LAHORE - Pakistan Test captain Mibahul Haq has said Thursday that Pakistan players would give their best despite unending controversies surrounding his team. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of World Cup 2011 here at the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club, he said that it was disappointing that no World Cup matches were being played in Pakistan. He said every team likes to play on its home ground and in front of its home crowd. It was sad that Pakistan did not get this opportunity. He said morale of the players was still very high and despite losing key players, his side would give its opponent run for their money. To a question, Misbah said that New Zealand series would serve as a good preparatory tour for the World Cup. He also said that there was unity in the team and every player would make his contribution. The event was attended by Pepsis leadership team, imminent media personalities, stars from the Pakistan cricket team, the Music Industry of Pakistan, senior officials from the PCB and cricket legends of Pakistan. Speaking at the event, Country Head Pepsico Pakistan Jehanzeb Q Khan and Director Marketing Pepsico Khurram Koraishy reiterated Pepsis commitment towards reviving the game in Pakistan. The speakers mentioned that the resounding success of the recent Pepsi-PCB Cricket Star Campaign was also a testimony to this commitment. They hoped that the coming of World Cup trophy would serve its purpose of fuelling the cricket fever in Pakistan, leading on to the commencement of the championship. Earlier, Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam said he was confident his players could win the World Cup next year to make up for the countrys loss of hosting rights. Unfortunately, we were deprived of hosting World Cup matches but Im confident my players have the ability to win the trophy, Alam said at a ceremony unveiling the trophy to be awarded in 2011. Pakistan was one of the four original hosts of the 10th World Cup, but an attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore last year forced the International Cricket Council (ICC) to strip them of hosting rights. The attack, which killed eight people and wounded seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach, led to the suspension of all international cricket in Pakistan as teams refused to tour over security fears. India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will now host the event from February 19 to April 2 next year. Alam, also a former captain, praised the ICC and sponsors Pepsi for arranging for the trophy to be displayed in Pakistan. It was a great gesture on the part of the ICC and sponsors to arrange a trophy tour to Pakistan... which will raise interest, said Alam. Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, openers Mohammad Hafeez and Taufiq Umer were among the players who attended the ceremony. Alam said Pakistan was on track to win. I am happy with the progress of the team and hopefully we will do our best to win the trophy, said Alam, who was a coach-cum-manager in 1992 when Pakistan won its only World Cup title. Pakistan, placed in Group A, will play their first round matches in Sri Lanka. They open their campaign against Kenya at Hambantota on February 23. Meanwhile, Pakistan one-day skipper Shahid Afridi said Pakistan were one of top favourites with India and Australia. Afridi counted India as one of the strong contenders in the World Cup, to be held in sub-continent from February 19 next year. I think India, Pakistan, Australia and Sri Lanka will be in the semi-finals. India and Sri Lanka will face additional pressure as they will playing on home turf, Afridi said. He also praised the current Indian team under Mahendra Singh Dhoni.India is continuously playing well since Dhoni has taken over. The confidence level of the team is amazing and I think it will be an exciting contest, said the veteran, who has scored 6371 runs in 303 ODIs for Pakistan.Afridi said Sachin Tendulkar would be the batsman to watch in the elite ICC event. Sachin is an extra-ordinary player. His hunger for runs is growing by his age. He is playing since 20 years and it is his last World Cup. Naturally he wants to make it a memorable one. All teams need to be extra cautious against him and we are no exception. We will draw a specific strategy for Sachin and some other Indian batsmen, he said. Afridi also rued the fact they have lost the opportunity to play before the home fans in the prestigious tournament. This is a huge loss for Pakistan Cricket. Foreign teams are not playing here and it has definitely affected us. We cannot do anything in this matter. Thank god, we have enough international exposure prior to World Cup. After playing against South Africa in Dubai and Abu Dhabi Pakistan team is going to tour New Zealand from December 26 to February 5. They will play two Tests, three Twenty20s and six ODIs. When asked how he is going to motivate his team, the Peshawar Pathan said, Pakistan has suffered a lot. Flood, terrorism and the spot-fixing scandal in Cricket. Our Hockey team has given us a reason to smile after winning the Asiad gold and now we want to complete the success saga. Insha Allah we will win the World Cup for our countrymen. People of India and Pakistan are crazy about Cricket. It is like a religion for them. Sometimes it is hard to fulfill all their expectations but we are desperate to win this time, he added. Pakistan cricket has been hit by a series of problems from doping to ball-tampering but is facing the most severe test after spot-fixing charges against several players. Pakistan dreams of World Cup win