India face Pakistan in World T20 tune-up
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will get an early chance to size up
each other ahead of the World Twenty20 when they clash in a high-profile
practice match in Colombo next Monday.
The match, part of the warm-up schedule drawn up by the International
Cricket Council, is the only one of 12 practice games that will be
beamed live by the host broadcasters.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez welcomed the chance to play against
India before the tournament starts on Tuesday.
"It is usually a high-pressure game and good for us to experience it
early," Hafeez told reporters in Colombo on Wednesday night.
India coach Duncan Fletcher said his team's two warm-up matches --
the other is against host Sri Lanka on Saturday -- will be important
preparations for the main event. "We have come here with the belief that
we can win the World Twenty20 and it is crucial we get attuned to the
conditions," Fletcher said.
"We have obviously got a good build-up.
"We look forward to the two warm-up games which will give us the
preparation we require for the tournament." India and Pakistan have been
drawn in separate groups for the preliminary league, but will meet in
the Super Eights round in Colombo on September 30 if the seedings go to
plan. The two nations have played just two official Twenty20
internationals against each other, both during the inaugural world event
in South Africa in 2007. The league match in Durban ended in a tie with
India winning the bowl-out, before the two sides met again in the final
in Johannesburg, which Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Indians won by five runs.
AFP |