India recharged for dash to Asia Cup final
Posted on Jul 02, 2008 at 10:45 | Updated Jul 02, 2008 at 11:04
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Karachi: If India can beat Pakistan in their Super Fours match on Wednesday they will confirm their place alongside Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup on Sunday. All-rounder Irfan Pathan has been declared fit to play but as CNN-IBN reports, the talk of India's rough schedule simply refuses to fade away.
India's overworked cricketers got some leisure time in Karachi. The treadmill of constant cricket forced captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to criticise the scheduling, and his comments caused some controversy. But the team management is backing Dhoni all the way.
"It is very important to give them some time off from cricket. They have done that, and we threw up our optional practices and the guys came and told they wanted to do some work today. So we are happy with the lead up to these next two games," coach Gary Kirsten noted.
Three in three games have been won so far in the tournament and India already have one foot in the finals door. But it hasn't been a flawless performance so far by Dhoni's boys. The catching in the last game against Bangladesh was well below par and even the bowling has been patchy.
"They are the same bowlers who have done exceptionally well in Australia on wickets that were more suited to bowling. We have identified what we need to do on these wickets and we back them fully to go and do the job," Kirsten observed.
But it's the hosts who need to regroup and do it quickly. Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson has had a well publicised tiff with the media, and captain Shoaib Malik is in doubt for this game due to dehydration. There was talk that the selectors have run out of patience with star all-rounder Shahid Afridi, but he has been given another go for now.
The Indian team has shown remarkable consistency so far but now the challenge is to maintain the momentum heading towards the final. But it won't be easy given the trying conditions and another set of back-to-back games.
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Posted By Ashok
In your dreams for sure!
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Posted By Shahid Siddique
Surely,India is a tough competitor but Pakistan has equally tough competitor as well and will come back and win today\''s
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