Pakistan high on confidence after ending Aussies 34-match World Cup run

Colombo, March 21, 2011 (PPI): Pakistan’s confidence level has “naturally” received a boost as they brought Australia’s 34-match winning streak in Cricket World Cup to an end on March 19, vice-captain Misbahul-Haq said.

“Confidence is naturally high after the win against Australia. It’s a good feeling to be the team that ended Australia’s fantastic 34-match run. Now important thing is to build on the win against Australia and take that momentum into quarter finals,” he said.

Pakistan’s four-wicket win against Australia was not without some nervous moments for the Greenshirts and their fans alike, and Misbah acknowledged that “one cannot take a win against tough competitors Australia for granted. They (Australia) are such tough competitors - you can never take victory for granted against them. They are capable of grabbing victory from jaws of defeat and it’s never over against them until winning run has been scored or final wicket has been taken.”

“Naturally there were some nerves in dressing room, but Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal and Abdul Razzaq deserve a lot of credit and praise for the way they handled the situation and saw us home. There was a lot of pressure out there and it’s heartening for Pakistan to see youngsters like Asad (Shafiq) and Umar (Akmal) performing so well when it mattered. However, whilst youngsters performed well, Abdul Razzaq’s contribution and steadying influence at the end should not be underestimated. He (Razzaq) showed his experience and maturity and handled situation very well,” he added.

Pakistan’s fielding display and on-field demeanour against Aussies could be regarded as their best for quite some time, which Misbah felt was due to team’s ambition of finishing at the top of group as well as sheer challenge of taking on a “champion opponent” with an unbeaten run in the World Cup.

“Put simply, if we’d lost we would have finished fourth and if we’d won then obviously top place in group was ours. We were determined to finish top of the group, rather than fourth. Conditions suited us and we were totally focused on ensuring we gave our all in every facet of the game,” he said. “In addition biggest motivating factor and driving force was that we wanted to end Australia’s 34 match unbeaten run in World Cup tournaments stretching back to 1999.”

Pakistan have little time to rest on their laurels after marvellous victory over Australia, as they will take on West Indies in their quarter final campaign in Dhaka on Wednesday.

“We are just thinking about our quarter final as that is our next match. For the time being our mindset is that quarter final is our final,” said Misbah, adding, “It would be foolish to look any further than next match. We are all really focused on quarter final and planning for West Indies. All of our efforts and thoughts are on next match in Dhaka and no further than that.”

With home team out of the tournament, Pakistanis may well depend on support from Bangladesh fans. Misbah hopes they will back Pakistan against West Indies. “Bangladesh crowds have always enjoyed entertainment that Pakistani sides have provided. I’m sure they’ll give us good backing against West Indies. I’m confident it will feel like we are playing in Pakistan. Conditions should also suit us in Bangladesh, but we won’t be taking anything for granted and we’ll be going all out for victory,” he said.

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CITY-(HHRD launches Spring tree plantation drive)

ISLAMABAD, March 21, 2011 (PPI): Helping Hand For Relief & Development (HHRD) in collaboration with Capital Development Authority (CDA) launched ‘Spring Tree Plantation Drive’ during which 4,000 saplings would be planted across the country.

Country Director HHRD, Fazal-ur-Rehman who inaugurated the campaign, said that the organization would play leading role in making the city more beautiful by planting more and more saplings.

Under the drive, 50 saplings were planted in the federal capital by the orphans being supported by HHRD Orphan Support Program to increase the green cover and preserve the green character of Islamabad.

Fazal, while highlighting the importance of the drive said that disseminating awareness amongst the people from all walks of life on tree plantation and involving general public, NGOs, traders associations, members of civil society and students is a must for making the drive a success.

The HHRD Orphan Support Program, which is supporting 4,000 orphans in 32 districts across the country, would plant saplings during the on-going spring plantation drive in collaboration with the district managements to be completed on March 31, 2011.


HHRD Orphan Support Program Manager Arif Khalil made it clear on the occasion that the organization would leave no stone unturned in making the country in general, while the federal city in particular ‘green and clean’.