Cricket: Pakistan expect a bright new era

Waqar Younis. Photo / APN

Waqar Younis smiles as if he has heard the question a few times before, the one about the start of a new era for Pakistani cricket.

"It's hard to say," he replies, with a shrug of the shoulders.

"That's what we were thinking six months ago and then suddenly something comes up."

That something has been well documented. Three leading Pakistan players, former test captain Salman Butt and outstanding pace bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, are expected to soon learn their fate after a six-day hearing into the spot-fixing scandal that dominated headlines last year, though a decision was yesterday deferred until next month.

Add to the mix a tough time on the field in test cricket in recent times - they won just two of 10 tests last year - and the fact that the current squad contains just a handful of players who toured England in the middle of last year and only two who toured here last summer, and 2010 was one to forget.

But 2011 started in spectacular fashion. A new team, a mix of former players who have returned to the fray and inexperienced but highly talented young players, obliterated New Zealand with a 10-wicket win at Hamilton and are eyeing a rare test series win in the second and final test at Wellington that starts on Saturday.

There will not have been a resolution on the spot-fixing issue by then, but Younis, the former fast bowling great who took over as coach last March, cannot wait.

Which gets us back to the original question.

"Hopefully," the 39-year-oldsays.

"It's a new year and it's a new set-up. I would definitely like to say the team is a lot hungrier than what I've seen in the past. It's a good unit so hopefully this year will bring us good results."

Despite winning just the two tests last year, against Australia and England, both in England, Pakistan squared series against Australia and South Africa. Another series win would help.

- NZPA