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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Thursday said countdown for next year's World Cup has begun and promised to continue to provide all possible facilities and support to the team to acquire best results upto the mega event.

The PCB has always been supportive of the players whether it be in terms of financial assistance or looking after their health, setting up training camps and fulfilling any other requirements.

The PCB would continue its endeavours in this context and will hope the team would produce positive results," chairman of the PCB Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said Thursday.

The World Cup begins Feb 9 and Pakistan play their opener against Australia on Feb 11 at Johannesburg. Pakistan is to play tentatively 30 one-day internationals all around the world in the coming months.

Pakistan leave for Sharjah Friday evening where the triangular tournament begins Monday. Pakistan then play New Zealand in the home series before taking on Australia in three one-dayers in June.

In August, Pakistan will lock horns with Sri Lanka and South Africa in Morocco and then take on Australia and New Zealand in the tri-nation series in Karachi and Lahore between Aug 27 and Sept 7.

Pakistan then proceed to Sri Lanka for the ICC Champions Trophy and then host Australia for a three-Test series.

The 1992 world champions finally leave for African safari in November where they will play two Tests and five one-dayers against Zimbabwe before reaching South Africa in December for three Tests and a triangular series.

"The PCB is confident that the present boys are multi-talented and proven performers. They have all the ingredients to become world champions and therefore, no stone will be left unturned to help them achieve the ultimate," he said from Rawalpindi. However, the PCB chairman said candidly that the team needed to set their goal.

"If they have to beat Australia, then they are the best judge what and how it needs to do it. I think the best part in the back-breaking schedule is that the team can monitor its progress as they will be playing against the best sides on more or less regular basis."

When asked why there was inconsistency in selection he said the only experimentation has been done in the openers slot.

"The selectors haven't disturbed the middle-order or bowling department. The openers problem has also been compounded in the absence of experienced Saeed Anwar. But after all the changes the selectors are now better placed to pick four openers. I also have reasons to believe that the selectors have the tentative World Cup squad in their minds but will not be naming it until the tournament."

© Dawn