President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari congratulated Pakistan cricket team and the whole nation for a marvelous victory against New Zealand in the One Day International series. The president appreciated the green shirts efforts and expressed hope that the national team will exhibit the same spirit in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2011.

Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 41 runs to take an unassailable lead of 3-1 in the National Bank One Day Series between the two countries. The promising thing for Pakistan is the fact that match hero was 19-year old opener Ahmed Shehzad who struck his maiden ODI hundred in the match.

Pakistan cricket team had given a dismal performance during 2010 when they failed to win a single ODI series and their cricket was clouded by horrific controversies. Pakistan played 18 One Day Internationals in 2010 and lost 13 of them. However, the green shirts have started the new year in style with a series win against the Kiwis.

Pakistani team’s performance in the New Zealand tour augurs well for its prospect in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2011 and, after the series win, cricket pundits are considering Pakistan among the hot favourite.

President Zardari, who himself is a fan of cricket, said a good performance in the ICC World Cup 2011 by Pakistani team can bring smiles on Pakistanis’ faces. The green shirts are peaking at the right time, as all the senior players are finding form just ahead of the all-important tournament, while the onus is on the likes of Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younus Khan and Abdul Razzaq.