India wary of maverick Pakistan in high-octane final
LONDON, (Reuters) - India are favourites to retain the Champions Trophy tomorrow but they would probably have preferred to face different opponents than arch-rivals Pakistan in what is sure to be a highly-charged final.
The neighbouring countries have moved on from years of political conflicts but emotions will run high as millions of supporters around the world watch the first major cricket final between the teams since the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup.
One of the most unpredictable sides in world sport, Pakistan were the lowest-ranked side going into the tournament and produced a shambolic performance in their heavy opening defeat by India.
As they have done many times before, however, Pakistan suddenly found their form with wins over topranked South Africa and Sri Lanka before delivering an outstanding allround display to stun previously unbeaten hosts England in the semifinals.
India suffered a shock loss to Sri Lanka in the group stage before overwhelming Bangladesh in the semis and their captain Virat Kohli has been impressed by Pakistan’s resurgence.
“The turnaround has been magnificent,” Kohli said.
“Obviously, if you reach the finals you have to play some good cricket and credit to them, they’ve turned around things for themselves really well.
“The belief just showed on the field the way they played together as a team and regardless of who you play in the finals, it’s always going to be challenging because once you start thinking that it’s a big game, Virat Kohli
then your mindset changes.” OUTSTANDING BATTING India, who beat Pakistan by five runs in the Twenty20 final 10 years ago, have been lifted by the outstanding batting form of Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.
“What we are going to try to do is repeat the similar sort of cricket that we have played so far, knowing the strengths and weaknesses they have,” Kohli said.
“I don’t think we need to look too far away from what we are doing as a group, focus on our skills and our abilities and believe in ourselves on that particular day.”
Pakistan, without their leading fast bowler Mohammad Amir due to injury, strangled the usually freescoring England batsmen on a slow wicket in Cardiff with a disciplined display of bowling and fielding.
The Oval pitch should be more favourable for batsmen but India, who have beaten Pakistan in eight of their 10 World Cup and Champions Trophy meetings, will not be complacent. Sarfraz Ahmed
“We’ve seen some really surprising results and it’s been amazing for the fans to watch and for the players to be a part of,” Kohli said.
“We played some really good cricket but we’re not going to take anything for granted for sure.”
Pakistan’s rejuvenation has been built around the runs of opener Fakhar Zaman and the experienced Azhar Ali while Hasan Ali and Junaid Khan stepped up to compensate for the absence of Amir who is expected to be fit for the final.
Their captain Sarfraz Ahmed said they had quickly forgotten the opening loss to India and simply focused on the next game in their bid to win the Champions Trophy for the first time.
“After the India match, we just motivated the guys,” he said.
“Don’t worry about the India match. This is gone. If we play good cricket, definitely we will win this tournament.” Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Chief Wayne Forde, said the decision to re-integrate Georgetown Football Club (GFC) and Pele at the association level, was done in the interest of the sport and players.
Forde during a brief comment, revealed, “This decision was taken in the interest of football. The GFF has no indication that Pele and the Georgetown Football Club wants to pursue this matter in further. The GFF will be supporting them in any way they need and at every level during the reintegration process”.
The GFF via an official release, revealed they have commenced the integration process of the two clubs into the Georgetown Football Club (GFA), following their relegation from the Elite League.
They [Pele and GFC] will now be eligible to compete in every tournament that falls under the umbrella of the GFA, with the final aim of earning promotion back into the Elite League.
According to Forde, “We have no reason to believe or have not seen anything that says Pele and GFC wants to pursue this futile matter any further and I commend the leadership of both clubs for putting the interest of the players first and we stand ready to support them. It’s our responsibility to bring them back into the football family and the responsible thing to do was to get them back to football”.
Initially the two clubs alongside Alpha United and Slingerz withdrew from the second season of the Elite League, after being at loggerheads over several issues with the GFF.
The major contention between the ‘sides’ was the decision of the GFF to increase the Elite League composition from eight to 10 teams, despite FIFA and CONCACAF via their respective General Secretaries, eventually ruling that the GFF has the constitutional power to alter any and every tournament that falls under their purview. Asked if a similar proposition has been offered to Slingerz FC and Alpha United, Forde revealed, “Those two clubs have maintained hostile position towards the GFF, they have never created an atmosphere where reconciliation or compromise could occur”.