Source: The Nation

ASHER BUTT

LAHORE - Pakistan and Bangladesh captains have promised to provide the entertainment the cricket fans are expecting from them when they play the first match of the five-match series here at the Gaddafi Stadium today.

Though not glamorous to the likes of the series against Australia, which opted out on grounds of security, the series has drawn Rs 27.5 million in sponsorship from Bank Alfalah. But that has more share for the bank’s own promotions inside stadia and outside hoardings while Rs one million has been reserved for the series awards.

“The series has been arranged in place of Australian’s. But that has nothing to do with our preparations as cricketers. We are professionals and our duty is to concentrate on the game. And we would be going all out to win the series,” said Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik.

About difference in rank with Bangladesh, Malik said: “In one-day cricket the team playing better is the winner. Right now we are concentrating on the first match to enter the series on a winning note,” said Malik.

Malik felt that his team has been in the poor form lately but that does not mean they have performed badly. “We lost just recent series and all we need to have consistency and improve on it,” said Malik.

“However, the key player in the series would be the one who comes up with better performance in the opening match and maintains that routine throughout the series,” added Malik.

“Right now our mind is set to win the series and after that we would make place for new faces like we did in the Zimbabwe series,” he added.

Despite the absence of Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan have Umer Gul, Sohail Tanveer and Rao Iftikhar. Muhamamd Asif has also returned to competitive cricket, said Malik. But he said that he wants to see his batting line-up give enough score for the bowlers to defend.

“The Bangladesh line-up have some quality players especially their captain Mohammad Ashraful but the real performer would come to the fore as the series progresses,” he further said.

His Bangladeshi counterpart Muhammad Ashraful said that his team would not be an easy prey for Pakistan. “If we play to our potential we would win a couple of matches,” said he.

Ashraful said that his team comprises of young players but they all are talented though he and Murtaza were the only players who had last played in Pakistan. “We need to improve on our international status and we are here to play well. We would play our best cricket,” he added.

Ashraful added that Pakistan was a good side but if his team played well they could win. “We have beaten Ireland in the recent series and the team is confident to surprise the home side,” said he.

Earlier, the group head of Bank Alfalah, PCB chief executive officer and both the captain unveiled the series trophy. While the sponsors vowed to maintain their love for the sport, the PCB thanked the sponsors. Dr Ahsan Hameed, PCB’s Director Marketing was also present on the occasion.

The teams:

SQUAD

Pakistan: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk), Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam, Bazid Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk).
Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Mortaza (Vice-captain), Abdur Razzak, Aftab Ahmed, Dhiman Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Farhad Reza, Junaid Siddique, Mahmudullah, Nazimuddin, Shahadat Hossain, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Syed Rasel, Tamim Iqbal, Mehrab Hossain jnr, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nazmul Hossain

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Tags: Bangladesh, Captains, Gaddafi Stadium, Muhammad Ashraful, PCB, Shoaib Malik