KARACHI, 25 AUG: Pakistan captain Younis Khan (in photo) says he has a “burning ambition” to set the record straight against India by defeating them in the Champions Trophy beginning in South Africa next month.
Since the International Cricket Council launched the 50-over World Cup in 1975 and other global events subsequently, Pakistan have only once defeated India in these big-time events when they won at Birmingham in the 2004 Champions Trophy. “The fact that we lost twice to India in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007 and then also in that World Cup match in 2003 in South Africa still hurts,” Younis said.
“India are a very good one-day side but it is my burning ambition to set the record straight against them and defeat them this time in the Champions Trophy in South Africa this time,” he said.
Cricket ties between the two countries have remained suspended since the terror attacks in Mumbai last November with India cancelling a scheduled Test tour of Pakistan in January this year. “It would be a big moment when we play India in the Champions Trophy pool match at the Centurion on 26 September as we have not played against each other for a while now,” Younis said.
“It will not be easy but we have some extra incentive to beat India given our track record in South Africa,” he added.
Younis refused to dismiss defending champions Australia in spite of their recent Ashes series defeat in England. “It would be foolish to rule out Australia just because they have lost the Ashes. They have a strong domestic structure and this ensures they have good back -up talent. It is a matter of time before they settle down and stage a strong fightback,” he said. Younis said he had a lot of respect for Australia and said although they had lost the Ashes they were capable of doing well in the Champions Trophy under an experienced captain like Ricky Ponting.
“You can never rule out teams like Australia or South Africa. They come back strongly because they stick to their basic plans very well and they have back -up plans as well all the time.”
The Pakistan captain said his team were capable of winning the Champions Trophy as they had a good combination of players and Mohammad Asif's selection would add depth to the team's bowling attack. “But he (Asif) has not played for a long time and we will not be putting too much pressure on him. We are not going to South Africa with high expectations from him. He will require time to settle down in international cricket again.”
Khan today said he was under no threat of losing his captaincy after the recent series defeat in Sri Lanka. Nor does he feel threatened by the elevation of Shahid Afridi as his vice-captain for the Champions Trophy. “I have never run after captaincy. It was offered to me a number of times in the past and I didn't accept it because of various reasons. This time I accepted the captaincy because I felt I could do something good for the team,” Younis said. “But the captaincy has never been a big issue with me and my job is only to try to get the best performances out of the team and ensure they give good results,” he said.
The media has carried reports in past few days that the appointment of Afridi as vice-captain has come about as the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Mr Ijaz Butt, is not very happy with Younis's performance as captain.
The media also speculated that Mr Butt might soon promote Afridi as the new captain for one-day matches as well. But Younis said he was not bothered by such reports.
“The way cricket is run in Pakistan is funny. When we won the Twenty20 World Cup everyone was praising my captaincy. We had one bad series in Sri Lanka and the guns are turned towards me.”
Younis also said he had no issues at all with Afridi being promoted as vice-captain.
“This is not a threat for me at all. Because we have a good equation and we worked closely in the Twenty20 World Cup. As far as the appointment of vice-captain or team officials is concerned I have no issues with the board.” Younis also said he wanted the national conditioning camp to be held in two phases before the Champions Trophy.
“The first phase will be held from 1 to 4 September and we will focus purely on physical training. We will then take a break and then have another four to five days' training camp purely for batting and bowling before we leave on 17 September from Karachi for South Africa,” he said. Younis said because of the holy month of Ramzan the schedule of the conditioning camps had to be changed as the players needed a break to spend time with their families. “But I will definitely ask the Pakistan Cricket Board to have these camps at small centres and not at Lahore and Karachi, where they are too many distractions for the players.” He said the players would have counselling sessions with a sports psychologist in these camps.
'Not a gamble'
The Pakistan coach, Mr Intikhab Alam, has described Mohammad Asif's selection for the Champions Trophy as a step in the positive direction. The comment came after former Test players had described Asif's selection as a big gamble because the dope-tainted pace bowler has not played cricket for the past 16 months.
“No I don't think Asif's selection is a gamble because he is in good shape and working hard to be 100 per cent fit for the big tournament,” Mr Alam said. “I think Asif's presence in the team will lend experience and sharpness to the bowling attack, especially on South African pitches where pace bowlers usually have a good time. And don't forget Asif has a good record in South Africa,” he said.
Asif will complete a 12-month ban for a doping offence on 22 September, the day the Champions trophy begins in South Africa. Mr Alam said Asif remained a match-winner as, on his day, he could create trouble for the best of teams.
He also supported the decision to appoint Afridi vice-captain, insisting it was a reward for his recent good showing. “Shahid is one of the most active, energetic and motivated performers in the side and his appointment will be a positive move for other players,” Mr Alam said.
Referring to reports that senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf might skip the conditioning camps because of Ramazan and his preaching tours, Mr Alam said, so far, Yousuf had conveyed no such request to him or the captain.
Journalists demand apology
The Sports Journalists Association of Lahore has demanded an apology from former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq for misbehaving with the media after inviting them to a Press conference at his residence.
Source
Since the International Cricket Council launched the 50-over World Cup in 1975 and other global events subsequently, Pakistan have only once defeated India in these big-time events when they won at Birmingham in the 2004 Champions Trophy. “The fact that we lost twice to India in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007 and then also in that World Cup match in 2003 in South Africa still hurts,” Younis said.
“India are a very good one-day side but it is my burning ambition to set the record straight against them and defeat them this time in the Champions Trophy in South Africa this time,” he said.
Cricket ties between the two countries have remained suspended since the terror attacks in Mumbai last November with India cancelling a scheduled Test tour of Pakistan in January this year. “It would be a big moment when we play India in the Champions Trophy pool match at the Centurion on 26 September as we have not played against each other for a while now,” Younis said.
“It will not be easy but we have some extra incentive to beat India given our track record in South Africa,” he added.
Younis refused to dismiss defending champions Australia in spite of their recent Ashes series defeat in England. “It would be foolish to rule out Australia just because they have lost the Ashes. They have a strong domestic structure and this ensures they have good back -up talent. It is a matter of time before they settle down and stage a strong fightback,” he said. Younis said he had a lot of respect for Australia and said although they had lost the Ashes they were capable of doing well in the Champions Trophy under an experienced captain like Ricky Ponting.
“You can never rule out teams like Australia or South Africa. They come back strongly because they stick to their basic plans very well and they have back -up plans as well all the time.”
The Pakistan captain said his team were capable of winning the Champions Trophy as they had a good combination of players and Mohammad Asif's selection would add depth to the team's bowling attack. “But he (Asif) has not played for a long time and we will not be putting too much pressure on him. We are not going to South Africa with high expectations from him. He will require time to settle down in international cricket again.”
Khan today said he was under no threat of losing his captaincy after the recent series defeat in Sri Lanka. Nor does he feel threatened by the elevation of Shahid Afridi as his vice-captain for the Champions Trophy. “I have never run after captaincy. It was offered to me a number of times in the past and I didn't accept it because of various reasons. This time I accepted the captaincy because I felt I could do something good for the team,” Younis said. “But the captaincy has never been a big issue with me and my job is only to try to get the best performances out of the team and ensure they give good results,” he said.
The media has carried reports in past few days that the appointment of Afridi as vice-captain has come about as the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Mr Ijaz Butt, is not very happy with Younis's performance as captain.
The media also speculated that Mr Butt might soon promote Afridi as the new captain for one-day matches as well. But Younis said he was not bothered by such reports.
“The way cricket is run in Pakistan is funny. When we won the Twenty20 World Cup everyone was praising my captaincy. We had one bad series in Sri Lanka and the guns are turned towards me.”
Younis also said he had no issues at all with Afridi being promoted as vice-captain.
“This is not a threat for me at all. Because we have a good equation and we worked closely in the Twenty20 World Cup. As far as the appointment of vice-captain or team officials is concerned I have no issues with the board.” Younis also said he wanted the national conditioning camp to be held in two phases before the Champions Trophy.
“The first phase will be held from 1 to 4 September and we will focus purely on physical training. We will then take a break and then have another four to five days' training camp purely for batting and bowling before we leave on 17 September from Karachi for South Africa,” he said. Younis said because of the holy month of Ramzan the schedule of the conditioning camps had to be changed as the players needed a break to spend time with their families. “But I will definitely ask the Pakistan Cricket Board to have these camps at small centres and not at Lahore and Karachi, where they are too many distractions for the players.” He said the players would have counselling sessions with a sports psychologist in these camps.
'Not a gamble'
The Pakistan coach, Mr Intikhab Alam, has described Mohammad Asif's selection for the Champions Trophy as a step in the positive direction. The comment came after former Test players had described Asif's selection as a big gamble because the dope-tainted pace bowler has not played cricket for the past 16 months.
“No I don't think Asif's selection is a gamble because he is in good shape and working hard to be 100 per cent fit for the big tournament,” Mr Alam said. “I think Asif's presence in the team will lend experience and sharpness to the bowling attack, especially on South African pitches where pace bowlers usually have a good time. And don't forget Asif has a good record in South Africa,” he said.
Asif will complete a 12-month ban for a doping offence on 22 September, the day the Champions trophy begins in South Africa. Mr Alam said Asif remained a match-winner as, on his day, he could create trouble for the best of teams.
He also supported the decision to appoint Afridi vice-captain, insisting it was a reward for his recent good showing. “Shahid is one of the most active, energetic and motivated performers in the side and his appointment will be a positive move for other players,” Mr Alam said.
Referring to reports that senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf might skip the conditioning camps because of Ramazan and his preaching tours, Mr Alam said, so far, Yousuf had conveyed no such request to him or the captain.
Journalists demand apology
The Sports Journalists Association of Lahore has demanded an apology from former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq for misbehaving with the media after inviting them to a Press conference at his residence.
Source
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