Spot-fixing scandal won’t have any impact on Pak’s World Cup performance: Misbah

KARACHI - Pakistan’s Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq does not believe that the spot-fixing scandal will have any impact on the performance of the team in the ICC World Cup 2011.

Misbah said the Pakistan team had gained momentum after the ODI series win against New Zealand and was going into the mega event in high spirits.

“We are going to play positive cricket and our focus is totally on cricket and not on what has happened off the field recently. I am confident it will be a good tournament for us,” The Nation quoted him, as saying.

The batsman has been in excellent form in New Zealand, where led his team to the one-day series win, while he notched up 231 runs at an average of 115.50 in the Tests played there.

“It is great that I have found form at the right time, ahead of such a big event and hopefully it will continue in the World Cup also. Playing for the World Cup for the first time is a big motivation to do well,” he maintained.

Misbah, who is Pakistan’s vice-captain for the World Cup, said that the team was clear about what was expected of them in the tournament.

“It will be a big event for everyone as the opposition changes in every match and so do the conditions. But I think after the way we gelled and performed in New Zealand, the momentum is with us and no one should write us off,” he added.

Misbah also noted that it was critical for Pakistan’s batting line-up to click in the World Cup, starting from February 19.

“We have good bowlers but the batsmen have to play their role in scoring the required runs while batting first or second,” he said.

“We have lot of experience and flair in our batting and [Shahid] Afridi and [Abdul] Razzaq are quality all-rounders in the lower-order, which gives us lot of edge,” he added. (ANI)