Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Dr Nasim Ashraf has expressed the hope that Pakistan team would show good results in the ICC World Cup 2007 even without pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.
Talking to newsmen here on Monday during his visit to Khyber Medical College One-Day Sports Mela, Dr Nasim Ashraf underlined the need for good teamwork, commitment, hard work and spirit on the part of Pakistani squad for achieving the desired results.
"I am hopeful that the players would come out as team against tough sides of the cricketing world," he added. "I'm sure that Pakistani team will do their best even in the absence of Shoaib Akhtar and Muhammad Asif. They are unfit and after proving their fitness their services would be utilised in future," he said.
He said the selected 15 members have the potential to show their worth against good sides. "Two players can not make a team rather it need full dedication and commitment of the whole 15 members to have a due share in showing their skills at such a high level of the game," Dr Nasim Ashraf said.
While recalling the performance of Pakistani team in the series against India in 2005 and last series victory against West Indies, he said, "the team is in a position to show excellent result in the World Cup as such grading of the team against India and West Indies were without Shoaib and Asif." "The team has spirit of victory and the cricketing fans across the world would see them in limelight," Dr Nasim Ashraf added.
Dr Nasim Ashraf said that Pakistan Cricket Team believes in teamwork. He said its every player would try to win the match and also the World Cup. We will not let our goals go down and I will not let my country down," said Dr Nasim Ashraf.
Answering a question about not selecting Yasir Hamid, he said: "It was the selector's decision and I am sure that they went through his whole performance before dropping him for the World Cup."
About taking over of the Arbab Niaz Stadium by the PCB, he said, soon a MoU will be signed between PCB and NWFP government in order to make it according to international need. Construction of an international standard Cricket Stadium in Hayatabad Township has also been discussed with the NWFP government, he told.
He said that PCB is ready to have due role in the development of sports infrastructure in NWFP and up-gradation of KMC ground of the University of Peshawar has been included on the request of KMC principal. Earlier, he gave away trophies and prizes on the occasion on the 52nd Annual Sports Day-2007. Vice Chancellor of the Peshawar Medical University Professor Dr Daud Khan, Vice Chancellor University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gillani, Dr Siraj Khan Ex-Principal KMC and Dr Fazal Ahmad Principal KMC were present on the occasion. The event comprised a cricket match, bicycle races, musical chairs competition, rope pulling and others.