By IANS,
Pallekele (Sri Lanka): Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who had earlier voiced concern at playing in India, Tuesday dispelled any such fears after the team made it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup with a victory over Zimbabwe.
Afridi had earlier said that playing in India will attract more pressure on the players. Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe Monday to qualify for the knock-out stage.
“It does not matter to us where we play our quarterfinal. The biggest issue for us was to qualify for the knockout stage and we have done that now,” said Afridi.
“We are ready to play our quarter-final at any venue now.
“What I said earlier is a thing of the past. Right now we are just happy to make the quarterfinals and if we remain in our confident mode then it does not matter where our venue is.”
In the knock-out stage, India will host a quarterfinal (Ahmedabad), a semi-final (Mohali) and also the final (Mumbai).
Pakistan last toured India in 2007 and the two have not played each other in a bilateral series due to political differences between the two neighbours.
Afridi also reckoned that the team is over the spot-fixing controversy involving former captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif.
“The off-the-field problems for us are over now and the mood is confident in the dressing room. We now just want to end our group with a win over Australia and we have the firepower to do that,” he said.
Pakistan play their last league match against defending champions Australia in Colombo March 19.