“We are not taking any teams for granted,” Afridi told reporters here at P Sara Oval on Tuesday. “That’s we will unleash all our firepower at Canada to score a big win because such results from our side will put teams competing us under a lot of pressure,” stressed the seasoned allrounder.
Pakistan began their World Cup campaign with a thumping 205-run triumph over Kenya last Wednesday and followed it with an enthralling 11-win triumph over co-hosts Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Canada, who have completely failed to impress in the tournament so far, are unlikely to trouble Pakistan but Afridi said that he has warned his players against complacency. “There is certainly no room for complacency in the World Cup,” said Afridi, who still remembers how Pakistan fell to minnows Ireland and crashed out of World Cup 2007 in the Caribbean.
Afridi said that Pakistan have done their homework against Canada. “We have tried to gather some video footage of their initial matches. We should retain our positive frame of mind to prove that we are a side which can achieve consistent results,” said.
The captain said that his team has been working hard on its fielding after wasting several chances in the match against Sri Lanka. “We have carried out some intense fielding sessions because that’s our biggest cause for concern,” he said.
Afridi said that Pakistan will try to experiment a bit against the Canadians before the more important game against New Zealand on March 8 in Pallekele, near the hilly town of Kandy.
“We can use the match against Canada as good practice before playing New Zealand which is going to be a tough game,” said Afridi. “We don’t to make many changes in our combination but there will be one or two for the next match.”
Left-arm spinner Abdur rehman has been ruled out of the match against Canada after straining his left abductor muscle in the game against Sri Lanka. He is likely to make way for off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.
Vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq has regained full fitness but there are indications that the team management might opt to give him a rest and bring in young middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq in the playing eleven.
Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar could make way for left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz but Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said that a final decision will be taken by the tour selection committee on Wednesday night.
“It’s certainly an option (to rest Akhtar),” said Waqar. “But the thing is currently his (Akhtar’s) form is good and he might lose it if we give him too big a break between matches,” added the coach smilingly.
Canada, meanwhile, are hoping against hope to make a forceful comeback in the tournament. “We need to comeback somehow, it’s us as a batting unit that’s failing and that’s the most disappointing part,” said Ashish Bagai, Canada’s captain. “It’s our own mistakes which are going on again and again,” he added.
The Canadians have reshuffled their batting order in their two previous World Cup games but were unable to achieve the desired results.
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