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ottingham (UK): Pakistan will seek inspiration from their dramatic Champions Trophy win in England two years ago when they take the field in their opening World Cup match against a resurgent West Indies on Friday.
Pakistan have lost their past ten one-day internationals including a 5-0 whitewash by Australia and 4-0 thumping by England, and their problems were further compounded when they went down to outsiders Afghanistan by three wickets in a warm-up match. But skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed hopes his side will draw inspiration from when they were in a similar position in 2017.
“We will seek inspiration from our Champions Trophy win because then also we were losing and then lifted ourselves at the right time to win the trophy,” Sarfaraz told AFP ahead of the game in Nottingham. Pakistan had lost 4-1 in Australia before the tournament and arch-rivals India whipped them by 124 runs in the opening game of the Trophy. But Pakistan then beat South Africa, Sri Lanka and England on their way to the final, where they thumped India by 180 runs.
“The boys are motivated and are eager to put these losses behind them and by playing in England for a month we are well prepared and you will hopefully see us doing well,” said Sarfaraz, one of Pakistan’s only two survivors from the 2015 World Cup, with left-handed batsman Haris Sohail the other. Sarfaraz will also hope his spearhead Mohammad Amir — playing his first World Cup after missing the 2011 and 2015 editions due to a spot-fixing ban — will dismantle the West Indies top order boasting hard-hitting opener Chris Gayle and the impressive Shai Hope.
“We know Amir is an impact bowler and he knows his responsibilities and I am sure he will lift his bowling and get us early wickets,” said Sarfaraz of Amir, who recovered from chickenpox in time to get a World Cup call after being left out of the preliminary squad.