Best time to defeat ‘less dangerous’ Australia: Shahid Afridi

Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi is confident that his young squad can surprise Australia in the first Test here at the Lord’s starting today (Tuesday), as he believes that the Kangaroos are not that dangerous a team that they used to be a couple of years back.Afridi told media persons here that if ever Pakistan had a chance of overpowering Australia during the last ten years then it was now.“This is the time,” the flamboyant all rounder said.“They are not as powerful as they were in the past but now they are beatable,” The News quoted Afridi, as saying.Afridi said that the recent 2-0 triumph over the Kangaroos in the T20 series has brought the confidence back in the squad, and pointed out that newly-found confidence was more because the Aussie squad is missing some of the big names.Afridi admitted that his team lacks experience, but stressed that it was a talented bunch of players.“The team gives a new look but all selected members are performers and have got the required talent to meet expectations,” he said.Afridi wants to forget the Oval controversy, saying that he has now got a new team and new management and wants a fresh beginning.“That is the thing of the past. It is a history now. We have got a new captain, new team and management. What we want is to play positive and attractive cricket here,” he said.