As India and Pakistan are all set to confront each other in their opening World Cup match on Sunday, Pakistani MPs are upbeat that their team is capable enough to defeat India. Minster for Inter-provincial Co-ordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada has full confidence in the national team, saying that the national side has potential to bring the rival India to its knees.
The minister was responding to queries of the parliamentarians during question hour, who objected over the criteria for selection of players for the national squad. Przada, however, expressed the confidence that the national cricket team could surprise any team, as some players like Shahid Afridi, Younus Khan, Nasir Jamshed and Yasir Shah are the "triumph cards".
He said that Yasir Shah, a specialist leg break spin bowler, is the new finding and he has the ability to create difficulties for any team. Similarly, he also defended the selection of star batsman Younus Khan, saying that the senior-most player cold play a big match in tough situation. "I am confident that our team will prove to be the most dangerous team and it will not only beat India in its first match on Sunday but has also the capacity to bring the World Cup to the country," the minister said. He also rejected the impression that injured players were selected to represent the national squad, saying that selection was made after passing the fitness tests.
Iqbal Muhammad Ali of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that the bowling coach, who is drawing his salary in foreign currency, has completely failed to bring improvement in the bowling squad. Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi, who was chairing the House, in his observations asked the ministry concerned to take notice of the selection of injured players who were later sent back to the country.
About the steps taken to improve performance of the players, Pirzada said that as the 2015 Cricket World Cup is being held in Australia and New Zealand, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a plan to acclimatise the National Cricket Team with the conditions they would face during the tournament.
He said that a preparatory camp was also set up in Lahore prior to the team's departure. He said that motivational lectures were arranged for the team and the team management. About the expenditures incurred by PCB in the last two years, he said that the total expenditure of the board in 2013 was Rs 2.022 billion while it was Rs 2.261 billion in 2014 on account of the foreign tours as well as other expenditures.
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