Harris Sohail did not lose heart after World Cup axing
Sohail said his partnership with century-maker Babar Azam was crucial in the win over N Zealand.
LEEDS (AFP) - Swashbuckling batsman Haris Sohail, whose return to form has helped revive Pakistan s World Cup hopes, said he bore no grudges after being unceremoniously dropped earlier in the tournament.
The 30-year-old left-hander has come back strongly, posting scores of 89 and 68 in victories against South Africa and New Zealand to keep alive his side s hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Sohail, dropped after scoring just eight when the West Indies shot Pakistan out for a paltry 105 at Nottingham, said he had accepted the decision.
"As a sportsman I believe that whatever is best for the team should happen," Sohail said on Friday. "I was confident that whenever I will get a chance I will give 100 percent."
The batsman said his partnership with century-maker Babar Azam was crucial in the win over New Zealand, who had been unbeaten coming into the match.
"We, Babar and I, are given a role and that is to build partnerships and in both the games I had good stands with Babar and I am sure that will continue," said Sohail.
The Babar-Sohail stand for the fourth wicket yielded 81 in Pakistan s impressive total of 308-7 against South Africa, while they added a match-winning 126 against New Zealand.
Sohail warned that Pakistan could not take Afghanistan lightly in Saturday s match at Headingley, even though the Afghans have lost all seven of their matches so far.
"Afghanistan s progress at international level is very good -- they have quality spinners so there is no way we could take them lightly," said Sohail.
"They did beat us in a warm-up game but that was a practice game and this match will be a different one, but we need to come at full power to beat them."
Pakistan s last league match will be against Bangladesh at Lord s on July 5.
They need to win both of their remaining games and hope other results go their way to reach the semi-finals.
Australia are the only team to have qualified so far for the last four from the 10-team round-robin stage.
