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India will be tough to beat in T20 WC: Misbah

Source:PTI
May 08, 2009 16:34 IST

Pakistan's vice-captain Misbah-ul Haq says defending champions India would be a tough team to beat in the upcoming Twenty20 World Championships in England.

"I think many of their players have gained a lot by playing in the Indian Premier League. It has given them the confidence to play T20 cricket the way it should be played -- with a positive frame of mind, sensibly and without any fear of getting out," Misbah told reporters.

The middle-order batsman, who was standing-in for captain Younis Khan in Thursday's one-off T20 match in which Pakistan outclassed Australia in Dubai last night, also expressed confidence about his team, which lost to India in the final in 2007, doing well in the second edition.

"I have always said we are good at this form of the game because our players have played lot of domestic T20 cricket and every player knows what his role is supposed to be in this format of cricket," he said.

Misbah said the Pakistani players have done well in the inaugural T20 World Cup because of their experience.

"Although we have played little T20 international cricket, we have lot of experience at the domestic level."

Pakistani players will take part in their national T20 championship in Lahore before going to the World Cup in England.

Younis was nowhere to be seen at the ground and was said to be down with fever while other Pakistani players were also in high spirits after their commanding win over Australia.

Allrounder Shahid Afridi, who won the man of the match award for his bowling, is confident of his team's victory in the World Cup as he said "definitely" when asked by former Australian batsman Dean Jones if he thought Pakistan could win the World Cup this time.

Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who scored a century in the last one-dayer against Australia in Abu Dhabi and another unbeaten 50 in the T20 game, said he was happy with his form and wanted to continue with it in the World Cup.

Akmal also made it clear he had no issues with whatever number he was asked to bat at.

"I don't mind if they send me to open the innings at number three or any other position. I just want to do well and I enjoy batting," he added.

Source: PTI
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