ISLAMABAD (APP): Complimenting the national cricket team on their recent triumph over Australia in the one-day series, President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday inspired the Waqar Younus-led side to go in for the next year World Cup as a winner.
**You are the best. There is no doubt in my mind,**he boosted the 15-member squad that clinched the series 2-1 against the Aussies on their home ground last month.
The national side along with the officials, spearheaded by Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia met the President here at the Chief Executive Office.
Sports Minister Col.
(Retd) S.K.
Tressler was also present.
Reposing full confidence in the team, the President hoped that the national side has the potential to lift the World Cup, being held in South Africa in February-March next year.
He, however, asked the team not to take any pressure of a just-winbut go to the world cup with a conviction they would win the coveted title that is being currently held by Australia.
The President hoped the team was fully geared to take on the challenge.
In an-hour long meeting, during which he freely mixed up with the players, the President advised them to always enter the ground with a nerve to win.
If you are psychologically down-beat, you will never win. He exalted them to play with an aggressive spirit as you can never win with a defensive approach.?“Playing defensively may reduce your defeat margin, but you can only win with an offensive approach,the President added.
The President also cautioned them to look into the problem of a sudden batting collapse that not only costs them the match but also discourages the viewers.
He asked them to try to focus on the game as without it they could never perform to their optimum level.
The President congratulated the team for their series win against Australia.
Beating a team, whether it is Australia or India, on their soil has its own flavor,
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/hehe.gif
the President said.
He felicitated Waqar Younus for his successful captaincy and the entire team for their excellent performance.
The President also announced Rs.0.5 million for each player for winning the series and to encourage them to prepare for the upcoming world cup event more vigorously.
Younus also presented a bat, autographed by the national side, to the President.
Later, talking to APP, Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia said the players selected by the Board were showing good performance and they were the ones, who would be playing the World Cup.
He said four to five more players would be added to the team who have been training with them.
The team is ready for the World Cup.
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif
Gen. Zia hoped that if the team continued to perform the way they did in Australia, they would, Inshallah, win the World Cup. Waqar Younus thanked the President for his valuable advice to the team which, he said, would definitely benefit them in the future.
He said, the President’s encouragement of the team have boosted its morale to perform well in the World Cup and during the upcoming series in Morocco next month and the mini-Wold Cup in Sri Lanka, in September.
Team Manager, Yawar Saeed said that they have chalked out a big plan in preparation for the World Cup.
To ensure fitness of the players and for their physical training, Saeed said that the Board has hired the world-best trainer from Australia, who will be arriving here on July 17.
He said the management team including the team analysts and counselors are giving technical input and training to 18-20 players picked up for the World Cup, both on and off the ground.
Saeed said, the Board has also engaged a field coach, Traver Chappel to improve team’s performance.