Younis fancies Pakistan’s chances of winning Cup

ADELAIDE, Australia: Younis Khan declared on Wednesday that Pakistan were good enough to win the World Cup provided they overcome their shortcomings with the bat.
The former Pakistan captain told reporters here at St Peter’s College ground that the national team has regained its self-belief after conquering South Africa in Auckland last Saturday.
“It always happens that when Pakistan win the players get a major boost. There comes this self belief.
“We were unlucky that we lost two matches entering into the World Cup. But the way we played against South Africa it was clear that the Pakistan team was back again. We are now very hopeful that we are capable of reaching the final of the tournament and then winning it,” the senior batsman said.
Younis flopped in the first two games against India and West Indies and was consigned to the benches in the next two against Zimbabwe and UAE.
But he almost made full use of a recall against South Africa with a valuable knock of 37 off 44 balls in a 29-run win.
“I think I have regained my self-belief. Though it wasn’t a big innings I think that I tried my best at a crucial time for my country and I succeeded in a small way. Whenever I get the opportunity I’ll play and perform.
“My frame of mind has always been positive whether I’m playing for Pakistan or not. You must have seen that even when I’m not playing I was there all the time in the field or helping the other players.
“A player like me always wants to play and perform. A senior player like me wants to play for the country so when you don’t play you get frustrated. But this is all part of life. Sometimes there are good days and sometime there are bad days and I always try to learn from my good and bad days.”
Younis said that he agreed to open the innings against India because the team needed his services in that position.
“I always burn my boats. That’s the way I am. I never think about what will happen and always try to think positively. And mostly I succeed.
“I’ve always said in my career that wherever my team needs me I’ll play at any position. I opened in a crucial match but unfortunately didn’t succeed”
Younis, 37, said that he has been dreaming about Pakistan winning the World Cup.
“It is my biggest desire that Pakistan reach the final and win the title. I always tell myself that when Pakistan won in 1992 why wasn’t I part of the team. I was a part of the team when we won in 2009. Now it’s my desire that Pakistan win the title and I manage to contribute for my team.”
With Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi set to retire from ODIs after the World Cup, Pakistan will be needing a new captain.
Is Younis up to the task?
“I have committed many mistakes in my life. Pakistan’s captaincy is a thing of big honour but I have turned it down. It feels very good when you are captain and senior player and you perform and take the team to a certain level. It is my desire that when I leave, our team is in a good shape. Younis admitted that Pakistan will have to bring substantial improvement in their batting if they want to go all the way.
“Every day you need improvement. If there are runs on board it becomes easy. We need to improve as a batting unit. We need big hundreds from our players especially in the coming matches.”