New Delhi: Pakistan’s pace attack wishes to unleash a “special” plan to trouble India in a Champions Trophy clash in Dubai on Sunday as nothing but a win would keep them alive in the competition.
Co-hosts Pakistan slumped to a 60-run loss to New Zealand in their tournament opener and have to beat India to remain a part of the tournament after India beat Bangaldesh by six wickets in their first game.
Pakistan have traditionally been a pace attack-oriented team and this time it is no different as they have Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf in their ranks, having picked only one spinner in their 15-member squad.
Their coach Aaqib Javed said he trusts the ability of their pace trio to produce a match winning performance in the do-or-die clash.
“I’ve heard (that) a lot discussions (are) going on (that) other teams have too many spinners and we have lesser spinning options. The teams play their game on their own strengths.
“We have like three, I would say, one of the best pace bowling options in today’s game with Shaheen, Naseem and Haris. It reminds me of that 1990s troika (including Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis),” he said on Saturday.
‘We play to our strengths’
But Javed also acknowledged that present batch of pace bowlers under him have to perform consistently to be placed on the same pedestal as the legendary pacers.
“I think reaching at that level, they still have time, but they have all the ability to repeat those sort of performances. So, (we are) pretty much confident and when you play against India, it’s a special feeling and they will bring something very special tomorrow,” he said.
Unlike Pakistan, India have five spinners in their squad, but Javed said Pakistan will back their oacers to deliver on the big match.
“As far as you are saying that India has a plan to try 3-4 spinners, that is their plan. We have to play our cricket on our own strengths,” he said.
“In our team, you won’t see a lot of changes. We have selected a team with some thought, one that we believe in and we will back that team and our fast bowling options are the best. They are match winners.”
Pakistan coach Aaqib Javed said he trusts the ability of their pace trio to produce a match winning performance in the do-or-die clash against India in the Champions Trophy on Sunday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
