Pakistan try to move on from spot-fixing saga

When Pakistan take on Kenya in Hambantota on Wednesday, it will be their first international match since Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were banned from the game for spot-fixing. Pakistan lost the sixth and final ODI to New Zealand on the same day - February 5 - since the trio were handed minimum five-year sanctions.

The three have not been available for Pakistan since September 2, however, when they were provisionally suspended by the ICC following the Lord's Test. In that time Pakistan have played 16 ODIs, winning seven and losing eight; they won, however, their most series against New Zealand.

Pakistan are trying to move on from it - and there was a real energy and buzz about their practice on Monday - but they have been, and probably will continue to be, reminded of it for some time still. "We all know that we've been through tough times but that doesn't mean we don't have talent," coach Waqar Younis said. "We are good enough to beat any team on our given day. I don't think anybody is even thinking about match-fixing or spot-fixing. We all are geared up because it's a great tournament."

It hasn't, however been easy. "Some days are harder than others, but the motivation is there and we try to make sure that we keep delivering," he said. "I'm glad we had a series just before the World Cup and we won that quite convincingly, and that really gave us momentum. The best way to go about it is don't read the newspaper in the morning, or see what is in the TV. Just keep focus on the job given to us."

Comments by Stuart Broad, ahead of the warm-up game between the sides in Dhaka - about avoiding Pakistan players in the team hotel - haven't helped push the issue aside, but Waqar didn't seem unduly fussed by the attitude. The response, he said, will come on the field.

"If someone has that will to keep distance from us then it's his will," he said. "As far as Broad is concerned, I don't want to comment on what he said. If he has said something which is not good, which is not fair to any individual or to any team I don't want to say anything on that. We will probably show it on the field."