Pakistan's cricket greats are backing their team to win the Twenty20 World Cup
title by beating arch rivals India in tomorrow's final in Johannesburg.
Be it Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Rameez Raja, Rashid Latif or Aaqib Javed, they
all believe Pakistan has the spirit and potential to beat India.
"This team has a lot of self belief and confidence and
they have got into the habit of winning matches. In my book, they are favourites,"
Akram said.
He pointed out that Pakistan's biggest strength was that captain
Shoaib Malik was leading from the front which had a positive effect on
players.
Pakistan has never beaten India in four World Cup matches
and was hammered the last time they met in 2003 at Centurion.
It also lost in the preliminary round in the ongoing tournament via a bowl
out.
Akram himself featured in the three World Cup matches Pakistan
lost to India in 1992, 99 and 2003.
"But now things have changed and this is a different side. Also Twenty
cricket is different from normal cricket," the fast bowling great said.
Rameez noted that Pakistan had the perfect combination for
Twenty20 cricket.
"But I think more than the skills, a Pakistan and India
match has always been about which team keeps its nerves. Our players will have
to remain calm and composed to beat India," the former captain said.
|