Pak talk up bowling strength

Shadab Khan. Pic/AFP

Pakistan can be as unpredictable as the English weather. However, if there is something in their cricket that comes close to the realms of expectancy, it is in their bowling.

Hence, it is understandable that their camp is stressing on this department.

"It is difficult to stop runs or get wickets in these conditions as the tracks are flat and boundaries are small. So, the team which bowl well will win the tournament. Our aim too is to use our bowlers well and take advantage of our world-class players. So, if we perform well as a bowling unit, we can emerge champs,'' vice-captain Shadab Khan told reporters here on Sunday.

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Talking about their poor show in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, where they lost to India and also failed to qualify for the final, Shadab stated: "We didn't do well in the Asia Cup, but that's the beauty of cricket - that you can always learn and with maturity, you can play better cricket in the next games. After the loss in the Asia Cup, we got plenty of rest. Nowadays, cricket is no longer just a skill game, it is a mental game. So, with the World Cup at hand, one can make better decisions when one is mentally relaxed," he added.

Their stay here so far, according to Shadab, has been great. "The kind of welcome we got at the airport and the hotel, where several fans turned up, was fabulous," he said. About the big ticket clash with India at Ahmedabad on October 14, he said: "It doesn't matter where you are playing - India or Pakistan.

When you wear the star green jersey, there will be expectations from our people and especially when we play India. We haven't played against them much. The World Cup is a chance for a player to perform and become a star."

Pakistan will look to do better after their warm-up loss to New Zealand on Friday.