Afridi praises team for new found unity

Notwithstanding the flop show in the Asia Cup, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is content with the team's performance and has appreciated the new found 'unity' in the squad.

Afridi said that a big plus from the matches so far was the united dressing room, unlike on some of Pakistan's recent tours.

"The state from which we are emerging - a new captain, some new players – keeping all that in mind I believe this is a good improvement. Hopefully the results will also start to improve. We were not consistent in our performance but we showed a fighting spirit as a team, there was a unity on display, these are good signs," The News quoted Afridi, as saying.

Commenting on controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's performance in the match against India, he said the Rawalpindi Express looked less fatigued than in the Asia Cup opener against Sri Lanka.

Afridi said that Akhtar can easily play the 2011 World Cup if his workload is carefully looked after.

"I think he can prolong his career till the 2011 World Cup, because we are playing a lot of Test cricket before that and I'm not giving him a chance against every team; like the game against Bangladesh, he would be resting," he said.