit of hitting every ball for a six.
He said Pakistan lacked batting experience as compared to India. "Look they have Tendulkar, Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman, who can play long innings," he said.
"Staying at the crease for long periods is key in Test matches. We have only two good batsmen in Inzamam and Youhana," Afridi maintained.
"So in this scenario young lot like Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed and others got to be consistent to help in building the innings," he said.
Shahid Afridi said Pakistan also does not have top class spinner in their line-up. He said leg spinner Danish Kaneria is our main spinner but added that Indian batsmen have good track record against spinners in their home grounds.
He said even the world's top spinner Shane Warne had not been very successful against the Indians.-APP