 Rejuvenated India take on Pakistan
1st Jul 2008 15:03 IST
Agencies
Having got three full days to recharge their batteries, a rejuvenated India will take on archrivals Pakistan in a Super Four match of the Asia Cup tournament in Karachi on Wednesday, fully aware that a victory will ensure them a berth in the final.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was visibly miffed when he complained about the tight schedule of the tournament that required his team to play three matches over four days.
"It is too tight. I am not happy with the schedule. Two teams have to play back-to-back matches while two others got a day off," fumed Dhoni after his team had tamed Bangladesh in their previous match.
Much to his relief, a three-day break allowed the side to get over the fatigue and the players should be raring to go when they have the traditional rivals at sight.
The cloud of doubt over Irfan Pathan's fitness, however, hovers and though the left-arm seamer slugged in yesterday's optional practice session, it's not known if the Indian think-tank would risk playing him tomorrow.
Though predicting the outcome of an India-Pakistan match can be inviting embarrassment, Dhoni's team seems to have a certain edge, having beaten the hosts in the group stage.
The Indian batting line-up, especially the top order, has been firing on all cylinders and though the tight schedule made it quite taxing for them, runs have not stopped flowing from their blades.
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