Pakistan-Zimbabwe ODI series Trophy Unveiled

KARACHI -- Pakistan Captain Shoaib Malik and Zimbabwe skipper Prosper Utseya on Friday unveiled the crystal trophy of “Mobilink Cup” played for five match One-Day International series starting from Monday.

Malik and Utseya posed with the trophy before the media to mark its unveiling before the media at five star hotel here.

Director Marketing and Communications of Pakistan Cricket Dr. Hameed Malik said the unveiling ceremony of the series was sold for US $ 250,000.

The opening match of the series a day/nigh encounter will be played at National Stadium on Monday and second at Niaz Stadium Hyderabad on January 24.

Other matches will be played (3rd Multan January 27), (4th Faisalabad January 30) and (5th February 2 Sheikhupura).

Malik Fully Fit

Meanwhile, Pakistan Captain Shoaib Malik vowed on Friday that he was fully fit for the series against Zimbabwe after going through a rehabilitation process and passing fitness.

“I had fully recovered from ankle injury and fully fit to play in the series,” he said at a news conference at the team’s hotel after unveiling ceremony.

“It’s good opportunity for trying out new players before the series against Australia,” he commented. “It’s right time for fielding new boys and we are doing that,” he maintained.

He said only those can be useful who had been consistently performing well for the past four to five seasons on the domestic circuit.

“Its right time for these players to show their potential. We would be trying one or two new boys,” he pointed out.

He said he had gained a lot of confidence in 2007 and now looking to new year with new vigour as skipper.

“I am learning a lot with the passage of time and trying not to repeat the mistakes done in the past,” he remarked.

He said his team will certainly be trying to make clean sweep of 5 match series. However, he made it clear they will not under-estimate the touring Zimbabwean team.

Regarding Pakistan’s opening problem, he said they are working hard to have a good opening pair in test matches but declared that Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal will be used as openers in one-day matches.

He fully supported the rotation policy and said they may also trying wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who had already been inducted in 15- member party for the first two ODIs.

Despite ups and downs in recent year’s he said the future of Pakistan cricket is very bright.

Responding to question regarding missing speedster Shoaib akhtar and Umer Gul, he said they still got pacers like Yasir Arafat, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Tanvir while Samiullah Niazi has also been inducted in the squad.

PCB Communication Director while clarifying, said Shoaib Akhtar and Umer Gul were not considered because of match fitness while Shoaib Malik was playing when he got injured.

“So it’s different while not considering Akhtar and Gul and fielding Malik,” he said.

While comparing Pakistan current coach Geoff Lawson and late Bob Woolmer, he said the major difference is experience.

He said Woolmer was a very experienced coach having served South Africa for a decade before joining Pakistan while this is first assignment for Lawson.

Pakistan Times