By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS
Guwahati : The Pakistan cricket team is unfazed by the sudden imposition of emergency rule back home saying that the team is all set for the first of the five one-day internationals (ODI) with India at the Nehru Stadium here Monday.
“We are here to play to cricket and are fully focused on the series. Cricket will go on as usual,” team’s media manager Ehsan Malik told reporters Sunday.
The Pakistan team is upbeat with the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ Shoaib Akhtar back in the side.
“This is a good sign for Pakistan cricket with Shoaib back in the squad and we have a very balanced team,” Pakistan team captain Shoaib Malik told a pre-match press conference here.
The team had a long net practice session with players like Shahid Afridi, Mohammed Yusuf and Kamran Akmal having a long session with the bat.
“We are professionals and are used to playing in different conditions. It would be difficult for the bowlers taking the field first,” said the captain on asked about the early start of the match Sunday.
The match starts 8.30 a.m. with a fair amount of due expected on the pitch and the outfield.
“We have a good bowling and batting attack and we shall decide on the best 11 players for the match after a team meeting later tonight,” Malik said.