Dubai: Pakistan’s cricketers are hoping that wearing the jersey numbers of former star players may help them produce their best in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.
Umar Akmal, despite his enormous talent, has not been getting enough runs recently so has chosen No. 3. Pakistan’s legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram previously wore the number when producing his deadly spells. Umar used to wear the No. 96 but has given it up now.
After receiving his new jersey, he posted a picture with it on Twitter.
Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez, who is also going through a tough phase having been banned from bowling by the ICC due to a suspect action, approached the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with a request to allot him the No. 8. Since Hafeez will be playing only as a batsman, he is hoping to contribute like Inzamam-ul-Haq, who wore the number during his playing days.
The PCB has unveiled the new jersey for the World Cup, with its shade of green matching that worn by their team that won the World Cup under Imran Khan’s captaincy in 1992 in Australia.
Pakistan’s most experienced cricketers — captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi — have kept their own numbers, which will become in demand after they retire. Misbah plays with number 22, while Younis has number 75 and Afridi’s very popular number is 10.
Others in the team who have taken new numbers are Ehsan Adil (91), Yasir Shah (86) and Wahab Riaz (47). Haris Sohail, who played in the UAE against New Zealand wearing jersey number 80, asked to change his number to 89.
