Karachi/Sydney: Captain Misbah-ul-Haq says Pakistan can “once again rule the world” by winning the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.
The return of the tournament Down Under was a good omen for Pakistan, as that was where it won their only World Cup in 1992, when Imran Khan’s side beat England in the final.
“As the event is returning to Australia and New Zealand, the level of expectation from us will be quite high,” Misbah said on Wednesday as he posed with the trophy in front of Badshahi Mosque and an independence monument in Lahore.
“The team’s victory in 1992 is still the most special sporting achievement in the minds of our cricketers and all cricket fans in Pakistan.
“The whole team is focused to face the most difficult challenge in world cricket, and with the determination of the players and the backing of the millions of Pakistani fans, we hope to once again rule the world.”
The 40-year-old Misbah acknowledged the tournament starting in February could also be his international swansong.
Pakistan’s opening match on February 15 in Adelaide will be against archrival India, whom they have never beaten in five previous World Cup matches. With so much history between them, Misbah said, “People will be looking at it as more than a final.”
Meanwhile, Phil Hughes will replace injured captain Michael Clarke in next month’s one-day series against Pakistan, Cricket Australia said, giving him a chance to state his case for a Test recall.
Clarke was ruled out on Tuesday after scans revealed the hamstring injury that cut short his Zimbabwe tour was worse than first thought and included tendon damage.
Hughes, 25, will take his place in the three-game series in the UAE. “I know the guys in front of me and how well the Test side is going - just to be that spare batter and around the squad, that has always been my plan over the last 12 months,” Hughes said.
“If a spot comes up I feel very ready to take it... but I’m happy to bide my time.”
Hughes had already been named in the Test squad to play Pakistan and was set to travel to the UAE earlier than his teammates to work on his batting against spin with coaching consultant and Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan.
The batsman, who has scored well for Australia A and South Australia, said it had been tough being in and out of the national side.
“But I understand that when I was in there, I wasn’t consistent enough. Going forward it’s about consistency and looking to score as many runs as possible,” he said.
“That is something that I have been working on and I’m probably doing it better over the last 12 months than the previous years.”
The three-game one-day series against Pakistan, the last for Australia before they host the World Cup next year, starts on October 7 with the first of two Tests not until October 22.
Cricket Australia said on Tuesday they hoped Clarke, who has a history of back and hamstring trouble, would be fit to play in the first Test.
If not, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will be Test captain, coach Darren Lehmann said.
“The thing is we want our best player playing. He’s been a fantastic player for us for over 100 Test matches now and we need our No.4 playing and making runs,” he told cricket.com.au.
“We need him back and he knows that,” he said, adding that Clarke was working hard with medical experts.
“All we can do is make sure that when he comes back, he’s right to go.”
