English cricketers are avoiding Pak players: Broad

Pakistan and England will lock horns tomorrow in the last warm-up match of the World Cup,beginning Saturday here with the clash between hosts Bangladesh and India.

The Test series between the two countries last year was marred by spot-fixing allegations,which led to imposition of bans on the then Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and pace duo of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

8220;We8217;ve not seen a huge amount of them in the hotel 8212; we8217;ve not been going out for dinner with them particularly,8221; Broad told reporters on Thursday.

8220;Obviously it was a tough summer for us last year,all England players will say the same,8221; he added.

Relations between the two teams hit an all-time low when British batsman Jonathan Trott and Pakistani paceman Wahab Riaz got involved in a physical altercation ahead of Lord8217;s

One-day International in September 2010.

8220;We enjoyed playing the cricket,but off-the-field incidents did damage our wonderful summer of cricket,8221; said Broad.

Broad8217;s maiden Test century against Pakistan at Lord8217;s was also overshadowed by the spot-fixing drama surrounding Butt,Asif and Aamer.

8220;You8217;ve got to move on,it8217;s international sport. You8217;ve got a job to do to prepare for our World Cup campaign,that8217;s our sole focus.8221;

Broad,who was not keeping well till recently,made an inspiring comeback as he helped England register a narrow 16-run win in the first warm-up match against Canada with his five-wicket haul.

8220;I was a bit nervous before the start. It was great to get back on the pitch and take some wickets. We weren8217;t overly happy with the performance but there are positives we can take out of the game,8221; said Board,who had to cut short Ashes tour after tearing an abdominal muscle during the second Test in Adelaide.

8220;I hadn8217;t had as much bowling as I8217;d have wanted. A few of the lads have had it illness 8212; that happens in this part of the world and hopefully I8217;ve got mine out of the way,8221; said the bowler.

Broad said it was important to gain early momentum in the World Cup,especially after the team8217;s dismal show in their last seven-match ODI series against Australia,which they lost 1-6.

8220;We have some points to prove after the last seven or eight games of our ODI form and it8217;s important we start that tomorrow Friday.8221;

Broad said England8217;s experience of winning the 2010 World Twenty20 Championship in the Caribbean would also come in handy during the World Cup in the sub-continent.

8220;What we learnt from that tournament is that we gained momentum throughout. That8217;s one thing we have to do here. It8217;s a long tournament and we have to gain momentum.

8220;Going to that T20 no-one outside the set up believed we could win. But inside we had real belief. Everyone knew their roles and when you have that confidence,it8217;s a very powerful thing.8221;

England would take on the Netherlands,who beat England in the 2009 World Twenty20,at Nagpur in their inaugural World Cup match on February 22.

8220;There is no time for slip-ups when we play the Netherlands on Tuesday,8221; said Broad.