Shahid Afridi still optimistic of World Cup 2011 glory despite match-fixing turmoil

Pakistani cricket may be going through a period of great turmoil and uncertainty after the spot-fixing allegations, but the team’s one-day captain, Shahid Afridi, is quite optimistic that the entire squad will be available for the World Cup 2011.

“The thing is that there are around five months before the World Cup begins… This controversy, I hope, will be resolved much before that and all our players will be available for the World Cup,” the News quoted Afridi, as saying.

But the skipper’s biggest concern at the moment is that that if some of the players were pronounced guilty and banned, it would be “tough for the team”.

Still, when asked about the crisis the team would face if some of his players were banned, he said, “Even then we have enough talent to make a good team,” adding, “Its true that Salman, Amir and Asif are our key players but we have enough talent if there is a need to replace them.”

While the team needed to bring out unity and determination, he, as the captain, would have to “lead from the front and set an example for the rest of the players,” Afridi said.

“World Cup will be a huge challenge and I’m looking forward to it,” he added.

After winning the ICC World Twenty20 title in England last year, Afridi had declared that it was his greatest ambition to lead Pakistan to World Cup glory before hanging up his boots.

Pakistan’s Test captain Salman Butt and key fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir had been provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) last week following accusations that they indulged in “spot-fixing” during the fourth and final Test against England at Lord’s last month.

There have also been speculations that some more Pakistani players might be investigated for match-fixing.