Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Karachi, May 19
Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq has insisted that Pakistan’s target in the upcoming Champions Trophy is to win the trophy, not to beat India alone. India and Pakistan will lock horns on June 4 in Birmingham in what will be their first game of the tournament.
“We are not going to England just to beat India, our prime target is to win the championship,” said Inzamam. While Pakistan hold a 2-1 lead over their rivals in the Champions Trophy, India have won 10 out of the last 11 contests between the two nations at the World Cup and World T20 tournaments.
The former Pakistan skipper, while recollecting that it was under his captaincy that Pakistan had defeated India in the 2004 edition of the marquee event in Birmingham, insisted that the current team could defeat the Men in Blue. “We can win again,” he said.
The chief selector maintained that Pakistan would leave no stone unturned to win every match of the tournament. The Virat Kohli-led Indian side, however, will be more confident heading into the contest as the defending champions. As for the game against Pakistan, they would draw a lot of confidence from their amazing run against the neighbours in the ICC events.
Akmal, Junaid punished for misconduct
Pakistan’s middle-order batsman Umar Akmal and left-arm pacer Junaid Khan have been punished by PCB for their misconduct during a domestic tournament last month. PCB has deducted 50 percent of their match fees, besides putting them under observation for a period of one month. The two were engaged in an argument when Akmal, captaining the Punjab province against Sindh in the Pakistan Cup, was asked about his team combination. Akmal had said that all-rounder Khan had failed to turn up for the match. Minutes later, Khan, in a video message, said he was unwell and the team management was aware of it.
