Pakistan will face world champions Australia in five-match One-day International (ODI) and one Twenty20 in the so-called "home series" to be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from April 22. Terming Australia "vulnerable to defeat, Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has said his players are fully focused to dent the confidence of Australia by beating them.
"By all means, it is going to be a thrilling and tough event. We have a simple target of beating the mighty world champions," Intikhab said prior to the departure of the national team to the Gulf. While Intikhab is hopeful of defeating the strong Aussies in the series, it all depends on the mental toughness, physical fitness and match temperament to face their rivals after a long time.
It is heartening to note Younus Khan, who believes in positive and aggressive cricket, leads the young team. Younus has proved time and again exhibited tremendous confidence, guided his boys, including bowlers, and set the field placing with an immaculate precision.
As a leader, he makes his presence felt on the ground and that's the most important trait of a captain. The former Pakistan captain further said: "Obviously, Australia are a much fancied and topmost team and they have proven it through their performance, but it is a harsh reality that every team can be beaten and so the same is the case of Australia. Recently they have been beaten in ODIs and Pakistan will also be going all out to do so.
"To achieve victory against Australia, we have to demonstrate a higher brand of cricket and I am expecting some decent performances from my batsmen and bowlers in demanding situations," he stated.
Keeping in view the aggressiveness of Younus Khan, Intikhab rejected the notion that his team would be under pressure while facing the Aussies at neutral venues. Younus Khan said: "I will tell my team we have not played international cricket and if we can put our pent up energy to use, we can surely beat Australia." "Australia have just lost their series in South Africa. They have played back-to-back matches, so don't you think they will be a bit tired when they come here?" However, Younus urged his players to show commitment, and warned them not to take Australia lightly despite the absence of their key players.
SHOAIB AKHTAR FACTOR: Intikhab said: "I am trying to unite the team by blending experience with youth and players are under the load of responsibility to justify their inclusion and come back," he said referring to the inclusion of Shoaib Akhtar.
One may recall former PCB Ad hoc Committee chief Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia (Retd) has said that Shoaib Akhtar's international career is over, and has, therefore, advised the PCB to show the door to the controversial fast bowler by giving him one last farewell match.
Tauqir Zia, who pampered Shoaib during his tenure as PCB chairman, said the ageing bowler lacked proper fitness to play international cricket. But present PCB chief Ijaz Butt said: "I've all respect for Tauqir Zia, but I don't believe that Shoaib's career is over.
I'm of the view that he (Shoaib) has almost regained full fitness and can still be an asset for Pakistan for quite some time." However, one hopes that Shoaib would learn lessons and under the leadership of Younus Khan, he would come up to the expectations of coach Intikhab Alam, the PCB chief and try to justify his selection both on and off the field.
SPONSORSHIP: As regards sponsorship, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in dire need of sponsors for the forthcoming Pakistan-Australia series. For this purpose, the PCB has sent a top-level team, headed by former Test opener Aamir Sohail, to woo the sponsors for the series, but Aamir Sohail-led team returned empty handed, adding to the miseries of the Pakistan cricket, which has suffered heavily during the last over one-and-half years due to the refusal of teams and players to tour this country on security reasons.