Karachi: They were knocked out of the last World Cup by India but all-rounder Shahid Afridi has refused to dub Pakistan`s eagerly-awaited Asia Cup clash with the arch-rivals as a revenge match.
"I don`t think we should look at the match against India as a revenge one. We need to treat every match with same importance and significance," Afridi said.
Pakistan and India clash in the Asia Cup on March 18, the first meeting between the two sides since the World Cup semi-final last year.
Afridi said that the team should be more aggressive in the tournament, to be held in Bangladesh.
"I think we need to be more aggressive in the Asia Cup and our batsmen have to play hard at the bowlers," he said on returning from Bangladesh, where he was competing in the BPL. Afridi felt that one reason for Pakistan`s defeats in the one-day and T20 series against England last month was their defensive approach.
"We must realise that our bowlers can`t win us matches all the time. It is time for the batsmen to also score runs heavily. We lost to England as I thought we were a bit defensive."
Afridi said Pakistani batsmen needed to be more consistent and support the bowlers, but ducked questions on the captaincy issue.
"I don`t want to make any comments on the captaincy," he said when asked if he would be willing to lead Pakistan again.
Rana Naved who along with Afridi played for the Dhaka Gladiators, told reporters that he had no connection with the Pakistani national arrested during the BPL for being a suspected bookmaker.
"By the grace of God I am back home and I don`t have any links with this guy. I don`t even know him. I am not involved in such things. I just love the game and doing well for my teams."
PTI
First Published: Thursday, March 01, 2012, 21:56