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LONDON: Pakistan captain Younus Khan said the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 in
England had a special significance for his side after their country had become a
virtual 'no-go zone' for international cricket.
"It is special to be back on the world stage, especially in Twenty20 and in
England, the media are here so lots of hopes are here," the talented batsman
told reporters at Lord's here on Sunday.
"We are suffering from not playing regularly, and no-one is coming to Pakistan,"
he added.
Pakistan endured a defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India in the 2007 World
Twenty20 final in South Africa and Younus would love nothing more than for his
team to go one better this time.
"My confidence is that I'll take this trophy to Pakistan," he said. But such has
been Pakistan's relative lack of international cricket that he added: "It will
be an achievement for us to finish in the top four."
Reflecting on the 2007 final, Younus said: "The finishing touches were not
there. We needed only five runs. But it was fantastic to be a part of that team
in the final.
Twenty20 tends to put a premium on big-hitting batsmen at the start of the
innings but Younus, whose team face England and the Netherlands in Group B, said
it was not necessary to start going for big shots right from the off.
"In English conditions the new ball does seam, so you need someone like Salman
Butt who can play for 20 overs. But in the middle order, we have big hitters
like Shahid Afridi and Misbah-Ul-Haq."
English officials have already announced that plans are well advanced for
Pakistan to play two Tests against Australia in England next year as well as a
series with Andrew Strauss's men. |
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