Team keen on rematch with India, says Malik

Pakistan's experienced all-rounder Shoaib Malik has said that he and his teammates are keen to set up a rematch with India in the final of the Asia Cup tournament in Bangladesh.

Malik told the Pakistani media in Mirpur that they had lost to India in the group match on Saturday since the team had failed to adapt to the conditions at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

"I think we failed to read the pitch and conditions properly against India and instead of adapting ourselves we committed hari kari (fumbled) by trying to play overly attacking shots," he said.

The former Pakistan captain said everyone in the team was disappointed by the defeat but were now also more intent on winning matches to qualify for the final.

"We want to play India in the final again and we know we can do well against them. It is all a matter of just adapting to the different conditions here," Malik added.

He said that all the seniors in the side realised how important it was for them to fire on all cylinders now in the Asia Cup.

"We all know just how disappointing the defeat to India must have been to our supporters back home. We know how much emotions are involved in a match with India and we would like to make amends."

Malik said Pakistan's biggest strength was it had good pace and spin bowlers and the batsmen just needed to put their heads down and manage a fighting total.

"I thought we also fought hard against India and Aamir's spell was magnificent. The rest of the pace bowlers are also in good form so we are looking at a comeback in this tournament."

Malik refused to criticise the pitches insisting that as professional cricketers teams had to learn to adapt to different conditions.

Image: Pakistan's all-rounder Shoaib Malik