This Pakistan side has the ability to beat India: Younis
NEW DELHI/KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricketer Younis Khan believes the Sarfraz Ahmed-led side has the ability to beat India in the high voltage Champions Trophy encounter on June 4 at Edgbaston.
“Pakistani side has the ability to beat India in Champions Trophy as Pakistan has outperformed India in the past as well,” the Dawn quoted Younis.
“Pitches look good and in my opinion, even 400 runs will be easily chased down in the Champions Trophy,” he added.
While Pakistan hold a 2-1 lead over their rivals in Champions Trophy, it is India who have won 10 out of the 11 contests at the World Cup and World T20 tournaments between the two sides.
The 39-year-old also said that key to Pakistan’s success would be their fielding and that’s what they need to concentrate more on it, in addition to bowling and batting.
“In modern cricket, fielding is the key for winning ODIs and T20 cricket and Pakistan team must focus on fielding and grab every opportunity,” he said.
The right-handed batsman, who recently retired, also pinned hopes on Sarfraz to take the Pakistani cricket team forward.
“It’s a great chance for Sarfraz Ahmed to lead the side well and take Pakistan cricket forward and all will depend on him that how he leads the side,” he said.
PAK-OZ WARM-UP MATCH RAINED OFF
Meanwhile, rain played spoilsport as the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 warm-up game between Australia and Pakistan was abandoned with only 10.2 overs bowled, at Edgbaston on Monday.
Opting to bat, Australia were cruising at 57 for one wicket when the skies opened up. There was a long delay following which the officials decided the conditions were no longer good to complete the game, abandoning it.
Defending champions India will face Pakistan in their opening Champions Trophy Group B game at Edgbaston on June 4.
Australia started well despite the loss of explosive opener David Warner (11) in the fifth over. Warner had only faced eight balls, in which he hit two lovely boundaries, before he was caught behind off a swinging delivery from Mohammad Amir.
The left-arm Pakistan pacer was on song and conceded nine runs from the four overs he bowled, picking up a wicket.
Aaron Finch, 30, looked solid on a run-a-ball 36, which included seven boundaries. Finch looked set to score a big one when rain intervened. Australia skipper Steve Smith (8) was the other batsman.
Left-arm medium pace bowler Fahim Ashraf and left-arm spinner Imad Wasim had bowled five overs, giving 42 runs.