Dhaka, Mar 23(ANI): Pakistan's limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi has expressed his confidence that his team will achieve the target set at the start of the 2011 World Cup, which was to reach the semifinal stage.
"Our aim at the start was to make the semifinals and I am confident we can achieve that. The expectations back home are high and we are determined not to let our supporters down," The News quoted Afridi, as saying.
On the eve of Pakistan's biggest World Cup game since their forgettable appearance in the 1999 final at Lord's, the players sat over the dinner table and vowed to give their best in the quarterfinal clash against West Indies.
They received a motivational talk from Afridi and coach Waqar Younis, and later the captain said that the "boys are ready for the big game."
"For most of our players, it's the biggest game of their lives. They all know how important this World Cup is for our cricket and for our country and they are all pumped up to give their very best tomorrow," Afridi stressed.
Pakistan have been at their brilliant best so far in the tournament, entering the quarterfinals after clinching the top spot in Pool A ahead of defending champions Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka.
"I have played for 14 years and never seen the team train so seriously and focus on their game," Afridi said during a press conference at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
"The entire team is together in the dream to do well in the World Cup," he added.
Afridi is looking forward to stick to the 'winning combination' that helped the team beat Zimbabwe and Australia in the last couple of games, but the idea of bringing in off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was seriously discussed at the dinner meeting.
Pakistan team's think-tank believes that Ajmal can help tackle the four left-handers in the West Indian top order. Afridi, however, refrained from giving any confirmation in this regard, saying that a final decision will taken on Wednesday (today). (ANI)
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