failed to make the cut for the last four.
There was a ray of hope for Pakistan when they beat Sri Lanka – the reigning world T20 champions — 2-0 in a two-match Twenty20 series earlier this summer.
“That series has served as a good launch pad for our team as the all the boys especially the younger ones are proving their value and have shown a lot of hunger,” Afridi said.
“These are all good signs and as captain I’m happy with the progress our team has been making in the lead up to the World Cup,” he added.
Pakistan will play Twenty20 matches in Zimbabwe, in UAE (against England) and New Zealand ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in India from March 11-April 3.
“We have ample number of matches for the boys to get fully ready for the World Cup and I’m confident that our team will peak at the right time,” the seasoned all-rounder said.
The sixth edition of ICC World Twenty20 championship is still more than six months away but the event is already generating some controversy.
Media reports emerging from India have suggested that due to pressure from Hindu extremists the event’s organisers will not have any of the tournament matches involving Pakistan in Mumbai and Nagpur.
The Hindu extremist Shiv Sena party is already making a big fuss about Pakistan’s participation in the World Twenty20 championship on Indian soil. According to some reports, it has already been decided by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) that Pakistan will not be playing in either Mumbai or Nagpur – the two tournament venues that are in Maharashtra, the state where Shiv Sena yields a lot of influence.
Maharashtra has two Test centres — Vidarbha Cricket Association in Nagpur and MCA (Wankhede Stadium) — which have been picked to host T20 World Cup next year. The other venues are Kolkata, Dharamsala, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mohali.
Asked whether he is concerned about such reports, Afridi said that it is too early to comment on such issues. “Whenever Pakistan play cricket in India such issues are there,” he said.