Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has urged his team not to falter at the last step as it takes on Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final at Lord's on Sunday.
"I have told the boys that we can win because we are the best," Alam said ahead of the second consecutive all-Asian final in the world championships of the sport's shortest format.
Pakistan had also made it to the title clash of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, but lost the exciting final to arch-rivals India by five runs at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Alam, a former Pakistan leg-spinner and captain, said the team was unaffected by what happened in 2007 and was looking to write a new chapter in the country's turbulent cricket history.
"What happened two years ago is behind us," he said. "This is a new beginning. You can't be affected by what happened in the past, that's not how sport is played.
"This team is entirely focussed on the final on Sunday. Having come so far, the boys are very keen to go all the way."
Winning the final will be a huge boost for cricket in Pakistan, who have been shunned by all major cricket-playing nations due to security concerns in the volatile nation.
The International Cricket Council has moved the 2011 World Cup matches out of Pakistan after the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by gunmen in Lahore on March 3 while on its way to the Gaddafi stadium for a Test match.
Alam, a former Surrey player in English county cricket, said a win on Sunday will bring smiles on the faces of Pakistanis back home.
"They are going through a lot, we have to win it for them," he said. "No one outside Pakistan can imagine what a victory will do for the people at home."
Alam said Pakistan's campaign in the tournament reminded him of the one Imran Khan's side went through on their way to winning the 1992 World Cup in Australia.
"The pattern is almost the same," said Alam, who was also the team coach in 1992.
"We were on the brink of elimination then, but fought back to make the semi-finals, then the final and then win it in Melbourne.
"Here the team has fought back after bad starts and has peaked at the right time."
Pakistan were beaten by hosts England in their first preliminary match before storming into the Super Sixes by thrashing minnows Netherlands.
The mercurial Pakistanis also lost their first Super Eights match against Sri Lanka, but made the semi-finals after winning the remaining games against New Zealand and Ireland.
They booked their path to the Lord's final with a seven-run win over favourites South Africa at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Thursday.
"It has been a team effort all the way," said Alam. "It is important to perform as a team and peak at the right time and we have done both.
"Younus Khan has been a very good captain and inspires others by personal example. Some others like Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi have also stood out, but the team has performed as a whole."
Gul, who claimed the first ever five-wicket haul in T20 internationals in the match against New Zealand, and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal are the tournament's joint leaders with 12 wickets each, the same as Sri Lankans Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis.
Afridi powered Pakistan into the final with a half-century and two wickets against South Africa.
source:AFP. All rights reserved.
"I have told the boys that we can win because we are the best," Alam said ahead of the second consecutive all-Asian final in the world championships of the sport's shortest format.
Pakistan had also made it to the title clash of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, but lost the exciting final to arch-rivals India by five runs at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Alam, a former Pakistan leg-spinner and captain, said the team was unaffected by what happened in 2007 and was looking to write a new chapter in the country's turbulent cricket history.
"What happened two years ago is behind us," he said. "This is a new beginning. You can't be affected by what happened in the past, that's not how sport is played.
"This team is entirely focussed on the final on Sunday. Having come so far, the boys are very keen to go all the way."
Winning the final will be a huge boost for cricket in Pakistan, who have been shunned by all major cricket-playing nations due to security concerns in the volatile nation.
The International Cricket Council has moved the 2011 World Cup matches out of Pakistan after the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by gunmen in Lahore on March 3 while on its way to the Gaddafi stadium for a Test match.
Alam, a former Surrey player in English county cricket, said a win on Sunday will bring smiles on the faces of Pakistanis back home.
"They are going through a lot, we have to win it for them," he said. "No one outside Pakistan can imagine what a victory will do for the people at home."
Alam said Pakistan's campaign in the tournament reminded him of the one Imran Khan's side went through on their way to winning the 1992 World Cup in Australia.
"The pattern is almost the same," said Alam, who was also the team coach in 1992.
"We were on the brink of elimination then, but fought back to make the semi-finals, then the final and then win it in Melbourne.
"Here the team has fought back after bad starts and has peaked at the right time."
Pakistan were beaten by hosts England in their first preliminary match before storming into the Super Sixes by thrashing minnows Netherlands.
The mercurial Pakistanis also lost their first Super Eights match against Sri Lanka, but made the semi-finals after winning the remaining games against New Zealand and Ireland.
They booked their path to the Lord's final with a seven-run win over favourites South Africa at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Thursday.
"It has been a team effort all the way," said Alam. "It is important to perform as a team and peak at the right time and we have done both.
"Younus Khan has been a very good captain and inspires others by personal example. Some others like Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi have also stood out, but the team has performed as a whole."
Gul, who claimed the first ever five-wicket haul in T20 internationals in the match against New Zealand, and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal are the tournament's joint leaders with 12 wickets each, the same as Sri Lankans Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis.
Afridi powered Pakistan into the final with a half-century and two wickets against South Africa.
source:AFP. All rights reserved.
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