India, Pak will start as equals: Miandad by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	Javed Miandad
Event:	ICC Champions Trophy 2009/10

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DateLine: 25th September 2009

 

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad said that the India-Pakistan match on Saturday will begin on an equal footing for the arch rivals.

 

"Both the teams in my book are equally balanced. While India has a stronger batting line up despite the absence of Yuvraj Singh Pakistan has a much better and more penetrative bowling attack," Miandad told a news agency.

 

"Both teams have their own strengths and weaknesses but definitely having players of the calibre of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid is a big plus for India. But I think we have the bowling to seriously challenge the Indian batsmen. So the match will start on an even kneel," he said.

 

Miandad also said that the kind of hype generated around the match will create a huge amount of pressure on the players of both the team.

 

"Which means basically that the team that keeps its nerves and cool will win," he added.

 

The current batting consultant also believes that the game will be an important match considering the current political tensions between the nations.

 

"Things have changed a bit now people don't react that strongly to the result. But I think this match at Centurion is important in the backdrop of the relations between the two countries," he said.