“Pakistan will be in the World Cup final,” says Haris Rauf

I cannot predict which teams will reach the World Cup semi-finals, but I have a strong belief that Pakistan will make it to the final,” expressed Haris during a press conference organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board before the squad’s departure to India, scheduled for Tuesday-Wednesday via Dubai.

Two other members of the World Cup squad, Abdullah Shafique and Salman Ali Agha, also held separate press conferences.

It’s worth mentioning that the PCB had earlier announced that Imam-ul-Haq, Hasan Ali, Haris, and Salman would address the press. However, neither Imam nor Hasan attended the press conference, and Haris, Abdullah, and Salman took the opportunity to respond to questions.

Media personnel had to patiently wait for more than an hour for the players, who were delayed due to their involvement in a photo shoot for the ICC as part of the World Cup promotional campaign.

During the press conference, Haris emphasized that the various World Cup venues in India would have different playing conditions. However, he added that “nothing is a significant change as far as cricket is concerned because all matches will be white-ball cricket.” He mentioned that the team management would formulate plans and strategies based on the playing conditions in India.

Haris stated that he had not set any personal targets for the World Cup, emphasizing that cricket is a team sport, and he would give his best at the global event.

According to Haris, Hasan, a fast bowler who has played only a few ODIs in recent years and had his last appearance in June 2022, is expected to perform well. Haris highlighted Hasan’s experience and past collaboration with the current pace attack of the Pakistan team as reasons for optimism.

In response to a question, Haris dispelled the notion that Pakistan’s bowlers were underperforming in significant matches, pointing out that cricket is a sport where performance can vary from day to day.

Meanwhile, right-handed batter Abdullah, who was chosen as the third opener, expressed his commitment to delivering his best if given the chance to play. He acknowledged that the selection process was not within his control but stressed his dedication to the team’s success.

Abdullah also underlined that Pakistan’s opponents in the tournament included not only India but all the teams, emphasizing the need for the green-shirts to perform at their best in every match. He mentioned that the team management would devise a plan for the World Cup, and the players would execute it accordingly.

Speaking during the occasion, Salman highlighted the importance of Pakistan looking ahead after the disappointment of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. He stressed the need to move forward for the World Cup after putting the Asia Cup failure behind them.

The all-rounder expressed that participating in a World Cup was a dream come true for every cricketer, and he was delighted that his dream was being realized. Salman acknowledged the significance of both batting and bowling during the middle overs in the context of the World Cup, pledging not to let the team down. He acknowledged the additional pressure players face in India but asserted his commitment to managing it to perform effectively.