‘We still have a long way to go’

KARACHI: Pakistan shouldn’t press the panic button and just stick to the basics in their bid to seal a World Cup quarter-final spot, former Test cricketer Salahuddin Ahmed said on Thursday.
Salahuddin told ‘The News’ in an interview that despite Pakistan’s loss in their opening game against India in Adelaide, the national team still has a long way to go and should not get discouraged.
“The World Cup has just started for us and we have five more matches to play in the pool stages,” Salahuddin said.
“The defeat against India must have affected the team’s morale but the boys should come out of it and give their best against the West Indies in their next match,” he added.
Pakistan will take on the Caribbean side in Christchurch on Saturday (tomorrow).
Salahuddin stressed that Pakistan can comfortably beat West Indies provided they play to their potential.
“The West Indian team is going through turmoil and recently lost against Ireland. While we cannot take anything for granted I believe that our team should beat them,” he said.
According to Salahuddin, Pakistan should play wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed and ask him to open the innings with Ahmed Shehzad.
Salahuddin believes that the former Pakistan captain deserves a place in the playing eleven.
“The decision to make Younis open was a wrong one,” he said. Salahuddin also back the idea of playing leggie Yasir Shah against West Indies.
Salahuddin played down rumours that all was not well in the Pakistani dressing. “I don’t think there are any serious problems within the dressing room. There always are minnow issues but I must say that the PCB chairman has managed to settle them amicably.”