KARACHI: Intikhab Alam rates Pakistan as one of the favourites for the Champions Trophy in spite of a disastrous tour of Sri Lanka earlier this summer.
His optimism springs from the fact that Pakistan have proved that they can win a major title by clinching the World Twenty20 crown in England this June and because he believes that the momentum is with his charges.
"We lost the (Test and one-day) series in Sri Lanka but won the last three games of the tour. Those results were very important and now the momentum is with us ahead of the Champions Trophy," said Intikhab, the Pakistan coach, in an interview with 'The News'.
Pakistan lost the Test series 0-2 and were down 0-3 in the one-day series before winning the last two games convincingly and then thrashing Sri Lanka in the one-off Twenty20 International to end what was an otherwise frustrating tour on a winning note.
"Winning the last three matches in Sri Lanka would certainly be of great help to us (in the Champions Trophy," said the 67-year-old coach, who is hoping to add the Champions Trophy title under his belt after the World Twenty20 triumph.
"Its always good to have a few wins before you go into a tournament like the Champions Trophy," said the coach. "It gives you confidence and the hunger for more wins."
Pakistan are bracketed with Australia, India and West Indies in Group A of the tournament and Intikhab sees it as a tough group.
"Australia and India are two of the world's best teams but in a way its good for us that both of them are in our group," said Intikhab.
Intikhab believes that Australia will be very vulnerable in South Africa as they will reach there fresh from a morale-shattering Ashes defeat against England.
"For Australia, Ashes is the ultimate thing," he said. "Their morale would be really low and I believe that would be good for our cause," he stressed.
Australia lost the final Ashes Test at the Oval on Sunday to allow England to regain the urn with a 2-1 triumph in the series.
Intikhab, a former Pakistan captain, said that even India would not be high on confidence when they turn up for the Champions Trophy. "India didn't do too well in the Twenty20 World Cup in England and that would certainly dented their morale," he said.
Intikhab said that his boys were all focused on the Champions Trophy game against India and want to win it all costs. "A match against India is always is a big one and the team is planning to go all out for a win against them."
Pakistan have a better record against India in bilateral cricket games but have never done well against their old rivals in ICC tournaments like the World Cup and the Champions Trophy.
Intikhab said that he will be taking a very balanced team to South Africa, adding that he is confident it can win the title.
"There is great depth in the Pakistan team," he said. "We have proved our worth by winning the Twenty20 World Cup and I'm sure that we can repeat that performance in the Champions Trophy if we play to our potential."
Pakistan have selected dope-tainted pacer Mohammad Asif in their 15-man squad for the Champion Trophy in spite of the fact that he hasn't played any international cricket since April last year.
Several former Test cricketers have fired the PCB for picking up Asif but Intikhab said that the fast bowler is a proven match-winner.
"We certainly need a bowler like him. Asif will add to our team's strength. He is fully fit and has played plenty of cricket in the last five or six months."
Intikhab said that apart from Asif, youngsters like rookie fast bowler Mohammad Aamer and big-hitting youngster Umar Akmal have the potential to shine in South Africa.
"These boys are amazing cricketers and I take pride in the fact that in a brief period we have spotted and drafted players like Aamer and Umar in the Pakistan team."
Intikhab said that he is hoping that the players will switch into tournament mode by attending a conditioning camp in Lahore from September 1-10.
"We are planning a series of physical training and practice sessions under lights during the conditioning camp," he said. Pakistan are scheduled to leave for South Africa on September 17, around five days before the opening game of the Champions Trophy against West Indies.
Subject: Intikhab rates Pakistan one 
Thu Aug 27, 2009 2:37 am
