Pakistan’s interim head coach Saqlain Mushtaq declared that his team have “the mindset of champions” as they play Afghanistan in the T20 Wo...
Pakistan’s interim head coach Saqlain Mushtaq declared that his team have “the mindset of champions” as they play Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup in Dubai on Friday.
The 2009 champions thumped India by 10 wickets in their opening match followed by a nervy five-wicket win over New Zealand, making them well placed for the semi-finals.
“We are playing with the mindset of world champions,” Saqlain said on Thursday.
“The two wins have given us the confidence and belief to achieve that goal.”
Saqlain replaced Misbah-ul-Haq, who resigned last month, and is bringing his experience as a spin-bowling consultant for England, Bangladesh and New Zealand in the past.
Saqlain said his team needed to be wary of a dangerous Afghanistan.
“We know Afghanistan is a very good team but our plans are well-placed and we need to execute those plans as we have done in the first two games,” he added.
Afghanistan crushed qualifiers Scotland by 130 runs in their first Group 2 game with off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman taking 5-20 and leggie Rashid Khan 4-9.
Himself a great off-spinner who played 49 Tests and 169 one-day internationals for Pakistan, Saqlain called Afghanistan’s spinners “world class”.
“Rashid and Mujeeb are quality spinners and have been doing well for their team as well as in the private leagues around...
