Aaqib Javed sees potential in New Zealand ODI team

Napier: The ICC rankings may not reflect this but former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed feels New Zealand`s ODI squad has the potential to spring quite a few surprises in next year`s World Cup provided the core group of players is persisted with.

Here as coach of the United Arab Emirates side for the World Cup qualifying tournament, Javed spoke of the Kiwis` talent ahead of their home Test and ODI series against India starting on Sunday. "The good teams always pick their best bunch of 16 to 18 players. This is the peak time for New Zealand to pick their best 18 players and stick with them and back them," Javed was quoted as saying by news website `stuff.Co.Nz` here. "In my playing and coaching experience, belief is the most important part and clarity of mind as a player and team management." Javed said he liked the talent in the Kiwis` squad. "It`s good to see pace (with their bowling) and aggression in their batting. In the coming World Cup, if you look at the New Zealand team and how they are progressing, there can be the same performance to what they did in 1992," he said. New Zealand had reached the semifinals of the 1992 edition which was the country jointly hosted with Australia. Australia and New Zealand will again host the World Cup next year.