India, aiming for a place in the Asia Cup final, plan to clinch it with a victory over Pakistan here tomorrow.
India, aiming for a place in the Asia Cup final, plan to clinch it with a victory over Pakistan here tomorrow.
That is prosaic view of the captain MS Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten. It is an unspoken one, granted, but the two senior members of the Team India brainstrust know just how important is the game at Rangiri Stadium and which will be match four of the 10th edition of the event.
This is not lollypop (T20/IPL) cricket you understand, but an ODI game where skill plays a major role and with rain unlikely in this part of Sri Lanka's "dry zone" cultural centre, chances of a game of nerves will affect both sides. In an eyeball-to-eyeball stand-off, the first who blinks loses.
Shahid Afridi has recovered from the cramps that almost took Pakistan to within 16 runs of winning the opening game against defending champions Sri Lanka. And while he was doing sprints on the western side of the venue, India were having a light training session, both camps mindful of what is needed to win this particular clash.
The reinvention of Shoaib Akhtar has added some clout to the bowling attack and with the support of Mohammad Asif and Aamer Mohammad, Pakistan have the sort of bowling attack that had Sri Lanka in trouble.
The hope is that Virender Sehwag will combat the bowling and set a pattern is just as important.u00a0 The problem with the venue's lights is another factor and winning the toss is just as important as holding your nerve.
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