Cricket Team reaches SL as Wright terms Pakistan 'real threat'
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

COLOMBO (Sri Lanka): The Pakistani cricket team arrived in the Sri Lankan capital Monday to take part in the six-nation Asia Cup that includes Islamabad's arch rival, India.

Six teams Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong will contest the Asia Cup between July 16 to August 1.

The main attraction in the Pakistani team was fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, whose coming to Sri Lanka was not certain. Akhtar joined the Pakistani training camp on July 5 and went through a strenuous fitness test.

Opening batsman Imran Nazir also returned to the national squad after a nine-month break dating to the South African tour of Pakistan in October 2004.

Vice captain Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan form a strong middle-order batting lineup while the paceman Shabbir Ahmed and Mohammad Sami will supplement Akhtar in the pace department. Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik are the two all-rounders.

Pakistan plays Bangladesh in their first match on Saturday.

Squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Yousuf Youhana, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Moin Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria.

Wright terms Pakistani Team as 'real threat'

Indian coach John Wright says Pakistan would be the real threat in his team's bid to clinch the upcoming Asia Cup title.

"Matches between India and Pakistan have a unique character with so much at stake for victory", the Indian coach was quoted as saying in media reports.

"Fans in the two countries are so eager to see their respective team to win", Wright said.

Both Pakistan and India will be in action for the first time since the latter side won the Test and ODI series in Pakistan in March-April. "We won the one-dayers against Pakistan 3-2, but it was a close thing," Wright said.

The two countries will clash again in the Netherlands in a triangular tournament also featuring Australia. Wright told his team not to be complacent in the Asia Cup one-day tournament starting on Friday.

"The real challenge will be to start well," Wright said. "The first match (against UAE) is very important, even though on paper it's perhaps not an even contest. We have to keep in mind that the next game against Sri Lanka is critical."

Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Pakistan are in Group A. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi finals. "Sri Lanka have been good at home and Bangladesh too are capable of pulling a surprise these days", he said.●