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| Saturday, 16 October 2004 |
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Pakistan target first ever one-day title on home soil LAHORE, Pakistan, Oct 15 (AFP) - Captain Inzamam-ul Haq said he was confident Pakistan would defy history to claim their first ever home one-day tournament title against Sri Lanka on Saturday. Pakistan, who have never won a one-day competition on home soil, go into the tri-series final on a high having registered four straight wins against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. However, past Pakistani disasters include losing the 1987 World Cup semi-final to Australia and the 1994 tri-series final to the same opponents. Pakistan also failed to reach the 1996 World Cup final, which Sri Lanka won. "We know history is against us but we can change that through our fifth win in this tri-series and I am confident we can do that," said Inzamam, whose side upsatged Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final league match on Thursday. "We have a better chance of winning the tournament and our confidence is higher than them because of two wins over Sri Lanka in the league phase," he said, adding that the toss will be vital. But Pakistan's preparations have been dealt a blow after star pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar tweaked a hamstring during Thursday's match. "Akhtar was injured during Thursday's match and will have a fitness test on Friday," said Inzamam. Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu, who scored a century on Thursday, said his side would draw inspiration from their 1996 World Cup win at this venue. "Of course, every Sri Lankan player draws inspiration from that historic triumph and we would also like to do that but for that we have to lift ourselves and match that performance," said Atapattu. "The morale would have been greater had we won the last match but cricket is a funny game, especially one-day cricket where things can change quickly," he said. "We failed to defend two totals against Pakistan and I would put it to both placid pitches and not-up-to-the-mark bowling because we are one world-class bowler short - Muttiah Muralitharan." Muralitharan, whose record 532 Test wickets was surpassed by Australian Shane Warne in India on Friday, is unavailable while he recovers from shoulder surgery. Separately, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) turned down a request from both captains to start the day-night match two hours earlier to avoid Lahore's heavy evening dew, which makes for difficult playing conditions. Teams: (from) Pakistan: Inzamam-ul Haq (capt), Yasir Hameed, Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Bazid Khan, Shoaib Malik, Yousuf Youhana, Misbahul Haq, Moin Khan, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naveedul Hassan, Rao Iftikhar. Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Saman Jayantha, Avishka Gunawardene, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Thilina Kandamby, Rangana Herath, Kaushal Lokuarachchi. Umpires: Simon Taufel (AUS), Aleem Dar (PAK) Tv umpire: Asad Rauf (PAK) ICC match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL) |
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