Johannesburg: His team out of the tournament after a 22-run defeat against England, South African middle order batsman Jaen-Paul Duminy has predicted that Pakistan would win the Champions Trophy here.
“With us now on our way to our respective homes, my tournament prediction for the final is: Australia vs Pakistan. I’m not much of a betting man, but I’m going for Pakistan. They are looking like the form team of the tournament,” he said.
Duminy said he was hugely disappointed at South Africa having failed to do well in the tournament at home.
"… another failed ICC campaign. The disappointment levels are huge, especially coming so close on the back of the T20 World Championship exit. I took that defeat very personally, but this one has really hit as a team.
“After all the hype of coming into the Champions Trophy as the No 1 team in the world, and then to end last in our group is hugely disappointing. We know we have let a lot of people down. The tournament is in our backyard and we really wanted to give the people of South Africa something to celebrate,” he wrote in his column for Independent Online.
“We’ve got no excuses because as team we knew what we had to do. All we can do is learn from these demoralising defeats and hope when the next time comes around we can implement our skills under pressure,” Duminy said.
Duminy was though all praise for his captain Graeme Smith who fought a lone battle in the match against England.
"Oh captain, my captain! What an innings by Graeme last night. The skip must have played one of the most outstanding one-day international innings of all time.
I just hope our players keep their feet on the ground and don't get carried away with early success. Long way to go as yet. Lets beat Aus in the next match and than take things from there. We are three matches away from another crowning glory so lets hope the team stays focussed.
I agree with ehsan bhai, let's hope they take every match as their last. If they bring another trophy home, super, if not what is expected of them is to give 100%.
So is Duminy saying that Australia will beat Pakistan tomorrow ((which is one of three ways they can qualify. The other two ofcourse being an abandoned or tied (least likely result) game which w'd give both Australia and Pakistan 1 point each)) and lose against us in the final?
no what he meant was that Aus will beat India. He gave this interview after SA lost to Eng. Luckily for India, rain came down :)
So is Duminy saying that Australia will beat Pakistan tomorrow ((which is one of three ways they can qualify. The other two ofcourse being an abandoned or tied (least likely result) game which w'd give both Australia and Pakistan 1 point each)) against Pakistan in the final?