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“Our entire focus is on winning the quarter-final, I am not even thinking of the next match, whether it is India or Australia.” -Photo by AFP
DHAKA: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is not concerned about a possible World Cup semi-final showdown against India, saying his immediate focus was on beating the West Indies.
Pakistan start firm favourites in Wednesday’s quarter-final against Darren Sammy’s men at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium after topping Group A with five wins in six matches.
One of those wins broke Australia’s unbeaten streak of 34 World Cup matches over a 12-year period after the three-time defending champions went down by four wickets in Colombo on Saturday.
A win over the West Indies could bring Afridi’s men a mouth-watering semi-final against arch-rivals India, if the co-hosts beat Australia in Thursday’s quarter-final in Ahmedabad.
“Our entire focus is on winning the quarter-final, I am not even thinking of the next match, whether it is India or Australia,” Afridi told a packed news conference.
“We will not take the West Indies lightly. Any team is capable of winning on their day, there are no second chances in a knock-out match. I think they are a very good side.”
The West Indies collapsed from winning positions against England and India, and only qualified for the quarter-finals on superior run-rate after ending the league level with Bangladesh on six points.
The impressive run by Afridi’s team would have delighted their volatile nation, which has been stripped of big-time cricket at home due to security concerns and tainted by an unsavoury spot-fixing scandal.
The absence of former captain Salman Butt and pace spearheads Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif due to the controversy was not felt as the team has rallied superbly under their inspirational captain.
All-rounder Afridi is the tournament’s leading bowler with 17 wickets with his fastish leg-breaks, while seamer Umar Gul has kept the pressure on at the other end with 13 wickets.
Afridi may have failed with the bat so far with just 65 runs in six games, but young guns Umar Akmal and Asad Shafiq have shone brightly in their first World Cup.
Akmal has scored 211 runs at 52.75 and Shafiq averages 124 in the two games he has played so far, while seasoned seniors like Misbah-ul Haq and Younis Khan have lent solidity to the middle-order.
“Our success so far has been entirely due to the bowlers, who have done a very good job,” said Afridi. “I myself have not batted well and will focus on that tomorrow.
“I know how important my batting is for the team and I will try to get some runs on the board.”
Afridi played down suggestions that the West Indies will be hard to beat at a venue where they shot out Bangladesh for their lowest one-day total of 58 in the league to romp home by nine wickets.
“That was Bangladesh, this is Pakistan,” the captain said.
“It’s not that we are playing for the first time in these conditions. We feel at home anywhere in the sub-continent.”
Afridi said he had never seen Pakistan work so hard at their cricket, which has been rewarded by the good results so far.
“I have played for 14 years and never seen the team train so seriously and focus on their game,” he said.
“The entire team is together in the dream to do well in the World Cup.
“Our aim at the start was to make the semi-finals and I am confident we can achieve that.
The expectations back home are high and we are determined not to let our supporters down.”
We have done well…..so far. A little due to determination and a little more due to good fortune.
The biggest concern for Team Pakistan in my view is a good opening bowlers/pace. A. Razzak doesnt quite make it. Especially with the very tough opponents coming up in the next few days.
This cup has to be won.
Being an Indian, I Appreciate Pakistan team to defeating Aussies and make team india's work little easier, and broke the record of 12 year of dry….. so then now if India beat Aussies then I suspect we going to win world cup sure… but any way apart from Aussies I do like see cup any of other team most likely Pakistan and south africa and Srilanka….
India is much stronger team in this world cup and if Pakistan faces India in semi-final, no doubt Pakistan will be underdog. But then again, there is a saying..Cricket is by chance. As Afridi said, in one day cricket, "Any team is capable of winning on their day.."
It’s time for Afridi to make some score. Every-body should try to perform at their best i.e. 120-150% – do not miss the half chance catch – try your best to save the run – try to build good partnership – try to rotate score instead of just blocking – make sure nobody is getting run out – Insha Allah Pakistan will get success.
Shahid afridi,should give 100% to abdul razzak he such a good player and in such a great form he can win the match aganist west indies by himself so trust me if shahid afridi is a good captain he should fairly use abdul razzak.and see the wonders.
abdul razzak should bowl 10 overs and bat above shahid afridi.
World cup is so important for Pakistan that it may lift our country out of the turmoil it is facing nowadays.This win could help mitigate the conspiracies unfolding in Pakistan and give the nation a chance to unite and defeat the enemies .
world cup is ours INSHALLAH….
wish boom boom reads it:evry player has his own style of play and so has he, good or bad is another debate.The foreign media loathsomely enough is always looking to snub the other players as it did in our trio or Akmal case and so has it done in lala's case..so what if he didn't click in the matches??Ponting also didn't..but oz were brave enough to back him whereas we just started pounding on him making him say that he will be careful.omg!"careful afridi" is an oxymoron!If he is to click sometimes he is to click with a strike rate >100..!!this fact we have to accept and enduring what we cant cure we must back him to play as he likes rather than criticizing him….
p.s best of luck afridi and his shaheens and play pressure-less..u win or lose u r our dam dam heroes..:)MAY ALLAH BE WITH YOU…..amin!:))
Hoping for Pakistan to get by.
Hoping very hard that Australia doesnt make it. They have an unacceptable attitude off/on the field.
Shahid Afridi is doing and staying because he has the backing of all the country and there is no other option.If we take a look at his performance during the past whole year,he does not deserve any credit.Only this tournament his total score is just lousy 46 runs.As a captain it is so miserable and pathetic.
If his youngesters are not there to take the pressure then this team is at the bottom of the list.Hats off to young players who understand the situation not Afridi who would care less.
HIS PROBLEM:he does not play for the country;he plays for the spectators to pleas them with his 4 and 6.Opponents throw the bait and he falls to it.Every cricket team knows his this weak point and they use it.He does have any patience to stay on the pitch.Few balls and he is out.Look at all the world class cricket captains and you will find this is the only captain who lack the ability to score the runs.He has played more than 300 matches and look at his total runs.Ahhhhhhhh! so miserable.He could be the best player in the world only if could start realizing the responsibility to stay on the pitch,play for your country not for the fans who make noise boom boom just to see him out after couple of shots.
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
He is the highest wicket taker in the world cup
Enough said
This is in response to the pointless comments made by Usman
Usman sir you are incorrect -and seems from your post that you have a personal grudge of some sort of our captain… .
may i remind you our captain does two things – he is a batsman as he is a BOWLER – let me ask you this – who is the leading wicket taker in the tournament??? – oh you forgot to mention that in your post ?
your negativity and comments don't help
usman u r way too harsh on afridi, do remember its not only one person who makes a great team , its the entire 11 players. In the past couple of games PK have performed miserably, its been becoz of the trio (the famous cheaters)and ppl like shohib malik…they r out, hopfully the environment is much cleaner n better now. I wish my team GOOD LUCK!
Q.FINAL BETWEEN AUSSIES & INDIA IS A MINI FINAL AND THE WORLD CHAMPION WOULD BE WINNER OF THIS Q.FINAL.
Being a indian and married to pak 50-50 in side.But like all pakistan players of dashing nature and bold to hold everyone in field.Hope for clash between pak/india final whoever win no matter for us but I predicts to pak win who rise like giant to bow any team head to down.
Yes amritaji you are right and appreciate your comments.have good time in texas-USA
World Cup should be with any one of these Asian Brothers.
Srilanka, Pakistan, India
If neither of any above it should be South Africa..
That's It.
The Pakistan team is playing like a cohesive team. The team spirit is visible, the fielding is very tight and they have the aura of the champions.They as a team are giving it their all.
It is visible and i think they have a very good chance of winning the world cup Inshallah.
defeating australia means to defeat india and south africa inshallah we will win the WC-2011 all nations are in pray for the herios of Pak.
InsaAllah pakistan will win this time……..
sa
beting the world champion is something n at moment the team morale is very high so inshallah will win the world cup n rem 2tomorrow is 23 march PAKISTAIN DAY SO GIVE US WIN SO WE ENJOY THE HOLIDAY ALL THE GUYS
Australia is just tiger on paper. Real HOt favourite for WC 2011 are SA, NEWZEALAND & INDIA.No need to excite about australian defeat. This is no more 2007 team of australia
Well if its not 2007 team any more,,, then let see what happens in the quarter final with Aus Vs India,,, by your cliam India must beat them as badly as Pakistan did period
I just hope and pray that the world cup should stay in the South Asia, weather its Pakistan , India or Sri Lanka.Ameen
I am requesting to all pakistani cricket fans all over the world plz pray for team success in World Cup, Bcoz Afridi is a dashing cricketer and we know he can do well. Plz pray for team success.
Indeed we must pray for Pakistan – especially because of the captain, who I believe isnt good enough.
To me:
Pakistan will win and will go play semi with India. but if they don't i am ok with India.
To me we are just like cousin brothers,,we need to support each other when it comes down to GORAS. India plays excellent and so does Pakistan. Its just luck.
Since i am a Pakistani citizen I must support Pakistan first. India is neighboring country ( and SOTELA Bhai) that's second choice. Third would be Sri Lanka. Forth South Africa . NO AUSTRALIA
at all. mean fans mean players mean everything. Goood bye Australia you done.
Thank you brother. You got tears to my eyes and goose pimples. Go with the lord. May allah be with you
Beautiful Manzoor bhai, great comment. I am a Indian and when our Pakistani bhai was playing with Aus, we were 100% with pakistan. That's true, being an Indian, we'll support India first or you'll support pakistan and this is loyal too. We are brothers. No country is so close to each other than India & Pakistan.
Good luck for match with West Indies.
Namstey & khuda Hafiz (sorry if i spell wrong)
u r being very generous!! COUSIN BROTHER INDIA!!! am sure indians dont think of Pakistan as their Cousin!!!! have u ever read the comments about PK on indian newspapers????
Geoo Afridi, Geo Team Pakistan.
Just give it your very best with sincerity and the whole nation will love you and pray for you. Win or lose is part of the game.
Just believe in yourselves and keep planning like you and Waqar are doing. I am sure we can win this.
Inshallah.
first of all, can we please Allah out of this equation;I am sure God is smarter than favoring one side over the other..!Pakistan have performed better than anybody's expectations and 'may definitely' go all the way ….
i for one am not relishing the possibility of an india-pakistan clash …i know the action on the ground is going to be spectacular but everywhere else(blogosphere, on the streets, in conversations) its just going to be ugly,immature,hateful,jingoistic,communal.
We Indians and Pakistanis turn the most harmless or unrelated discussion on the internet forums to a shameless shouting match of India vs Pakistan (or Hindu vs Muslim, if you will )..
an india-pakistan match would not be just high-voltage but incendiary and hazardous..
Afridi is doing very well with the ball, other palyers are doing good too. To win the coming matches Afridi should not let his captaincy to become the weakest link of Pakistan.
All Pakistan team have to do is believe themselves , and play as team.
Cup is coming home.
What can be said without any reservation is that a team that was written off has not only qualified for the quarter final stage, but now appears poised to move to the next round and may be win the WC 2011. One has to admire the guts of this Pakistan team in spite of its failings and feeble batting & fielding prowess. To compete at this level you need a combination of talent and luck. We hope that this talent and luck holds out in the next two games.
Allah does help those who help themselves. If Afridi & his guys apply themselves on the field and play to their full potential, they will emerge victorious against any opposition.
It was good to see the young Shafiq and Umar Akmal take the slack and keep the banner flying high against the Aussies, after Younis & Misbah fell fishing outside the off stump to balls that should have been left. If the 4 of them can keep up the good work, and Pakistan can score 300+, they will have good propsect in Quarter Final, Semi Final and Final.
here is the Big picture
PAK VS WI = PAK
AUD VS IND = AUS
ENG VS SRI = ENG
SA VS NZ = SA
Now PAK VS AUS= PAK
NOW SA VS ENG = SA
FINAL PAK VS SA = ?
indian will be destroyed by ausies, and if INDIA , they will take the world cup
NEW WORLD CHAMPS= APNA PAKISTAN
Your judgement is right brother PAK WWW 11. If India will win against Australia,then only India will lift WORLD CUP 2011.
Aus Vs India match only decide prime contender. Sachin might have top most batting in important matches ahead
Pakistan has shown great character by reaching the Q/F in a style. Let us put our support and faith behind the decisions of the team and the management. Not playing Shoaib in the last game was emotionally disturbing, but correct in the light of the game. Keep it up Afridi boys– we would love to see you coming back with the cup. Regardless the out come of every game; my only request, please play like good professionals and if you ever have to lose then we want to see you going down with grace. Good luck and go get it- May Allah be with you all.
Every game here on is going to be a tough one .Pakistani players will have to play out of their skin to become world champion .
It's not going to be easy .
Best of Luck to Team Green!!!!
Shahid, Do well, give your 100% and don't worry about the result. There is no doubt about ur ability and sincerity to Pakistan Cricket. U have done well and exceeded our expectations so far. Keep up the good work.
I think Afridi should stop concentrating on giving statements and concentrate on the work to be done. End of the day its just a game and you can win or lose. Such statements can be a source of humiliation for the country if we end up losing.
yes. too much talk before a big game. hold your breath and concentrate
Your statement is fine. If Pak lost that day. Than you will be the responsible person. You are not playing with bat a Captain innings.You must come after Razzaq. Why you hate him. Not giving him bowling early while Whab was giving 10 runs per over and again try him and ignored Razzaq. Good Luck for CUP.
Pakistan should overcome West Indies, and a possible clash with India in the Semi Final in Mohali(India), thats going to be tough. Political factor, and obviously the crowd may have an impact.
I hope for the people in Pakistan, that they win it, and inshallah if we do then the WC is ours.
this is where everything counts and they should not let it slip from here they should play hard and with heads together.afridi calm down with your bating display let razaq come before you.Pakistan Zindabaad.
Well done Pakistan!
Inshallah, "boys" will give all Pakistani's the gift for Pakistan Defence Day on 23rd March!
Two weeks time till Pakistani team has World Cup int their hands!
Pakistan cannot be overconfident. We had low scores with some of the non test playing countries in the tournament. West Indies have good batting in Chris Gayle, Smith and some others. Opening bowlers and opening batsman will decide the outcome. shahid's reminder of one game at a time is correct. Let us us not mistakes in the feild and we will win. Inshallah
Our team is a bunch of jokers… not of talented players!
they can win one odd game… but everyday is not possible.
i hope we lose against west indies. it will be less insulting than losing against India again!! ameen!!
Did anyone hear umer akmal saying after the australia win " who is the man of match" while walking towards the pavilion. These Akmal brothers dont play for the country. They only play for themselves…
yea. that's why Umer was trying to face most of the balls at crease leaving poor Asad Shafiq rusting at the other end. The rustiness took it's toll and he was caught off-guard by a surprising bouncer. wicked play by Umer, while no one noticed.
Dont doubt on Umar Akmal. He is the key player of Pakistan. He came in pressure situation and played a good inning. He puts his full efforts in batting. He is one of the most emerging batsman of the world. His no. in batting order is also difficult as he has to come in pressure situation. In future after world cup he should be given chance at 2 down in batting order, he will do better. Pakistan should win and this is our dua that Pakistan win the world cup and give reply to the whole world.
We just need to make sure Afridi and his men are not accepting any bribes – the fact is that Many in the Paki camp including the coach , wicket keeper etc.. have all been implicated at some point of wrong doing. Our President MR 10% would be proud of these boys
Who cares it was fix or not result is Pakistan beat Australia and If Pakistan beat West Indies they will face India in semi final if India beat Australia. Good going
Quite clear from history everytime India stops pakistan to move ahead in World cup.No matter whether pakistan had won over Australia or anyother. So Hope they would not clash otherwise same history will be repeated.
Guys,
Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, it is knockout stage and in ODI, it can be anybody's day if they start clicking. So let's just watch and enjoy the game for the sake of sports. Pakistan is the next weakest side next to West Indies, I just hope that they click as a unit and make smart choices. I just hope that they include Rawalpinde Express card to our arsenal and not bank on Abdul Razzaq so called bowling.
Asif
BEST TEAM OF THE DAY WILL WIN. But that semi final contest will be the gratest joy of the tournament.
Oh Bulay bulay, Pakistan jeetay ga, Insha-Allah.
Team just needs to stick together like a steel glue. And we wil have the CUP, Insha-Allah
Endia will be eliminated in the Quarters! InshAllah
Quarter, Semi & Final is a peace of cake for Pakistan, if only Afridi leads from the front and does not remain selfish for his own Boom Boom affect. He is a madman who cannot offer or does not have any right to offer any words of wisdom to youngsters who are the future of Pakistn. Thats the only reason, no one will ever take Pakistan seriously..He is great player and should be utilized as such…Pakistan has come to the Semi's but at the cost of individual effrots including Affridi, but never at the cost of Team effort. You can see Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shezad will be wasted in future because of Affridi…Hope Asad Shafiq stays away from him…
pak.team, ease the pressure when batting and with natural talent with same combi.vs Aus.and capitan sir may look in to his batting as well.moreover,fielding /catching should be standard…and we are much confirm to win the game/'s…with a good wish me a kashmiri brother looking always towards yiur side with a hope…..
Have doubt that Pak will win 4 matches continously….Pak have very doubtful team to win big matches continously, once in while already happend. Now me doubtful in Semi and if win than in Final. Just can pray for team that they would not get nonserious in feild as always happend.
Well done Pakistan team, i had watched a match and loved it. Keep it u and workhard as much as u can.
Assalam-o-Alaikum to all Pakistanis
Good luck Afridi. You have already brought acclodates to our nation. Great work. Keep it up in the knock-out phase as well.ALLAH MAALIK
Hoping that pakistan will win the worldcup!! We will beat any team.
To play well and win in the coming fixes the players need cool headedness and concentration backed by well-practised discipline.
What do you mean 'fixes'?
Pakistan may get weak sometimes but it can still kick ace. Pakistani cricketers are like WWE star Randy Orton – who win with an RKO from anywhere and anytime.
My only hope and pray to Allah-SWT is that they should stop getting involved with match fixing and always make Pakistan country proud. Ameen
Pakistan will meet on wednesday west indes and win inshallah a large margne and reach quaterfinal and will play with india and defitted india a big margne Inshallah.
Mate where do you live? – Pakistan is already in the QF. India or Australia match will be SF.
Match was fixed. Pakistan did not want to clash with india as he aforesaid. Cricket history shows pakistan has not won even a single world cup match against india.
Bro…Pakistan has already done a big upset by beating the untouchable Aussies….India would be next
By the way who fixed that match? Does wining team fixes the match? Would Australia fix that match to play Quarter Final with India in their home ground? I don't see any match fixing factor in this match. Please be careful and responsible before saying such thing.
Aussie is no more untouchable in this world cup & not a prime contender of the same. So it was not called upset except win over SA, NEWZEALAND & INDIA.
Man your sixth sense won't work here … By the way how can you be so damn sure about this ??
Cricket history also shows India has poor record against Pakistan. India lost more matches against Pakistan than Pakistan against India!
If you want to say that Pakistan team has fixed the match to win against australia then I would say, every match should be fixed in that way.
Seriously? What else? Israel and Al-Qaeda must have a part too? What an eejit!
I think you need some more senses, seventh, eight, nineth…. and so on. If Pakistan lost the match than you can say Pakistan fixed the match and lost to Australia. My dear friend in this case you should go after loosers that they accepted big chunk and stop thier undefeated race.
so you are saying Aust was involved in it too??!!! i mean how else pak could've fixed the match to win against aust?? if aust wasn't involved yet match was fixed and pak win then i say to PCB to ensure every pak match is fixed, to win that is!!!
this is so easy to say that match was fixed… Pakistan won it…and Y aussies didn't fix any match in their last 34 encounters…
As far as u r saying that Pakistan is avoiding India… this is absolutely false…
v r relishing a chance 2 rip a part india…and thats wat v will do wen ever we'll clash…
now if talk about match fixing then India-Eng and Ind-WST matches were fixed and everybuddy knows about it…
Go Pakistan Trophy is urzzzzz
pakistan will win WC 2011
INSAALLAH
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!!!!!!
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!!!!!!
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!!!!!!
Dont dream at present. we should improve our weakness and we know that our batting has big concerns. IF in Semi final indian bat first and built 300+ score then our batsman is not capable to get this runs. so we should improve our batting first.
Yes, you are right about day dreaming but Inshallah means that we'll win with Allah's will. I know that Pakistani batting has always been a let down but if Allah wills anything can happen.
Thats the defeatist attitude that has lead Pakistan and all its quarters to be where they are…Sure everyone understands the WILL of Allah (SWT), but to bank on it totally and never put in the effort and correct your mistakes is beyond me. Hope & Pray that the Nation moves away from Mr. Syed's mentality..Hope for the Best, but prepare for the worst…The days of Mun o' Salva are gone my friend…
God help those, who help themselves!
Dear Pakistani Friends
Allah is not yours its of Everbody and allah will be with India also so its difficult to say Allah will help them who will work hard.
Shilnidhi
agreed
I'M REPLYING TO THE COMMENT WHICH WAS GIVEN BY MR. IMRAN THAT PAKISTAN CAN'T WIN IF INDIA PILE ON THE SCORE OF AROUND 300. REMEMBER ONLY ONE THING WHICH IS THAT TILL NOW OUR PLAYED ALL OF ITS MATCHES ON THE PITCHES WHICH WERE SUPPORTING FAST BOWLING. IF WE CAN PLAY GOOD CRICKET ON THOSE PITCHES EXCEPT ONLY ONE MATCH WHICH WAS AGAINST NEW ZEALAND IN WHICH WE HAD DONE ALOT MISTAKES, NOW WE WILL GOING TO PLAY OUR NEXT MATCHES ON THE PITCHES WHICH IS SUPPORTING BATTING THEN WHY NOT WE CAN CHASE THAT TOTAL. REMEMBER ONE MORE THING, PAKISTAN'S HASN'T CLICKED 100%, THEIR MAIN BATTERS WERE NOT YET JOINT PARTY. REMEMBER TILL NOW 225 PLUS SIXES HAS BEEN DESPATCHED OUT OF THE BOUNDARY, OUT OF WHICH ONLY FEW WERE GOING PAKISTAN'S WAY WHICH MEANS THAT OUR BIG HITTERS LIKE AFRIDI, RAZZAQ & UMAR AKMAL HASN'T FIRED THEIR ALL CYLINDERS.