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Sarfaraz Ahmed has vowed to continue playing "attacking and positive" cricket in tomorrow's Champions Trophy final against India. He was speaking to media ahead of the clash in London.
Asked about the performance of youngsters, the Pakistan skipper said their performance is a good sign for the team as the three debutants in the tournament — Faheem Ashraf, Rumman Raees and Fakhar Zaman — have performed really well for the team. Shadab is also performing well, he added.
On Aamer Sohail's disparaging remarks, Ahmed said the team was not thinking about what he said.
"We have played attacking cricket so far and we will continue playing positive cricket in tomorrow's match," Ahmed said.
The skipper also expressed satisfaction with Pakistan's middle-order batting line-up, which, he said, is now in form after the match against England.
He credited the bowlers for Pakistan's brilliant come-back following a crushing defeat against India in the beginning of the tournament.
"I want to thank the people of Pakistan for their prayers and the way they have backed the team following consecutive wins," Ahmed said.
Ahmed confirmed that Muhammad Amir was fit, but shied from confirming whether he would play tomorrow's match claiming the playing eleven had not been decided since the team had not seen the pitch yet.
Sarfaraz said that the team will try to pick Indian middle-order batsmen early to stay ahead in the game.
"We are a young team and are very excited and motivated for the game," Sarfaraz said, responding to an Indian journalist's question regarding emotions ahead of the game.
Comments (81) Closed
Good luck and just Play to win. Most of all as a team .
All the best.
Please don't allow psychological tactics of India to influence you. Just play positive cricket. On paper, there is a huge advantage to India. But be courageous and have a game plan please. All the best.
Hi Pakistan and Indian friends, what would both teams do when they win the toss? I believe whoever wins the toss will try to bowl first and then chase the total what the other team had posted.
All the best, play as team
Good luck Pakistan. Regardless of the outcome, I would love to see a confident looking Pakistani team on the ground. No more bow down posture that reflects lack of confidence. You guys are good and its time the world acknowledges it too. Go Green. InShaAllah.
Indian team is too strong to be defeated.
So much hatared among both the nation and we think we can leave in peace. This is just a game and we are talking about it like there is war going to start 2moro and one who will win going to live and loser will die after. This hate has grown so much that even we can see neighbour winning against other countries.
A good vow.
The only sign I need for a Pakistan win is this: Sri Lanka beat India and we beat Sri Lanka. That's all you need to know.
A team can win against India if they can post 100 runs in the last 10 overs if it happens. :)
Pakistan should play four first bowlers.It wil neutralise the pressure.
@stranger psychological tatics !? We never said pressure is on India because we have nothing to lose. Virat clearly said it'll just another match for Indian team. Professionals for a reason.
Want to see exciting match ! Best luck to both team
Just play fearless cricket. The entire nation is praying for Pakistan team. Pakistan Zindabad
@sbk so was England!! What matters is what happens on the day of the match.
@sbk - Agreed. but it did lose to SL. Anything is possible. All the best to both.
All the best and at the end of the day it's just a sports so both sides supporters should keep this in mind.
Nobody gain anything from this match, winner of the team not be considered mightier & looser will be not be looser. Only some circket people's or fans madness, so do not watch match and concentrate in your work, studies, job, goal etc
All the best to both the teams. Wish cricket will win hearts of millions.
Good gesture by Indian and Pakistani skippers Kohli and Sarfaraz means a lot to millions of cricket fans snd brings smile on their faces.
Virat Kohli is super cool.
Come on guys. Don't overhype the match. The team that plays well, will win. Rest is theatrics. Don't raise your BP and play havoc with your health.
Pakistan's chances of winning will increase from 40% to 48% if Sarfraz wins the toss and elects to bowl first.
Then task will be simple to contain mighty Indian batting line up to below 280.
Lol. The team played attacking game?
What every one saw against Sri Lanka was a team which struggled to reach the target. Had Sri Lanka not dripped those catches.... It wud have been Sri Lanka who played attacking cricket.
@Stranger - psychological tactics? can you mentions one single statement by the Indian team or the management that qualify for psychological tactic?
Good luck team. The only path to victory is to attack and the only way to attack is by putting Indian batting under pressure and he only way to put them under pressure is to take top order wickets early to expose middle order and the only way you can put them under pressure is by bowling best fast bowlers in first spell i.e. do not repeat the mistake of first game to start with spinner at one end. Im sure Amir and Junaid can get wickets in first spell if you start with them. All the best!
Does he mean a 5/five overs match?
Thank you dawn ..now I understand what sharfaraz wants to say ..after reading your article .
@sbk Let's see. This string team will prove to be a wall of sand,just wait!
Does not make any difference. The gulf in quality is too big.
Patroitism for his own Country is natural for any person. Important thing is one shouldn't hate anyone for that. At the end Good Team should be appreciated for its performance.
Sarfaraz got out of the box ideas and Junaid confidently says he can bowl out Kohli within 2 overs..Our victory is confirmed and prepare for celebrations...
The young team has already won a bigger trophy by winning the hearts of the nation. Let us take the final whatever it gives as a bonus.
india is hot favorite as pakistani big names never delivered in icc event even players like imran khan and miandad only 1 time pak won against india in group ct match under YK it was also very near escape thanks to magical spell of saeed ajmal.
We must remain calm relax and motivated to the last ball with accuracy and little luck we can definitely beat India
In order to attack Indian middle order, nyou have to first get the openers out. both the openers are in tremendous form
Pakistan will win for simple reason. India beat Pakistan, South Africa beat Sri Lanka. Pakistan beat South Africa, Sri Lanka beat India. Pakistan will beat India to complete the circle.
Whoever wins toss will bowl first thats damn sure. if Pakistan bowls first they have to take at least 3 wickets in first 15 overs to put pressure on the middle order and expose the tail . But if india scores above 300 the Pakistan batting lineup will be under a lot of pressure ...so runs on the board whoever bats first will win the trophy.
My advise to Sarfraz will be play aggressive, but sensible cricket; do not throw away your wicket. To the opening pair, I would say remain clam and composed and do not miss opportunities, to score when they are available. Bowlers try and maintain your stamina, fielding has to be of utmost class, not even the most difficult catches are to be dropped, give your 100% in the field.
All the best India
@Sab se pehle pakistan asking pleading them for this fot last 10 years still bad habit presist :)
Play like the old Pak teams. Courageously and with a view to win!
Usage of words like VOWED...etc is just media created sensationalism!!!
Be brave and all mighty forces will come to your help. Stay positive and we will win InshAllah.
Sarfaraz and Team, give it your best. You have already made us proud by reaching the final. Give it your best and if you end up on the loosing side after a great match, no worries. India is a fantastic team and it will be no shame if you go down fighting to them.
After consideration all options to result in a win-win situation for both teams and more importantly for the youngsters watching and hoping their team to win in both India and Pakistan, I hope it is completely rained out.
All the best to Pakistan from an Indian fan. May we witness one of the best matches of all time. Irrespective of whoever wins, let the game of cricket be the winner. Fans of both sides, come let's spread peace and love not hatred. Those of who like my comment, reply below. Cheers!
Sarfaraz is indeed a great leader. From worst possible to best possible stand in CT. Even though being ardent Indian cricket fan if India looses tomorrow it won't hurt much because this is improved positive attitude from captain. This ain't about rivalry no more its just plain positive cricket under pressure.
I can't believe I am saying this but may the best team win.
Best of luck Sarfaraz & Kohli.
Positive interview , good luck You win or not , you already won for us No one expect your number 8 team to play final
Hope Pak gives us Indians good fight at least, not like previous match. Need a nail biter finish, in fact, India win, Jai Hind, Jai Eshwar
Just take this game as another game. One team will definitely lose and that's it. Nothing will happen after that. Life will go in the same way, next day sun will rise from the east as usual, people will do their daily tasks and life goes on. Remember, this is just a game, treat it as a game. No need to get emotional and start bad mouthing the opponent. Enjoy the GAME.
India's strength is batting and the way they do it is, start calmly, keep wickets in hand with a steady run rate and explode middle over onwards. If India bats first, Pakistan must get early wickets to throw India off it's plan. One way of doing it is to open the attack with Hasan. He's the strike bowler, tournament's highest wicket taker and sharing the new ball with Amir will give Pak their best bowlers, attacking right from the get-go in a right and left arm combination.
keep your cool and take care of business.... Good luck
Good luck guys on both sides and let the best team win. I am very confident Pakistan WILL win.
@Sunil Dhiman ..ha ha...I agree in toto. Well said.
My team would include two more specialist batsmen and another seamer, by dropping Shadab, Imad and Shoaib Malik. Therefore the team would be as below; Azhar Ali Fakhar Zaman Ahmed Shehzad Babar Azam Sarfraz Ahmed Haris Sohail M.Hafeez Fahim Ashraf M. Aamir Hasan Ali Junaid Khan
Indian team is stronger than Pakistan and it's prayer count is several times more than Pakistan. So victory for India for sure.
It wont even b a contest...India will win easy... as talented as this new-look pakistani bowling attack appears to b, they ll b up against a batting line up spearheaded by virat kohli and which constitutes of thorough professionals when it comes to delivering in big matches... For Pakistan, its still a learning curve
Good luck
Pakistan Team stay calm and focus on quality cricket. This is just another game of cricket so play your best.. Pakistan is waiting for the Champion troufee :-)
Think of Amer Suhail when bowling & batting so you can wiln
May the best team for today win the match...it is just another match, just another day, just another result...
Best wishes for the game of cricket. Prayers for the win of Pakistan team in the final.
Bangladesh tried to play very attacking cricket and perished. The need of the hour is to play sensible and calculating cricket depending on the situation.
Cricket is not ;politics, it is sports. Millions of people in India and Pakistan will eagerly watch the match between two teams. Sports is entertainment. The question is not who wins and who loses. After all in all probability, one of the two wiall be a winner. Let us come out of the mindset of winner and looser and enjoy the game and appreciate the skills of the players on both side. May I request the media on both sides to keep away from projecting the matach as something like two arach rivals playing. Make it a great and loveable enteratainment for the people between two friendly teams. Leave politics aside and applaud the 22 players for providing great enteratainment to the people.
No talking please, show us the result this is only match we want Pakistan to win in any tournament and we all are sure this time Pakistan will break the jinx. Why because Pakistan team is free from Misbah's dull, slow and defence approach.
For what it's worth.... Play "sensible" cricket. Play as per the situation, see what is required, what's the need. Don't box yourself in a corner by making unrequited statement.
If attacking cricket means losing wickets while trying to play shots then that's the least Pakistani citizens expect of its players. A free suggestion from Indian for what it's worth
Good luck to both teams and I hope that instead of making this sport political both sides should enjoy the game. Not everything is not supposed to be ridiculed on political level. Personally, I just enjoy the game play of both teams and don't really care who wins the match. For me the game is more interesting when both sides put all their efforts in their play. Again, good luck..
Every thing depends on the toss and the wicket condition at Oval. If it is a flat track with no help for bowlers, India definitely will be in a better position to post a big total and their chances are bright. On the other hand If conditions favor fast bowlers and Pakistan has the chance to bowl first, then their seam bowlers will play a very important role in pulling the finals in Pakistan's favor. Good Luck Green Shirts.
Best of luck Team GREEN. Our prayers are with you.
Go Team GREEN.
@Israr And that says a lot about your understanding of cricket...
I like the way pakistanis are already speaking like losers saying the trophy is only a bonus. At this level if you have to say things like this deliberately to make players ease out on pressure I guess the support staff is not doing much to kèep players in good frame of mind. The nervousness is already showing off in their statements. Not too long before they crumble under that pressure.
@Sanjay Such strong that it was beaten by Sri Lanka who Pakistan beat to make it to Semi Final
we could have easily been out of the tournament if safi was caught at mid on in srilanka game, then again dropped two balls later, this shows how nervous safi was ... i for some reason think today its hafeez game him along with malik will change the game in Pakistan's fav this is what i got today for you, about safi i think he will do his best but his body language is so v imp, win or lose safi just give ur 100% and we will make u hero for years to come
@stranger Kohli is staying quiet. So are the other members of the Indian team. It is the Pakistan team that is upbeat and pompous. Mind games are on your side my friend. May the best team win
We r so scared. Don't play attacking Cricket. Please...by India. If u play attacking it will be like a practice session for Virat.
Best of luck to the green-shirts.
Pakistan should do 350 to beat India
@Thought does the 350 means something?
exactly....play instead of fighting on LOC...... whoever wins... but at least it was a good play and population happy ... Congrats to Pak from India !