“Haris played 6-8 overs a couple of days ago, and also launched a little well,” Rizwan said at the captain’s press conference on the eve of the tournament. “Today he is also playing with a complete rhythm. He is also putting work in the gym and does not complain about any duel. We believe he is completely fit.”
Rauf suffered a muscular sprain on his chest while playing in the opening game of the Tri-series series against New Zealand on February 8, and was in a race against time to be in shape for the beginning of the tournament. He did not play the rest of the series, although Espncricinfo understands that he was more outside a great precaution than an indicator of the seriousness of the injury.
After the press conference, Rouf was seen to bowling in the networks during the Pakistan final practice session before the tournament at the National Stadium. Clean Pakistan to play what they see as their alignment of first choice bowling, one that presents Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Rauf. The three played together in an attack that finally ended on the wrong side of a result against New Zealand in the first tri-series game. Tomorrow they play the same side in the Trophy Trophy Curtiner champions while Pakistan prepares to organize his first ICC tournament since 1996.
“We suffered for 10 years when no side came,” Rizwan said. “But Pakistan still produced solid results. So we have no doubts about our capacity.”
However, it is difficult to escape the idea that Pakistan enters his first game as relative losers. New Zealand defeated them twice in the TRI series, undefeated throughout the tournament to lift the title. They demonstrated their integral ability, defending a total against Pakistan in a game before alleviating two persecutions in the games against South Africa and Pakistan. At the same time, they set aside the injuries for fast players Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears, retaining their threat of rapid progress, while reigned to Pakistan through the media with a varied variety of spinners.
“There are ups and downs and certain deficiencies on our side,” Rizwan said. “We are aware that we need to achieve certain improvements in our professionalism and consistency.
“We try to learn from the Tris series, so we hit first in the final to solve where our weaknesses are. We use that series as a training experience. We hope to have learned enough to cover those weaknesses tomorrow”
But together with the usual cheerful optimism, Rizwan’s statements were mixed with a kind of naked hunger that has rarely dropped into the past. Taking his religion in the sleeve, he tends to resign himself to “the will of Allah” as he often says. You can remove the pressure, a valuable skill for a Pakistan captain, but today, Rizwan seemed to stagger on the verge of fantasizing how much I wanted to win an ICC event, and how good it would be to win at home.
“We’ve been so close several times,” he said. “We need to find out how to get that additional one percent to win those great games. No one can guarantee that success, and we are still looking for that final step in which we lose great games or tournaments.
“Each player is desperate for this title. And we are doing everything possible to solve how to win. I don’t think any country works as hard as we are.”
It is rare to listen to Rizwan to talk to that type of advantage. Very soon, he returned to his usual gregarious self, speaking of how “the 15 players were captains” and the value of the team’s actions on individual brilliance. But, again, perhaps that is the “additional one percent” Pakistan, and Rizwan are desperately looking for.
Danyal Rasool is the Pakistan correspondent for Espncricinfo. @Danny61000
