Pakistan, India favourites in World Twenty20: Misbah
Shahid HASHMI
CRICKET: DUBAI, May 9, 2009 - Pakistan and India are favourites to
win next month's World Twenty20 tournament, as both have shown good form
in the game's rapid-fire version, Pakistan's stand-in captain
Misbah-ul-Haq said Friday.
"Both Pakistan and India have been doing very well in Twenty20
cricket, so I think both have a very good chance of winning the World
Twenty20," Haq said after Pakistan's seven-wicket win over Australia
here Thursday.
Pakistan, led by Haq after regular captain Younus Khan pulled out due
to fever, rode on a career-best 4-8 by paceman Umar Gul and leg-spinner
Shahid Afridi (3-14) to dismiss Australia for a low score of 108.
In reply, Kamran Akmal hit a fiery 59 to help Pakistan reach their
target with 3.5 overs to spare - an emphatic win that Haq said would
lift his team's spirits ahead of the World Twenty20 starting in England
next month.
"I think this win is an indicator of where we stand," said Haq, who
scored 24 and added 85 for the third wicket with Akmal. "This win will
be a great morale booster for the team," which lost the preceding
one-day series 3-2.
Thursday's victory was Pakistan's 17th out of 20 Twenty20 matches it
has played since this popular brand of cricket was introduced in
2005.Pakistan finished runners-up to India in the inaugural Twenty20
World Cup, held in South Africa two years ago.
Haq said he believed Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 championship had
helped to build the team.
"We have been playing a Twenty20 tournament every year and that has
matured us. Fortunately, we are again playing that event in Pakistan
before going to England," said Haq. Besides India and Pakistan, Haq also
fancied the chances of South Africa and New Zealand in next month's
tournament.
"Any team can win a Twenty20 game but you need discipline and luck. I
think South Africa and New Zealand are also two very good teams," he
said.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said the team would play practice
matches before the event in England.
"I am pleased with the performance of the team," said Alam. "Had we
been as clinical in the one-day series we would have won that as well.
We will play some practice Twenty20 matches so that the team tunes up
well."
Australia's stand-in captain Brad Haddin said he hoped his team's
defeat Thursday would not demoralise them.
"You can't judge the form of the team on one game," said Haddin, who
replaced Michael Clarke as captain after Clarke returned home for a
rest. "We were progressing well in the first five overs but then we lost
track and were totally outplayed by Pakistan," he said.
"But I hope it's not going to affect us as we have some 20-25 days to
prepare," for the Twenty20 tournament.
AFP
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