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Pakistan cricket team jets off to Auckland on Saturday evening hoping to put recent disappointments behind them and begin the new millennium on a winning note.

On a six-week New Zealand tour, Pakistan will play five one- day internationals and three Tests.

"Obviously we have let our supporters down in the last couple of years. But we are hoping to win back their (supporters) confidence by beating New Zealand," Pakistan captain Moin Khan said, adding: "I am confident that the new millennium will change our fortunes."

Pakistan lost four home series between October 1998 and December 2000 while also suffering their first-ever whitewash in Australia in 1999.

But their last series defeat in New Zealand was way back in 1984-85 when Geoff Howarth's men beat Javed Miandad led Pakistan 2-0.

"The team is the same but some of the additional pressures that have been distracting the concentration of the players are no more there," he said with direct reference to allegations of betting and match-fixing against some of the leading players.

"A pep talk by the PCB chairman was a perfect tonic before we embark on the tour. He has once again assured his full support and faith in the players and told us to perform in the field while promising to take care of the rest."

The Pakistan skiper made no predictions over the results but said if Sri Lanka can lead New Zealand 4-0 in the five-match one-day series, Pakistan can match it if not perform better.

"I believe the return of Shoaib Akhtar has given an altogether a different dimension to the Pakistan team. Although he has not played competitive cricket for sometime but he is a great fighter and looked sharp during the training sessions.

"Naturally, we have to be careful while playing him because we don't want to lose him again," he said.

Shoaib, as fast as Australian Brett Lee, has not played for Pakistan since April last during the tri-nation one-day series in the West Indies before breaking down with a series of injuries.

Make-or-break tour

Moin admitted that the visit to New Zealand would be a make-or-break tour for him.

"I am on a crucial juncture of my career. I have neither played well nor have led the side as effectively as I am capable of.

"I know that I don't stand a chance of retaining my position (after the tour) if I can't deliver as captain and player on the tour. But I believe once the team starts winning, things would start falling in the right places," Moin said.

He said wicket-keeping was extremely difficult on Pakistani wickets where the surfaces are low and doubled paced. He recalled that Ian Healy also faltered in Karachi in the 1994 Test as Pakistan snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

"I will be more at ease in New Zealand where the ball would carry nicely to me.

"As regards wicket-keeping and captaincy together, I don't mind it at all because I have been doing it for the last 10 years or so at the domestic level. I believe winning is all matters."

Team selection

Moin was delighted with the team selected for the tour though many would disagree with him as there are just two middle-order batsmen in Yousuf Youhana and Inzamam-ul-Haq and five openers in Saeed Anwar, Salim Elahi, Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat and Shahid Afridi.

He said: "First of all, this is a team for the one-day matches. Secondly, Salim Elahi batted at No 3 in the series against England while Afridi has also batted down the order.

"I think the selectors have given me all sorts of options. I can have the luxury of promoting Abdur Razzaq at No 3 or play him at No 5 whatever.

"It is a well balanced team and I have no worries at all," he said, while adding that he has not yet decided what combination he would select.

"Of course, it has to be after consultation with Javed Miandad, a couple of senior players and after watching the wickets."

Itinerary

* Feb 17 - 1st one-day, Auckland (D/N)

* Feb 20 - 2nd One-day, Napier (D/N)

* Feb 22 - 3rd One-day, Wellington (D/N)

* Feb 25 - 4th one-day, Christchurch

* Feb 28 - 5th one-day, Dunedin (D/N)

* March 8-12 - 1st Test, Auckland

* March 15-19 - 2nd Test, Christchurch

* March 27-31 - 3rd Test, Hamilton

© Dawn