Director General, Pakistan Sports Board, Javed Miandad has urged the players of the national team to set aside the sour memories of a clean sweep by the South Africa in the Test series to take a fresh start in the T20 and One-day series. Pakistan meet South Africa in the first of two Twenty20 internationals at Kingsmead on Friday.
"What happened in the Test series is now a saga of past and it is right time to look at the T20 and One-day matches with a renewed pledge to atone for previous mistakes," he told APP here on Thursday at Gadaffi stadium. The former Test cricketer described the T20 and One-day series 'challenging' for Pakistan team, which needs success to lift the level of its performance after a dismal Test series.
"If the players stuck in the past they will not be able to perform in the coming series and they must look into tomorrow with a hope to come up with high quality performance to outshine their opponents in coming matches of T20 and one day series. Pakistan will open its two match T20 series with a match on Friday followed by the five one day international series commencing from March 10.
The PCB official pointed out that team enjoys a fine run in the T20 and One-day series and now the stage has come to show consistency to maintain the flow of success. He praised the players selection for reinforcing the team for T20 and One-day series and selectors have done a good job by sending experienced players rather trying out young players. "It is not the right time to try new players as the team needs a success to regain its confidence and to re-establish its status as one of worlds fine team in T20 and one day games," he asserted.
Miandad strongly believes that team will make a come back in T20 and One-day games as it (team) is a combination of 'talent and experience.' "I strongly feel that players will be eager to rise to the occasion," he said adding "Every player should realise about his responsibilities in the team."
Regarding lack of interest of spectators in the recently concluded final of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy at Gadaffi Stadium, Javed Minadad said televising the matches has restricted the crowd from the stadium. "It is a very sad situation as the final was played in an empty stadium because it was being show live on TV and another aspect to bring back crowd to domestic matches is to make the domestic events more tough and competitive."