Pakistan eves should take inspiration from men s team: Afridi

Dubai June 22 (IANS) Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Thursday advised the country s women s cricket team taking part in the ICC Women s World Cup in England to emulate their male counterparts -- the newly-crowned Champions Trophy winners.

My advice to the team would be similar to the one that I gave to the men s team -- the players must play fearless cricket and shouldn t be worried about defeat Afridi wrote in his column for the International Cricket Council (ICC) website.

Any negative thoughts can hamper their skills too hence a positive attitude is imperative for success the former all-rounder added.

The men s team staged one of the most astonishing sporting turnaround by winning the ICC Champions Trophy.

Pakistan was the eighth-ranked side coming into the tournament and had barely managed to qualify. They were hammered in their opening match by arch-rivals India but from thereon Sarfaraz Ahmed s men played with renewed vigour and energy to defeat pre-tournament favourites South Africa England and India on their way to winning the title.

The Pakistan women s side does not need to go far to find inspiration ahead of the ICC Women s World Cup 2017. The men s team led by Sarfraz Ahmed has shown them the way proving how predictions can go for a toss with a few stimulating performances Afridi further said.

The Pakistan women s team will play their tournament opener against South Africa on Sunday.

--IANS
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