Pakistan’s new cricket coach Waqar Younis Monday promised to inject the much-needed team spirit in his boys, saying there will be a noticeable difference in the team in the World Twenty20 championship beginning April 30 in the West Indies.
Talking to reporters at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore where Pakistan began its preparations for the World Twenty20 event, the legendary fast bowler said his team will work hard during the three-week long camp.
World Twenty is Waqar’s first assignment, after taking over from Intikhab Alam.
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“I will give a different look to the national team and change would be obvious,” said Waqar. “I will make the boys real challengers and people would see it on the field.”
Waqar said he will focus on improvement the fielding as Pakistan has been dogged by dropped catches in major assignments in the recent past.
“We will mainly focus in improving our fielding during the training camp,” he said. “The training camp for Twenty20 World Cup will be held in various sessions in which emphasis would also be laid on players’ fitness.”
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The former Pakistan captain said his team will mainly be relying on its bowling attack to defend the World Twenty20 title.
“We will heavily rely on our bowlers in the Twenty20 World Cup, because they are our biggest strength.”
Pakistan selected its 15-man squad for the Caribbean event without ay input from Waqar, who was still in Sydney but the coach said that he is happy with the line-up.
“I am satisfied with the team selected for the World Cup,” he said. “I have also invited eight other players in camp apart from the four reserves.”
Waqar also said that he has advised senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf to reconsider his decision to retire from international cricket.
“I’ve advised Yousuf not to retire and it would be sad if he announces his retirement,” said Waqar. “Yousuf still has around two more years of cricket left in him and he should continue playing for Pakistan.”
Yousuf is scheduled to announce his retirement Monday evening to protest against the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to ban him indefinitely from international cricket over charges of ‘infighting’