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Asia Cup - 2004
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Asia Cup - 2004
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News
‘India ready to face Shoaib
challenge’
COLOMBO: India have done their homework and are ready to face
Pakistan speed king Shoaib Akhtar in the all-important clash against
archrivals in Asia Cup cricket tournament here on Sunday (tomorrow).
"We have done our homework against him (Shoaib), we are ready for
him," India’s coach John Wright said about the bowler who is out to
avenge his team’s defeat in Test and one-day series at the hands of
India in March-April series at home.
Shoaib has been in the news for his shortened run-up and his express
determination to do well for his team and clash against India would
provide him perfect stage to settle old scores.
But the task would not be easy for him with India having batsmen
capable of stopping him in his tracks.
Wright, naturally, is not concerned on count of his batsmen even
though some of them may have to still find their straps in the
one-day competition.
"I suffer no doubts at all about our batters, but, yes, it is
important for us to do well in the first fifteen overs," said the
coach.
Even though India have won two of their three matches and run Sri
Lanka’s huge score close, they have not enjoyed a good start so far.
"The one thing noticeable in the last series was how good the
wickets were in Pakistan for one-day games except for the one in
Peshawar.
"We would hope the same is true here though we noticed in the last
game the ball was doing more in second half of the match," Wright
noted.
Wright was pleased on options he had in bowling now with Zaheer Khan
being declared fit and Ashish Nehra and Harbhajan Singh making their
presence felt in previous game against Bangladesh.
However, coach conceded that extras were turning out to be a
problem. "We are concerned about extras we are conceding. We gave
away 23 wides in first 100 runs the other day, we hope to set that
right," he said.
Wright also had a word of praise for his Pakistan counterpart Bob
Woolmer. "When I was in Kent second XI, he was playing for their
first XI.
"He is very experienced and a good student of the game. His
achievements are great," Wright said.
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