Dhaka: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has insisted his side’s experienced players to take the burden of responsibility on their shoulders at the World Cup after a disappointing defeat in the final warm-up match.
In the final warm-up match Pakistan was defeat by England in Dhaka from 67-run, but insisted bouncing back was nothing new for his side.
“This is not the first time we are saying sorry for our performance,” Afridi told an Indian news agency. “All of us as a team now have to perform and give our best in the World Cup.”
“The senior players including myself have a very important role to play in the mega event. We must show the way to the youngsters who are playing in the tournament for the first time,” added Afridi, one of the stars of Pakistan’s 2009 World Twenty20 triumph in England.
Afridi stressed there was no question of Pakistan holding back key players for their tournament opener against World Cup outsiders Kenya in Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
“What is clear is that everyone has to now perform and play responsibly if the team is to do well in this World Cup. There is no time now to experiment.”
“It is a good sign that the players are concentrating hard on the tournament and everyone wants to do well. It is important for us to make an early impact in this competition and get the momentum,” he added.
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