Are Pakistan's players determined to make a positive impact at the World Cup?

[Wasim_Waqar]

Make me a bit naive but since the England series, my mind has been on the World Cup

An extremely strong but ageing squad got into strong positions v Australia, England and India in 2003 but bad team selections and
negative cricket resulted in a 1st round exit.

in 2007, no Razzaq/Afridi/Shoaib/Asif meant that we were never in line to win the World Cup but we were a disgrace

I have grown up every World Cup where Pakistan has been expected to be close to winning. The world currently views us as not being able to win it.

Are the players just determined to 'compete' or are they really determined to make that last 4 and be the team others don't want to meet in a knockout situation?

Your views please

[atif.raza]

out of the first round

public outrage against Ijaz Butt

Zardari comes out in his defense and even boasts about him in UN: 'We have assembled a world beating team in our institutions, especially and including Ijaz butt'

More public outrage against the govt following the speech

PML-N announce long march to protest. Lawyers get involved too

PPP soon after that thrown out and midterm elections begin

Imran Khan becomes our honorable PM and (finally) announces democratic election for chairman's post

InshahAllah!!

[Wasim_Waqar]

Despite my anger at the administration, I still want us to do well and be in that last 4

[Liverpool_Faizan]

dont worry

azhar mahmood is in line to play in yet another world cup

[ElRaja]

for some reason i have a feeling we will do well in this world cup, we tend to do best when no one gives us a chance.

With this silly fixture structure where u play so many games against minnows, NZ shdnt b hard to beat in seein hw they faired agsnt bang, aus are beatable too these days.

we will definately make it to second round. SL looks like dominant team in our group.

What i would give to see pak v ind final in mumbai, that wd b pbly the game i most looked forward to for ages.

[Sledger]

Yes, they will win the tournament.

has never let Pakistan down before, why should he at this age?

[Shayan_Sohail]

Tbh i dont have very high expectations from our team and players this time around. Obviously i hope they do well and win

But i can only imagine what the players will be going through in the current situation. It would be a hell of an achievement if they make it to the semi final and finals. If they win under the current circumstances then hats off to them.

[Wasim_Waqar]

This is truly THE golden chance to shut up the world of cricket AND a message to India as well: the aim should be to be in the World Cup final in Mumbai. That would definitely be the single biggest Pakistan cricket match in our history if we could get there.

We may be written off but if we can get Akhtar, Gul and Riaz on song, there is a chance

[Desi_Joker]

Nahi woh to chotiyon ke liye ja rahen hain.

[atif.raza]

Just ask yourself this. Imran was a legend and deserved a world cup under his belt before he retired. Do we really want Afridi, the most average and overrated player in Pakistan history to be in the same league as Imran?

[Desi_Joker]

Originally Posted by atif.raza Just ask yourself this. Imran was a legend and deserved a world cup under his belt before he retired. Do we really want Afridi, the most average and overrated player in Pakistan history to be in the same league as Imran?

Let's look at it in a different manner.

Imran Khan - Won the 50 over World Cup in 1992 - was a one of a kind. He was the most skilled, hard-working cricketer Pakistan has ever produced. Brought the team out from the jaws of defeat and went on to win the cup with his infamous Cornered Tigers.

Younus Khan - Won the T20 (or WWF as the legend himself put it ) version of World Cup- One of a kind in his own manner. Again hard working cricket oozing with confidence and positive energy on the field. His smile also makes you forget about your own worries and he is one of the best Test match batsmen we've ever had. Let'salsomentionhis200mphenglish that most cricket analysts are either still running after because they're too slow for it, or they've caught it but haven't been able to decipher it yet. His campaign was rather similar to IK's.

Shahid Afridi - In contention - One of the most dynamic modern day players. One thing is for sure, with Afridi on the crease, you're not leaving your sofa (or seat or w/e). His bowling's been just marvelous in the last three years and his batting with patches of sensibility has been sometimes... well... retarded.
Though with a tournament like THE World Cup at stake, I have a feeling Afridi might knuckle down and pull the team forward. Also he seems to have the support of the younger and older players alike and the team gels well under his leadership. His leadership qualities have been questionned many a times, but he's shown signs of improvement in that department as well lately. The tournament will be the last we see of Boom Boom if he fails, so he knows the importance of not repeating the mistakes of the 2003 and 2007 campaigns.

Oh not to mention we have the biryani luck with us too.

[Wasim_Waqar]

I can't believe the basic conclusion of 'don't want pakistan to win the cup as it would equate Afridi with Imran.' I don't care who the skipper is as long as we get far and give ourselves a chance of winning!