Pakistan Twenty20 Captain Shahid Khan Afridi said on Thursday evening that forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy is an important and crucial event for the future of his cricket.“A lot depends on my performance in.
The Champions Trophy in South Africa and I am looking forward to this elite 8-team competition,” he told a gathering at reception hosted.
In his honor by Samama Builders here for his outstanding performance in T20 World Cup in England where Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the final at Lords.
“If I am not that successful in Champions I may consider quitting the game for good. But I will be putting in my best effort for the country and the team,” he commented. He however, said it will be the toughest of cricketing events as the best eight teams will be in action and battling for supremacy.
re: ICC Champions Trophy, South Africa - Sep 22-Oct 5, 2009
If he performs with the same maturity which eh showed during the latter stages of 20/20 than I am sure that both him and Pakistan will go far in this tournament.
**What are the chances of Pakistan cricket team to qualify for semies ?
Pakistan share group A with West indies, India and Australia
We have to beat atleast 2 of them to move to 2nd round
West Indies might be an easy target but currently Australia and India are at top of their games .....
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re: ICC Champions Trophy, South Africa - Sep 22-Oct 5, 2009
I totally agree. It seems his batting attitide has changed especially in T20s. But ODI is a different ball game. Let's hope he carries the momentum into ODIs.
Tough group, Pakistan's record against India in these tournaments is not good and apart from beating India once at Edgbaston in Champions trophy, we have always lost. Lets hope we can reverse it this time.
I think Pakistan will go through to the second round at the expnse of Australia.
Luckily for both India and Pakistan, the two best teams of the tournament - South Africa and Sri Lanka are in the other pool. I cannot see either England or NZ beating them so barring a huge mishap, South Africa and Sri Lanka are almost assured of a semi-final berth
As for our pool, you underestimate Australia at your own peril and West Indies are more than capable of defeating both India and Pakistan in the limited overs format esp. if strong gayle force winds blow on the day.
Do not be surprised if neither Pakistan nor India qualify for the semis.
Luckily for both India and Pakistan, the two best teams of the tournament - South Africa and Sri Lanka are in the other pool. I cannot see either England or NZ beating them so barring a huge mishap, South Africa and Sri Lanka are almost assured of a semi-final berth
As for our pool, you underestimate Australia at your own peril and West Indies are more than capable of defeating both India and Pakistan in the limited overs format esp. if strong gayle force winds blow on the day.
Do not be surprised if neither Pakistan nor India qualify for the semis.
WI squad is the depleted one which lost to BD. Not their regular A team.
I think Aus is not as strong as they are being made to look by a very pedestrian England.
^ Oh well, did not realize that!..which makes the game against India on September 26 all the more important
Pakistan would not want to meet Australia in their final pool game on September 30 in a do or die situation (i.e. if India beat both Pakistan and Australia)
re: ICC Champions Trophy, South Africa - Sep 22-Oct 5, 2009
The ICC has announced the schedule of warm-up matches to be played in preparation for the Champions Trophy beginning on September 22 in South Africa. The matches will be played on September 18 - the top draw being Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka - and September 20 in Potchefstroom, Benoni and Pretoria. None of the matches, like in previous ICC events, will carry official ODI status. Potchefstroom and Benoni will host day-night fixtures.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and West Indies play two warm-up games while India and South Africa play one. The Warriors, the Eastern Cape franchise team, will also participate, taking on Pakistan and New Zealand. England and Australia won't play any warm-up games as their seven-match ODI series concludes on September 20.
Warm-up matches schedule Friday, 18 September - South Africa v West Indies (d/n), Potchefstroom Friday, 18 September - Pakistan v Sri Lanka (d/n), Willowmoore Park, Benoni Friday, 18 September - New Zealand v Warriors (d), LC de Villiers Oval, Pretoria Sunday, 20 September - New Zealand v India (d/n), Potchefstroom Sunday, 20 September - Pakistan v Warriors (d/n), Willowmoore Park, Benoni Sunday, 20 September - Sri Lanka v West Indies (d), LC de Villiers Oval, Pretoria
Lets hope Younis & Co utilize these warmup games and not the official ones as warmup - like many others, I’m dreading a “late starters” speech from him
In all honesty, I wouldn’t characterize a 46 run win as “crushed” - by that account, SL’s earlier win over India by 139 runs in the previous match could be termed as “demolished”.
IMO, India is a pretty strong contender alongside SL, and SA.
