http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750: Match Preview – ICC Champions Trophy 2013
Mother of all cricket matches is finally here, and while this is a dead rubber contest in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Champions Trophy 2013 with India already qualified for the semi-finals and Pakistan knocked-out, there is nothing dead about this
game as far as the two nations are concerned. The two rival countries would sacrifice the winning cup any day for a win against each other. These two sides do not like losing to each other and would give their best and “worst” when up against one another.
With local support from both countries, a high intensity encounter is expected today at Birmingham.
Pakistan has nothing to lose while India, who has not lost to anyone in the tournament, would want to go into the semi-finals with a clean record. Pride is also at stake for both teams, as India would certainly want to avenge their
ODI home series defeat to Pakistan earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has had a terrible tournament and has been nothing less than disappointing. This is their chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of their countrymen. Pakistan need to find a cure to the voodoo magic that has
incinerated their batting which, at the moment, lacks the potential to take on a college team from Birmingham. They have a staggering bowling attack, but the bowlers cannot do anything unless there are enough runs on the board worth fighting for.
India on the other hand, will look to fine tune their winning combination, as they do not have major problems in their unit. They know that it is their batting that will put the Pakistanis on the back foot - followed by some decent
bowling. Pakistan on the other hand will rely on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Junaid-Khan-c77037, Mohammad Irfan and Saeed Ajmal to deliver the goods.
Captain comments
India
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028: Well, there are two ways to look at it. If their thinking is that they have nothing really to lose, let's go out, be expressive on the field, don't bother about the result, then they can be dangerous.
But if the thinking is they are not qualified, this is a game against India, let's win this game so we have it as a consolation prize, they'll be in big trouble. So it depends entirely on what Pakistan are thinking.
Pakistan
Misbah-ul-Haq: It's a final for us. A win against the world champions will be a great compensation. At least, the fans will be happy. We know we are out of the tournament, but I have told the boys to look at every
game as their last chance to prove themselves. We will express ourselves well tomorrow.
Pitch Report
It is expected to be a slow track with light rain through the afternoon.
Teams
India: (probable)
1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/I-Sharma-c1566.
Pakistan: (probable)
1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wahab-Riaz-c95839, 9 Saeed Ajmal, 10 Junaid Khan, 11 Mohammad Irfan.
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