Whatmore upbeat before World Twenty20
CRICKET: LAHORE, Pakistan, Aug 18 (AFP): Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore
was upbeat Friday about his side's chances at the World Twenty20,
welcoming the opportunity for his players to prepare in the Sri Lankan
league.
Nearly all Pakistan's players selected for the September 18 to
October 7 tournament in Sri Lanka feature in this month's Sri Lankan
Premier League (SLPL).
Whatmore, 58, who was appointed in March and coached Sri Lanka to
their 1996 World Cup title, said his players will get good practice in
the venues where the World Twenty20 will be held.
"There is an opportunity for some of the boys to participate in the
SLPL and it's a good thing and I have no problem with it," Whatmore told
reporters at the National Cricket Academy.
"At least they are playing on ground and in the similar conditions
and in those two grounds where we are going to play our matches," said
Whatmore of the event where Pakistan is placed in Group D with
Bangladesh and New Zealand.
"There are a few other (countries) doing the same thing and they are
getting good practice."
Pakistan takes on Australia this month and next in a limited overs
series in the United Arab Emirates, comprising three one-day matches and
three Twenty20s.
"We will do our best to perform in the conditions, which are close to
the conditions in Pakistan, but certainly it won't be in Pakistan.
"The selectors have given us a group of players who are competitive
enough to give us the right results and win the games."
The first one-day match will be played in Sharjah on August 28. The
next two matches will be in Abu Dhabi on August 31 and Sharjah on
September 3.
The three Twenty20 matches will be played in Dubai on September 5, 7
and 10.
Whatmore said Pakistan can do well in the World Twenty20.
"Every team has started taking this form of the game more
seriously... we have a good team for this format," said Whatmore.
Pakistan were runners-up in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007, won
the 2009 event held in England and finished semi-finalists in 2010 in
the West Indies.
The coach said all teams have good squads but warned "it's a volatile
form of game". |