Desperate to beat India in Champions Trophy: Gul
Agencies
Posted: Aug 23, 2009 at 1537 hrs IST
Dubai: Pakistan has never beaten India in an ICC tournament and pacer Umar Gul says his team is desperate to break the jinx when the two sides come face to face in next month's Champions Trophy in South Africa.
"While every match will be important, the game against India, as always, will be special for both the sides. No rivalry can match that between India and Pakistan and I think the September 26 match will be something billions of people all over the world will be waiting for," Gul said.
"For us, the match is also important for the simple fact that we haven't beaten them in an ICC event and we're desperate to break that sequence," he added. India is the only country that has won all the three major ICC events -- the 50-over World Cup (in 1983), ICC Champions Trophy (jointly with Sri Lanka in 2002) and ICC World Twenty20 (in 2007).
Gul believes it is Pakistan's turn to add the one trophy which is missing from its cabinet by winning the eight-nation tournament to be staged from September 22 to October 5.
"I believe we have an excellent team for one-day cricket and it is the combination that makes us a quality side. The return of Mohammad Yousuf and Rana Naved has provided further impetus to the side which is bubbling with confidence after its victory in the ICC World Twenty20 in England in June.
"But we're aware that it is not going to be easy at all in South Africa and we'll have to be at our best all through to win," Gul said in an ICC news letter. Pakistan is grouped with Australia, the West Indies and India. Gul said the Pakistani team is high on confidence after winning the World Twenty20 Championships in June but is also feeling the pressure of expectations.
"Although it is a different format, it is always good to go in as a champion side because it gives you that extra confidence which is vital in big tournaments. However, our victory in England has raised the bar of expectations and our supporters want us to win everything. That puts us under more pressure."
Desperate to beat India in Champions Trophy: Gul
Agencies
Posted: Aug 23, 2009 at 1537 hrs IST
Dubai: Pakistan has never beaten India in an ICC tournament and pacer Umar Gul says his team is desperate to break the jinx when the two sides come face to face in next month's Champions Trophy in South Africa.
"While every match will be important, the game against India, as always, will be special for both the sides. No rivalry can match that between India and Pakistan and I think the September 26 match will be something billions of people all over the world will be waiting for," Gul said.
"For us, the match is also important for the simple fact that we haven't beaten them in an ICC event and we're desperate to break that sequence," he added. India is the only country that has won all the three major ICC events -- the 50-over World Cup (in 1983), ICC Champions Trophy (jointly with Sri Lanka in 2002) and ICC World Twenty20 (in 2007).
Gul believes it is Pakistan's turn to add the one trophy which is missing from its cabinet by winning the eight-nation tournament to be staged from September 22 to October 5.
"I believe we have an excellent team for one-day cricket and it is the combination that makes us a quality side. The return of Mohammad Yousuf and Rana Naved has provided further impetus to the side which is bubbling with confidence after its victory in the ICC World Twenty20 in England in June.
"But we're aware that it is not going to be easy at all in South Africa and we'll have to be at our best all through to win," Gul said in an ICC news letter. Pakistan is grouped with Australia, the West Indies and India. Gul said the Pakistani team is high on confidence after winning the World Twenty20 Championships in June but is also feeling the pressure of expectations.
"Although it is a different format, it is always good to go in as a champion side because it gives you that extra confidence which is vital in big tournaments. However, our victory in England has raised the bar of expectations and our supporters want us to win everything. That puts us under more pressure."
Desperate to beat India in Champions Trophy: Gul
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