Intikhab praises Pak squad for 'playing as a unit' during 2011 World Cup

[Kanwar]

Lahore, April 2 (ANI): Pakistan cricket team manager Intikhab Alam has praised the national squad for having playing as a unit throughout the 2011 World Cup.

Praising the team spirit, Intikhab said that the way the team had gelled together through the tournament was the most satisfying aspect of the World Cup campaign.

"My main task was to unite the team and make it perform collectively and I think we achieved that to a great extent and that is satisfying for me," the Daily Times quoted the manager, as saying.

Pakistan's World Cup campaign had ended in a 29-run defeat at the hands of India in the semi final clash at Mohali on March 30.

Pakistan next travels to West Indies to play a Twenty20, five one-dayers and two Tests, beginning on April 18, giving the players less than three weeks for rest.

Opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez, who made a quick-fire 43 against India in the semi-final, urged Pakistani fans to have faith in the team.

"This team has a lot of capability and will get better results in the future," he said.

The pick of the Pakistan bowlers in that crucial game was left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz, who picked up his first five-wicket haul in ODIs and had India in trouble at 205 for 6 before Suresh Raina came to the hosts' rescue.

"The wickets of Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh were most memorable for me as they are very dangerous players of pace and spin," Riaz said.

[samanth]

Absolutely, Pak team has played as an unit.
Usually we can't seperate Pak team and controversies. In my memory, this is the first time in last 10-15 years that there are no controversies with Pak team.
They fared much better than what was expected from them and did get a warm welcome from Pak people and media