Moin confident of victory in Caribbean

Karachi, April 2: Pakistan captain Moin Khan has said the pieces were falling in the right place, adding that he was now more than optimistic that his team would beat the West Indies in the Caribbean.

Talking to Dawn from Sharjah on the eve of team's departure for Antigua, Moin said: "We are gradually settling in. Our main worry was batting which I think did a wonderful job in Sharjah."

Moin pinpointed the emergence of Imran Nazir saying the exciting teenager has apparently sorted out Pakistan's problems in the top order. "If you look back, we struggled to get a sound start which brought the middle-order under pressure. But in Sharjah, we got decent starts and the team went on to pile challenging scores. "But the young man still has to learn a lot, more important being to protect his wicket and bat through the innings," he said.

Moin said the victory in Sharjah was a perfect tonic for the series against the West Indies. He said the players were bubbling with confidence which was missing after a series of defeats. "We have been stressing that it was a matter of one win. We achieved it against formidable teams like India and South Africa. Now I am confident that we will be a different team altogether in the Caribbean," he said.

He said what was even more heartwarming was that the victory came in the absence of stars like Saeed Anwar, Saqlain Mushtaq and Azhar Mahmood. "The victory in the absence of these three players definitely weakened the team. But the youngsters brilliantly rose to the occasion. This is a perfect example of the dedication and commitment of the team. "Any team would feel proud to beat sides like South Africa or Australia in the final. And when you have to proceed on a grueling tour like us, it gives an extra little edge because the players start believing in themselves and try to maintain the standards they shown earlier."

Moin said it was not only the batting which came good in Sharjah, the fielders backed their bowlers who did a tremendous job throughout the tournament. "We are on a rise. Fielding has improved, batting is clicking and bowling, as usual, is delivering the goods. Our only enemy in the West Indies would be complacency and fitness. "Shoaib Akhtar is down with a groin injury but I am confident that he would be fit in three weeks time. We definitely need him for the Tests."

Shoaib proceeded to the West Indies as 18th member of the team in the wee hours of Sunday. The team was strengthened with the inclusion of teenager Irfan Fazil who joined the squad in Sharjah on Saturday. However, none of the selectors were aware of Irfan's departure to Sharjah on way to the West Indies.

Moin said the confidence of the players for the tour of the West Indies was sky-high "because they are sensing an opportunity to eclipse their predecessors who have never won a series there. "They have been told repeatedly that the West Indies maybe weakened but they are playing in their backyard which is always an extra advantage. But I am pleased to say that the boys have always responded by saying that they would beat the hosts. "Both the teams are under a rebuilding process and both are regaining composure. The West Indies returned from a hopeless situation to beat Zimbabwe in the Tests which must have restore their confidence. "It is going to be a keenly contested series. Both the teams will get opportunities to snatch the initiative. The team which will grab most of the chances, will win."

The Pakistan squad, which left for Antigua, is: Moin Khan (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Imran Nazir, Wajahatullah Wasti, M. Naveed Qureshi, Shahid Afridi, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Abdur Razzaq, Mushtaq Ahmad, Arshad Khan, Waqar Younis, Mohammad Akram, Irfan Fazil, Shoaib Akhtar and Atiq-uz-Zaman (wicket-keeper).

Wasim Akram will join the team after the April 8 match between Asian XI and Rest of the World in Dhaka.

Pakistan begin their tour on April 5 against Zimbabwe with a one-day international at St John's (Antigua).