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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Afridi fields top side against Kenya, hoping to avoid any early slip-ups

Health & Science

By The Standard Sports | Feb 23, 2011

HAMBANTOTA

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is determined to avoid any early upsets in the World Cup and will field his strongest team in its opening Group A match against Kenya today.

"There are a number of examples when big teams have lost, so I want to play with full strength," Afridi told reporters yesterday.

Pakistan made a first round exit at the 2007 World Cup after a defeat by Ireland, while Kenya has caused upsets at previous World Cups, beating the West Indies in 1996 and Sri Lanka in 2003.

Afridi’s plans mean fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar could get an opportunity to gain some rhythm and 21-year-old uncapped player Junaid Khan might have to wait.

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Akhtar is one of the three Pakistan survivors, with Abdul Razzaq and Afridi, who beat Kenya in a 2004 Champions Trophy match in Birmingham. Pakistan went on to win by seven wickets and has a 5-0 one-day international record against Kenya.

Since Afridi was appointed one-day and Twenty20 captain in June last year, Pakistan has failed to qualify for the Asia Cup final and has lost one-day series to both England and South Africa.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board retained him as captain — just two weeks ahead of the World Cup — after he won a six-match series in New Zealand 3-2.

Afridi admitted he’s had some tough times as captain, especially after three of his teammates — Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt — were suspended in August and then given lengthy bans earlier this month for spot-fixing.

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"It was difficult in the beginning when we had all those issues," he said. "We had to rebuild, we had to lift the team again and that was affecting my performance."

Opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad has filled the shoes of banned opening batsman Butt with a century against New Zealand and another in a World Cup warmup match against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who has troubled many top batsmen with his leftarm fast bowling, has also impressed Afridi.

"Now the situation has come that our team is settled and we have a good combination," he said. "People now have hope that this team can do something."

For Kenya, captain Jimmy Kamande had a minor injury scare after being hit on the side of the head while batting in the nets at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.

But Kenya’s media manager Arjun Vidyarthi said it’s "nothing serious and he will be all right for tomorrow’s match."

The 2003 semifinalist had a dismal start to the World Cup as New Zealand dismissed them for just 69 runs last Sunday to win by 10 wickets in Chennai.

But 39-year-old all-rounder Steve Tikolo, who has played in all five World Cups for Kenya since 1996, said his team just had a bad day against the Kiwis. "As a top professional, for me, if you are down, it’s the way you pick yourself up," he said. "The good thing that came out in the changing room was that the boys were very disappointed and that shows the mark of good professionals."

— Reuters

"It’s good to hear that the opposing captain has respect for the Kenya team," Tikolo said of Afridi’s plans to field a strong lineup. "I’ll pass that message to the boys, so obviously tomorrow the guys will be pumped up."

Kenya had a lengthy batting session on Tuesday as they prepared to face the likes of pacemen Akhtar, Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz — with its top order having previously fallen to New Zealand’s fast bowlers.

"The New Zealand bowlers bowled well," Tikolo said. "It’s not about us giving excuses, we played badly, we have to accept that and move on."