'Memories will not help players'

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed has reminded his players not to dwell upon memories of the team’s triumphant 2009 World Twenty20 campaign in England and to take on Australia with an attacking frame of mind.

Saeed, who was Pakistan’s manager when the team, under the captaincy of Younus Khan, lifted the trophy last June, also urged his players, especially the youngsters, to forget Pakistan’s dismal record against Australia of late and ensure the team gets back to it’s winning ways.

“This is a game, someone wins and someone loses and there’s no point in keeping past wins and losses in your mind,” Saeed told The Express Tribune prior to Pakistan’s first Twenty20 match against Australia.

“You can’t keep thinking about statistics. It doesn’t help. We won the 2009 World Twenty20 right here in England and we haven’t fared that well against Australia recently. It’s useless to think about either when going into this fresh series.”

Pakistan has struggled against Australia, often striding itself into winning positions with a burst but only to end up second best as their struggle to finish off the match continues. With a whitewash in Australia and twin losses in the 2010 World Twenty20, Saeed reckons the current team has what it takes to turn the tables.

“We’re in a process of rebuilding. We have some new players, some returning players and a new captain for the Tests. The bans and the struggles are now history. We have to start afresh, start a new chapter and hopefully our performance graph will go up.

“We’re going in with a plan which is to win. We’ve come here to win and that’s how we started the tour and that’s how we want to start this series too.”

Saeed, who left the post following Pakistan’s exit at the hands of New Zealand in the Champion’s Trophy last year, was reappointed as the team’s manager following the tour of Australia.

“I know I said I wanted to stop touring but the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman brought me back. He’s a good friend of mine and I can’t say no to him.

But the important thing is that I get along with the players and they get along with me. As long as that’s happening, I’m sure the chairman will be happy too.”

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 6, 2010