IAJ
7th April 2010, 09:54
LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team coach Waqar Younis said on Tuesday that he is thrilled about the overwhelming response of the players in the on-going national training camp, but minced no words in stating that the serious-minded approach of the players was perhaps due to the recent penalties dished out to the seven leading players by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the debacle Down Under.
“I have been receiving tremendous response from the players since day one of the training camp and it has stunned me absolutely,” Waqar said while talking to reporters after the end of the session at national T20 World Cup training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Tuesday.
“Most probably, it is the result of the fines and punishments handed to seven leading players by the Pakistan Cricket Board recently in the aftermath of their poor show in Australia,” he opined.
Waqar’s statement quite confirmed the fact that the PCB has succeeded in curbing the player-power in Pakistan cricket. This came on the heels of captain Shahid Afridi’s statement the other day when, despite facing a fine of Rs3 million himself, he had hailed the cricket board’s decision of penalizing the cricketers.
Even Yousuf’s decision to resign from international cricket last week could not pressurise PCB chairman Ijaz Butt who is yet to ask the stalwart to withdraw his decision or file an appeal against the penalty.
Waqar went on to add: “Though I have had my association with the national team in the past as bowling coach and as a player, I have never seen this kind of interest and commitment from the players.”
However, he said the boys were still lacking in some departments but the team management was trying to address their problems by chalking out a day-to-day strategy.
He emphasised that a lot of dedication was required from the players to overcome the weaknesses but he was expecting a good result from them in the forthcoming World Cup, which is commencing in the West Indies from April 30.
To a question, he said he had complete understanding with captain Shahid Afridi and there was good coordination between them which was essential to make things work for future.
The legendary fast bowler put his weight behind the spinners in the squad, claiming it was the strongest department of the national team and could well prove to be the trump card for Pakistan which will be defending the title.
“We have a good variety of spinners in Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez and their presence in the team gives us an edge over other sides,” he claimed.
Waqar said the weather in Lahore was good for camp and helped the boys to gear up for the big event in the Caribbeans.
Commenting on the Shoaib Malik-Sania Mirza controversy, Waqar said Malik should be supported in this hour when he was about to take the biggest decision of his life.
“If Malik and Sania have agreed to get married, it is their basic right and they should be allowed every to live their life according to their wishes. I feel that everyone should extend him support during these times.”
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/cricket/12-waqar+thrilled+by+great+response+at+t20+camp--bi-04
“I have been receiving tremendous response from the players since day one of the training camp and it has stunned me absolutely,” Waqar said while talking to reporters after the end of the session at national T20 World Cup training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Tuesday.
“Most probably, it is the result of the fines and punishments handed to seven leading players by the Pakistan Cricket Board recently in the aftermath of their poor show in Australia,” he opined.
Waqar’s statement quite confirmed the fact that the PCB has succeeded in curbing the player-power in Pakistan cricket. This came on the heels of captain Shahid Afridi’s statement the other day when, despite facing a fine of Rs3 million himself, he had hailed the cricket board’s decision of penalizing the cricketers.
Even Yousuf’s decision to resign from international cricket last week could not pressurise PCB chairman Ijaz Butt who is yet to ask the stalwart to withdraw his decision or file an appeal against the penalty.
Waqar went on to add: “Though I have had my association with the national team in the past as bowling coach and as a player, I have never seen this kind of interest and commitment from the players.”
However, he said the boys were still lacking in some departments but the team management was trying to address their problems by chalking out a day-to-day strategy.
He emphasised that a lot of dedication was required from the players to overcome the weaknesses but he was expecting a good result from them in the forthcoming World Cup, which is commencing in the West Indies from April 30.
To a question, he said he had complete understanding with captain Shahid Afridi and there was good coordination between them which was essential to make things work for future.
The legendary fast bowler put his weight behind the spinners in the squad, claiming it was the strongest department of the national team and could well prove to be the trump card for Pakistan which will be defending the title.
“We have a good variety of spinners in Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez and their presence in the team gives us an edge over other sides,” he claimed.
Waqar said the weather in Lahore was good for camp and helped the boys to gear up for the big event in the Caribbeans.
Commenting on the Shoaib Malik-Sania Mirza controversy, Waqar said Malik should be supported in this hour when he was about to take the biggest decision of his life.
“If Malik and Sania have agreed to get married, it is their basic right and they should be allowed every to live their life according to their wishes. I feel that everyone should extend him support during these times.”
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/cricket/12-waqar+thrilled+by+great+response+at+t20+camp--bi-04