Online Reporter
Pakistan warmed up for their blockbuster T20 World Cup clash against India with a 32-run win against the USA on Tuesday then declared they were “confident” of taking down their bitter rivals.
The Group A win was a boost for Pakistan before Sunday’s high-octane clash with the defending champions in Colombo, now back on after the Islamabad government called off a boycott 24 hours previously.
Opener Sahibzada Farhan, who top scored with 73 in the USA win, said: “The match is on and we are in a confident mood.”
Pakistan have a dismal record against India in ICC tournaments, winning only once in eight encounters in T20 World Cups and have lost all eight times that the sides have met in the 50-over World Cup.
In last year’s T20 Asian Cup, India beat Pakistan three times on their way to lifting the trophy in Dubai.
Spinner Tariq Usman, who took 3-27 against the United States, said those stats did not bother him.
“We used to beat India in the 1990s and before so don’t count the recent record or only the ICC event record, we used to win against them frequently,” said Tariq.”
Farhan promised: “This time it will be different and we will give a strong performance.
“We lost all three matches including the final to India in the Asia Cup but they were not one-sided.”
Farhan said two wins out of two in the World Cup, the first was against the Netherlands on Saturday, had kick-started Pakistan’s campaign.
Pakistan came into the tournament having beaten Australia 3-0 in a home T20 series and Fargan said the mood around the camp was very positive.
“Wins always give you confidence and we will take this confidence into Sunday’s game and we assure you we will be a better side come Sunday,” said Farhan.
Meanwhile, India said on Tuesday it would be “a challenge” to face a “quality” Pakistan team in Colombo after Islamabad U-turned and decided to play the blockbuster T20 World Cup clash.
“It’s great that the game is back on, we kind of never changed the preparation,” said India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.
India will face a second Group A match against Namibia today in New Delhi before flying to Sri Lanka.
It means a quick turnaround for Sunday’s match, the biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket.
“It’s going to be a challenge going to Colombo where Pakistan have been for the last two weeks,” added Ten Doeschate.
“We are delighted to have another chance to play against a quality side in the first phase of the tournament.
“We are fully focused on just bringing our best game to that fixture.”
The decision had been taken with the aim of “protecting the spirit of cricket”, it added.
Former India cricketer Madan Lal told AFP on Tuesday that it was “good for cricket”.
“We want strong teams to play so that the charm of the World Cup is not lost,” he added.
Sri Lanka, who will host the match which generates multi-millions of dollars in advertising, broadcast rights, sponsorship and tourism, also praised the decision.
“Everyone realised that losing the revenue from an India-Pakistan match would have been a loss-loss situation for all ICC member nations.”
The 20-team tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up.
Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland.
As a protest, the Pakistan government ordered the team not to face co-hosts India in the Group A fixture.
Pakistan will play all their T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka as part of an International Cricket Council deal that ensures the two nations only meet on neutral territory.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav said on Friday before their opening win against the USA that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash, whether the game was on or not.
“We haven’t said no to playing them,” Suryakumar said. “Our flights are booked and we are going to Colombo.” – SuperSport
