ANWAR, ENVY OF MANY
Newly appointed captain can taste success by bagging two gold
ANWAR Arudin is in a unique position to guide the national cricket team to a firstever gold medal as the sport prepares to make its debut at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.
Having just been appointed as the national team’s new captain, Anwar could begin his reign by achieving success which no other Malaysian captain has had the opportunity to do before.
“It’s a huge honour for me to be appointed captain but it does not change many things,” said Anwar, 33, who usually opens the batting for Malaysia.
“The players in the team know each other well after being together for so long. I hope to carry on from what has been done before and we need to focus on the Games ahead.
“Cricket’s place in the Sea Games is very important because we want to showcase the sport to the Malaysian public. It’s a starting point for cricket and a historic moment for us to make ourselves known to Malaysians.”
Anwar replaced Ahmad Faiz Mohammad Noor as captain after the national team was relegated from the World Cricket League Division Three in May.
The national team is looking to bounce back from the disappointment in Uganda when they play in front of the home fans at Kinrara Oval.
“We are fully prepared with just one or two little things to touch up,” said Anwar, Malaysia's 28th captain
Cricket’s place in the Sea Games is very important because we want to showcase the sport to the Malaysian public. It’s a starting point and a historic moment for us to make ourselves known
ANWAR ARUDIN
Team captain
in a list headed by Lall Singh since 1949.
“The squad this time is not very different but we are most focused on several things. In Uganda, the wicket was different from what we are used to here.
“We didn’t do too much wrong maybe there was a lack of application in certain games.”
Malaysia expect to face their biggest challenge from Singapore in both the Twenty20 and 50-overs competitions.
“Singapore are our biggest rivals but they have only five players from the WCL squad,” said Anwar.
“Anything can still happen but we are prepared to face them and since we are targeting two gold medals we need to beat them.”