Karachi, August 15: Pakistan will utilise the services of former greats Waqar Younis and Saeed Anwar for a strong preparation of the Champions Trophy in South Africa, captain Younus Khan said.
Younus told reporters that a week long conditioning camp for the Champions Trophy will start in mid-September and the former captains will work on the “small weaknesses” of the players.
“This camp we will have former greats like Javed Miandad, Saeed Anwar and Waqar Younis work with the players to prepare them for the mega event. They can work on the small nitty gritty weaknesses of the players,” Younus said.
Miandad was on Thursday appointed as batting consultant by the Pakistan Cricket Board and will travel with the team to South Africa.
Younis said he had advised the PCB not to have a long conditioning camp before Champions Trophy because the holy month of fasting, Ramazan, would start soon and the players need rest or they would burn out before the major event.
He also disclosed that he had asked the PCB to arrange at least two counseling sessions for the players with a sports psychologist before the Champions Trophy.
“There is no doubt players are having problems adjusting mentally in pressure situations and developing self belief in close matches. We had a couple of sessions with a sports psychologist before the Twenty20 World Cup and it helped us win the title,” he said.
Younus made it clear that he had no issues with the senior players in the team and would give them a fair chance even if they were struggling.
“Whether it is Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf I don’t believe in dropping them just on the basis of few bad performances,” he said.
“I believe if a player is to be dropped or rested he must be given a fair chance to prove himself,” said Younus who will be leaving for England on a charity drive for the displaced people of Swat.
Asked when he would want to quit playing ODIs, Younus said, “I want to make a graceful retirement after winning the 2011 World Cup for Pakistan. I want to go out just like Imran Khan or Inzamam-ul-Haq did. People still remember them fondly and respect them and that is the way I want to retire after leading the team to a big victory.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan pace spearhead Umar Gul has been advised rest for 15 days to recover from a back injury that had troubled him during the recent Test tour of Sri Lanka.
Gul, who picked up the back strain in Sri Lanka during training, said he would recover in time for next month’s Champions Trophy in South Africa.
“The doctors have told me to take complete rest for 15 days and then resume light training. I am confident that I will be 100 per cent fit for the Champions trophy,” Gul told reporters at the National Stadium here.
Gul said he had overcome fitness problems earlier in his career including a career threatening back stress fracture.
“I know what to do and how to recover from this injury so I am not concerned or worried that I might not be fit in time for the Champions trophy,” said Gul, who was Pakistan’s star performer in their Twenty20 World Cup victory.
He said his 15-day rest could be a blessing in disguise as he would get a complete break from cricket for two weeks.
“It would allow us to go into the Champions Trophy fresh. Because in a big tournament like this you need to be in your best shape in every match as one bad day or spell can cost you a shot at the title,” he said.
Gul and other members of the Pakistan’s T20 World Cup winning squad took part in a friendly Twenty20 match last night in Karachi to celebrate the country’s Independence Day although he didn’t bowl.
——PTI