December 17, 2006	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 25, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

KARACHI, Dec 16: In spite of being rated as top contenders for next year’s World Cup, Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq believes cricket powerhouse Australia are vulnerable and Pakistan have the ability to defeat the higher-ranked world champions.

“I believe Australia are prone to defeat and on our day we can beat any team in the world. So in my view Australia are not the only side in the world, favourites for the World Cup,” Inzamam told a press conference here on Saturday at the National Stadium after his side recorded a thumping seven-wicket win to seal the one-day series against the West Indies.

“No doubt they (Australia) have been performing well for the last ten years or so but in one-dayers any team can beat any side on any given day,” Inzamam insisted.

He rated his team's success against the West Indies as a big boost for his players, saying the series triumph against the visitors was must after poor showing on England tour and in October's ICC Champions Trophy in India.

“The success against the West Indies will give a great deal of confidence to us as it was necessary after our failures in international assignments in England and India,” Inzamam, who returned for the final one-dayer after his finger injury, said.

Expressing delight over the victory (against the West Indies), the Multan-born middle-order batsman said the win will also give psychological advantage to his team prior to the South Africa tour starting from next month.

Inzamam added the tour (South Africa) would be vital for Pakistan as it will be country's last assignment before the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

The skipper said Pakistan are shaping up well for the tour, vowing his team will try their best to cope in difficult playing conditions in South Africa.—PPI