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Pakistan now ready for rigours of World Cup: Waqar
January 25, 2003 22:03 IST
Pakistan have fully recovered from their hectic schedule of international cricket and are ready to undertake their campaign for the World Cup, captain Waqar Younis said on Saturday.
Pakistan were beaten 4-1 in their recent one-day series in South Africa and suffered a 2-0 whitewash in the Test series.
"Overall, we played six months on the trot in Sri Lanka, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa," Waqar said after landing at the Johannesburg International Airport.
"We needed a rest and it was an important break. We used the time well. We talked about the tour here and spoke about the likely problems. Hopefully, we've sorted things out."
The World Cup, to be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, starts in Cape Town on February 9.
The Pakistan captain said he had spent some time talking to Imran Khan, Pakistan's victorious skipper at the 1992 World Cup.
"In 1992, no one expected Pakistan to win. Imran Khan said it's not that he won with the team -- he won with the brain," Waqar said. "It was the way he thought about things. You have to believe in yourself and the team."
He hoped that opener Saeed Anwar and all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who missed the South Africa tour, could add to his side's effectiveness.
"Azhar was injured and Saeed was out of touch, but he's (Anwar) played some domestic cricket. We recalled the oldies for their experience."
Waqar also said his team had no problem with traveling to Zimbabwe where they are due to play the home side in Bulawayo on March 4.
"We've never had a problem with playing there. We haven't even spoken about it," he said.
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