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Afridi confident of Pakistan's good show at T20 WC

Agencies

Posted: May 09, 2009 at 1849 hrs IST
      

Karachi: Pakistan may be short of match practice ahead of the Twenty20 World Championship but all-rounder Shahid Afridi says his side would still be quite a handful for the opposition teams at the mega-event in England next month.

"We will be a different and more confident team in the World Cup. It was a good victory for us in the T20 match against Australia and it has put us in the right mood for the tournament," Afridi told reporters after returning to Karachi from the UAE following the ODI series loss to Australia.

"We are looking forward to doing well in the World Cup and avenging our defeat in the final last time,” he added

"It is disappointing the way we lost the one-day series to Australia from winning positions. But it was a good tough series for us and we are mentally prepared for the Twenty20 World Cup."

Afridi was one of the few success stories in the series against Australia, impressive with both bat and ball in the low scoring matches.

"I thought the batting was disappointing as it didn't lend enough support to the bowlers who did a very good job in the series," he said.

Afridi said in the three matches Pakistan lost, it was in a position to win but buckled under pressure.

"All the players were very ashamed and embarrassed after the way we lost the third match after being in a strong position," he recalled.

Pakistan, chasing 199 for victory collapsed, after being 95 for no loss at one stage. "I thought after the match that considering the position we were in, even the Karachi or Sialkot teams should have won that game and closed the series," he said.

Afridi said the players at times played reckless shots under pressure but have learnt their lessons from the series. He also denied rumors about groupings and splits in the team.

"We were like a team in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and I think at a time when Pakistan cricket is going through a crisis because of the international teams not coming to Pakistan the media should support us and encourage the team before the World Cup," he said.

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