PM gives tips to cricket team, calls for aggressive posturing

PM Imran meets Pakistan cricket squad

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday advised the national cricket team to inculcate a team spirit, adopt aggressive posturing and play with a sole passion to win.

The prime minister, who had captained Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup wining team, met the national cricket team here and gave tips to become a successful cricketer while sharing his success story.

Special Assistant to PM Dr Shahbaz Gill, Senator Faisal Javed and Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Ramiz Raja attended the meeting.

The prime minister believed that the Allah had defined truthfulness and honesty as the principles of success. One can change his fate through hard work and struggle, he added.

The prime minister called for opting the course of earning respect, not money, advising the players to play for the team and the nation which had their eyes on their performance.

He said the whole nation wished their success for being the representatives of Pakistan in the world. You have no dearth of talent as the whole world recognizes the talent of Pakistanis, he remarked.

Referring to the Islamic history, the prime minister exemplified the defeat of a huge army by 313 Muslims in Battle of Badr and conquering of huge empires like Rome and Persian just within 13 years.

Urging the player to inculcate a team spirit, Imran Khan told the players to enter the playground with full confidence and a passion to win. The team playing to avert defeat can never win, he remarked.

Recalling his cricketing career, he said they had steered the Pakistan cricket from decrepitude to win the world cup.

“You have to play offensively. The team playing in defensive mode can never win. It were we who had introduced attacking technique in cricket,” the prime minister commented.

He said every successful individual had to meet failure which became a source for his learning.

The prime minister called for teams’ nerve strengthening and teaching them to enjoy the pressure instead of getting frustrated.

He also guided the team to focus on taking the wicket which was different from run blocking. He also advised the players to emerge as a strong team as the whole nation had pinned hopes on them.

New Zealand abandon Pakistan series over security concerns

On September 17, New Zealand had called off a series of one day internationals against Pakistan over security concerns, New Zealand s cricket body and local board officials said, minutes after the first match was due to start.

"New Zealand Cricket informed us they had been alerted to some security alert and unilaterally decided to postpone the series," the Pakistan Cricket board said in a statement.

"Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan Government made foolproof security arrangements for all visiting teams. We assured the New Zealand Cricket of the same," the PCB statement reads.

"The Pakistan Prime Minister spoke personally to the Prime Minister of New Zealand and informed her that we have one of the best intelligence systems in the world and that no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team," the statement added.

England pull out off Pakistan tour after New Zealand abandons series

Days after New Zealand pulled out of their cricket series against Pakistan over security concerns, England also withdrawn their men’s and women’s teams from next month’s tour of Pakistan.

England’s men and women teams were due to play two Twenty20s in Rawalpindi in October, while the women’s team were also due to play three ODIs in Pakistan.

"The ECB Board convened this weekend to discuss these extra England Women’s and Men’s games in Pakistan and we can confirm that the Board has reluctantly decided to withdraw both teams from the October trip," the ECB said in a statement.