SHARJAH, April 8: Former Pakistan cricket captain Asif Iqbal has predicted a “familiar outcome” to the Sharjah Cricket Cup, featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

“One-day cricket is totally different from Test cricket. On the day it is the team that plays well which will win”, he noted.

Unfortunately for this tournament, New Zealand do not have their full strength team in Sharjah. The wicket is normally very good for batting and Nathan Astle has done exceptionally well in one-day cricket in the past.

But they may struggle with their bowling and for that reason Sri Lanka and Pakistan are expected to be in the final, said Asif Iqbal.

“I don’t underestimate New Zealand at all - I feel they are going to do exceptionally well in the World Cup next year - but they don’t have their best team available”, he stated.

Even though Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in last year’s Champions Trophy final, past performances really don’t matter in one-day cricket, it’s on the day that counts.

There are so many examples one can give - in the (1999) World Cup Pakistan beat Australia in the preliminary round and Australia thrashed them in the final.—PPI