ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday advised the national cricket team to inculcate a team spirit, adopt aggressive posturing and play with a sole passion to win.
The prime minister, who had captained Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup wining team, met the national cricket team here and gave tips while sharing his success story.
Special Assistant to PM Dr Shahbaz Gill, Senator Faisal Javed and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ramiz Raja also attended the meeting.
The prime minister said that Allah has defined truthfulness and honesty as the principles of success. One could change his fate through hard work and struggle, he added.
The prime minister called for opting the course of earning respect, not money, advising the players to play for the team and Pakistani people, who have their eyes on the team’s performance.
He said that the whole nation wishes for their success because of them being the representatives of Pakistan in the world. “You have no dearth of talent as the whole world recognises the talent of Pakistanis,” he remarked.
Referring to the Islamic history, the prime minister exemplified the defeat of a huge army by 313 Muslims in the Battle of Badr and conquering of huge empires like Rome and Persia just within 13 years.
Urging the players to inculcate team spirit, PM Imran told the players to enter the ground with full confidence and a passion to win. The team playing to avert defeat can never win, he remarked.
Recalling his cricketing career, he said that they had steered the Pakistan cricket from decrepitude to win the world cup.
“You have to play offensively. The team playing in defensive mode can never win. It were we who had introduced attacking technique in cricket,” the prime minister commented.
He said that every successful individual has to meet failure which became a source for his learning.
The prime minister called for team’s nerve strengthening and guidance so they could enjoy taking pressure instead of getting frustrated.
He also guided the team to focus on taking wickets which is different from run blocking. He also advised the players to emerge as a strong team as the whole nation has pinned hopes on them.
