Arch rivals clash in first series in four years
03:21AM Tue 25 Dec, 2012
We are here to enjoy the game, says Pakistan skipper Hafeez
Bengaluru: More than four years after their bilateral cricket ties snapped due to the Mumbai terror attack, India and Pakistan are set to slug it out in what promises to be a high-voltage limited-over series starting with the first Twenty20 international here on Tuesday.
The two-match T20 and three-match ODI series has been squeezed in between India’s ongoing full series against the England cricket team, which has taken a break to go home for Christmas and New Year holidays. India and Pakistan, which last played a bilateral series in 2007, squared off in multi-national events several times after 2008 but for the first time, a Pakistan cricket team will be hosted for a series after the attacks.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez said that his team has a good mixture of fast and spin bowlers who can pose questions to the Indian batsmen in the five-match limited overs series, starting with the Twenty20 encounter. “Indian batting is well known all over the world being extremely good. But winning or losing does not depend only on batting. Bowling will also have a major role. When we see our team, both batting and bowling is very good. So, our bowlers can negotiate the strong Indian batting line-up,” Hafeez told reporters at the pre-match press conference here.
Hafeez said the team has prepared well for the series and is looking forward to the match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. “We are very much ready and looking for good, positive results for our country,” he said. Hafeez said the selectors wanted to give opportunities to youngsters who have done well in the last couple of years at the domestic level.
“It will be a good experience for them in India because the crowds are always good. So the pressure is always there, but you have to handle it. Our team is a mix of both experience and youth. We have Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal. It is a mixture of seniors and juniors,” he said. On Afridi’s poor run with the bat, Hafeez said there is no doubt that in the recent past he has not done well, but added that he is still a match winner. Hafeez said Sayeed Ajmal is bowling very well at the moment and getting the results for Pakistan.
“We want him to stay at the peak. We don’t want to put too much pressure on him. At the same time, other bowlers also have to do and take wickets to give confidence to him,” he said.
Related Links
India-Pakistan series the pinnacle of cricket
Dhoni: I have learnt a lot from Sachin
The Indian team is going through some testing times as they renew rivalry with Pakistan since the side has been struggling for success. India did well in the T20s against England after being humiliated in Tests but bowling remains a persistent headache for them in all the formats.
The likes of Alex Hales, Michael Lumb and Eoin Morgan put the Indian attack on sword during the short T20 series and the Pakistan batsmen would be looking to exploit this weakness of the hosts. Except for a spirited show put up by Ashok Dinda, none of the Indian bowlers made an impact on the English batsmen.
Surprisingly, Yuvraj Singh was the most successful bowler with six wickets and he also batted stupendously for India. India would want the Chandigarh boy to continue with his good touch against a very tricky opponent.
Bengaluru: More than four years after their bilateral cricket ties snapped due to the Mumbai terror attack, India and Pakistan are set to slug it out in what promises to be a high-voltage limited-over series starting with the first Twenty20 international here on Tuesday.
The two-match T20 and three-match ODI series has been squeezed in between India’s ongoing full series against the England cricket team, which has taken a break to go home for Christmas and New Year holidays. India and Pakistan, which last played a bilateral series in 2007, squared off in multi-national events several times after 2008 but for the first time, a Pakistan cricket team will be hosted for a series after the attacks.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez said that his team has a good mixture of fast and spin bowlers who can pose questions to the Indian batsmen in the five-match limited overs series, starting with the Twenty20 encounter. “Indian batting is well known all over the world being extremely good. But winning or losing does not depend only on batting. Bowling will also have a major role. When we see our team, both batting and bowling is very good. So, our bowlers can negotiate the strong Indian batting line-up,” Hafeez told reporters at the pre-match press conference here.
Hafeez said the team has prepared well for the series and is looking forward to the match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. “We are very much ready and looking for good, positive results for our country,” he said. Hafeez said the selectors wanted to give opportunities to youngsters who have done well in the last couple of years at the domestic level.
“It will be a good experience for them in India because the crowds are always good. So the pressure is always there, but you have to handle it. Our team is a mix of both experience and youth. We have Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal. It is a mixture of seniors and juniors,” he said. On Afridi’s poor run with the bat, Hafeez said there is no doubt that in the recent past he has not done well, but added that he is still a match winner. Hafeez said Sayeed Ajmal is bowling very well at the moment and getting the results for Pakistan.
“We want him to stay at the peak. We don’t want to put too much pressure on him. At the same time, other bowlers also have to do and take wickets to give confidence to him,” he said.
Related Links
India-Pakistan series the pinnacle of cricket
Dhoni: I have learnt a lot from Sachin
The Indian team is going through some testing times as they renew rivalry with Pakistan since the side has been struggling for success. India did well in the T20s against England after being humiliated in Tests but bowling remains a persistent headache for them in all the formats.
The likes of Alex Hales, Michael Lumb and Eoin Morgan put the Indian attack on sword during the short T20 series and the Pakistan batsmen would be looking to exploit this weakness of the hosts. Except for a spirited show put up by Ashok Dinda, none of the Indian bowlers made an impact on the English batsmen.
Surprisingly, Yuvraj Singh was the most successful bowler with six wickets and he also batted stupendously for India. India would want the Chandigarh boy to continue with his good touch against a very tricky opponent.
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