New coach Dav Whatmore is confident Pakistan will overcome their recent one-day slump in next week's Asia Cup.
New Pakistan coach ready for challenge
New coach Dav Whatmore is confident Pakistan will overcome their recent one-day slump in next week's Asia Cup.
Pakistan join defending champions India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh in the biennial Asia Cup, taking place in Dhaka between March 11 and 22.
The tournament in Bangladesh will be Whatmore's first assignment in charge of Pakistan after he was officially appointed last week on a two-year contract.
And the 57-year-old former Australia batsman, who coached Sri Lanka to a World Cup title in 1996, says he is looking forward the task ahead.
"I know the Asia Cup is an important event with top-class teams," he said on Wednesday.
"Even Bangladesh can be a tough opponent as they are playing on their home grounds, so it is one of the many tests that we have and we are looking forward to it.
Intense
Pakistan play their opening match against the hosts on Sunday and on March 18 will go head-to-head with arch-rivals India for the first time since their high-voltage World Cup semi-final in 2011.
India won that clash in Mohali almost a year ago and went on to take the title, but Whatmore insists his side will not be distracted by the hype surrounding perhaps the most intense rivalry in international cricket.
"We know there is an extra interest attached to the India game and it's good for the teams, for cricket and for the players," he continued. "But we are going to treat that match as any other game.
Whatmore also hopes that Pakistan have learnt from their mistakes after last month's 4-0 and 2-1 defeats in the one-day and Twenty20 matches against England in the United Arab Emirates.
"That was little bit not in the script but this team wants to make amends to what happened in the one-day after their brilliant performance in the Test series," he said, referring to Pakistan's 3-0 whitewash of England.
"Every player wants to look forward and make amends in the Asia Cup. These Pakistan players are wonderful and talented and welcomed me and its pleasure to be with them and we will work together to do well."
