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India's been lucky in past but it'll change this time?
India has been lucky to have beaten Pakistan in all the ICC [ Images ] events, said all-rounder Shahid Afridi [ Images ], oozing confidence that his team would buck the trend this time by getting the better of their traditional rivals in the ongoing Champions Trophy [ Images ].
"So far, luck has been with India. Hopefully, it would all change this time around," said Afridi, who is also vice-captain of his side in the eight-nation event.
Pakistan will take on India in a group B clash at Centurion on Saturday.
Looking back at the 2003 World Cup match between the two sides, which Pakistan lost, Afridi said a lot has changed and his team is a lot better than what it was at that time.
"That was 2003. This is 2009. It's been six years. We are a very good one-day side now. We not only have good batting but our bowling is also exceptional," said Afridi.
Indians, along with hosts South Africa [ Images ], are claimants to the world's best one-day batting side tag but Afridi said Pakistan are no less.
"If they claim themselves to be the best, I would say we are also best. Every team knows its strength. We have a very balanced side. Still, I don't take any side lightly", he said.
"In one-day cricket, we should not think that we can win easily against any team. There have been examples when big teams have lost to small sides. However, bowling, as I said, has been our chief weapon which has helped us win," Afridi said.
Pakistan's bowling, led by Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul, backed by spinner Saeed Ajmal [ Images ] and Afridi himself, looks strong and it would only get stronger with the return of Mohammad Asif [ Images ], who completed his dope ban today.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said Asif's return is good news for Pakistan cricket.
"He is a match-winner. Today he completes his ban and he then becomes available. It's good for Pakistan that he has made a comeback. The type of bowler that he is, the team is looking forward to have him back," Alam said.
Afridi has established himself as one of the biggest hitters of the game and similar is the reputation that Yuvraj Singh [ Images ] enjoys in the Indian line-up.
The Pakistani allrounder had little hesitation in declaring the Indian left-hander as a better batsman than him.
"Yuvraj is a better batsman than me, I have no doubt," he said.
http://cricketnext.in.com/news/india-have-been-lucky-in-past-says-afridi/44059-30.html
...your comments on the newly appointed Pakistani Captain ?
Data : 2009-09-23 03:15:10Well, i think i have to agree with Afridi...
Date : 2009-09-23 03:50:01
Related Questions
Does change in fielding positions really matter?
We saw in the 2nd SA vs India test that 2 important catches were dropped at the slips by 2 of the world's better fielders- Suresh Raina and Jean Paul Duminy.
Dinesh Karthik standing close in (perhaps leg slip )to Amla stopped a flicked rocket by diving at full stretch. He had reaction time 0.160 second.
Was this because he is a wicketkeeper??
Now, the question is
Does the change in favourite/preferred/conventional fielding positions matter for a good fielder??
Date : 2010-02-18 22:38:01Bell admits he was lucky?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/I-was-lucky-to-survive-concedes-Bell/articleshow/7594881.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/Dhoni-slams-UDRS-bats-for-either-human-intention-or-technology/articleshow/7597653.cms
Date : 2011-02-28 11:01:22Should I break up with my boyfriend?
I was truly in love with my boyfriend for a long time before we got together, but then maybe 6 months after we got together things went downhill from there. I found out he wasn't the same guy I fell in love with, and there were a lot of things that bothered me... Mainly I found out he has a temper. When he gets mad he usually becomes very condescending and harsh. This past weekend was the breaking point though. I basically went and told him when I was angry that I'm breaking up with him because he doesn't care about me etc etc. Then he grabbed my arm really hard squeezing it and wouldn't let go while he was talking to me. So I slapped him to make him stop... Which I shouldn't have done.. After that, he go so mad he was shaking and started yelling and cussing at me and I just walked away. He followed me and stared me down and kept telling me to hit him again(which I didn't). Later on he told me he can't get mad like that because he could hurt me, and things were going through his mind that he wasn't happy with at all.
The fact that it has reached this point now, I don't feel like we should be together. But I also can't bring myself to leave him... I know I would miss him. When he doesn't have any anger or anything it's really good between us at times. I feel close with his family and friends and I've never had that before in past relationships. I wish I could be completely sure of either staying or breaking up. But it's just in between.
I do know my boyfriend well. I can be as understanding as ever that his anger comes from how his father is, but it doesn't change how he acts in situations. Please don't make assumptions...
Date : 2011-02-23 23:15:27What do you think of this climate change editorial from 56 newspapers in 45 countries?
Normally I'm not interested in what the media has to say about climate science, but this piece from 56 newspapers in 45 countries taking the unprecedented step of speaking with one voice through a common editorial is pretty impressive. Some excerpts:
"Unless we combine to take decisive action, climate change will ravage our planet, and with it our prosperity and security. The dangers have been becoming apparent for a generation. Now the facts have started to speak: 11 of the past 14 years have been the warmest on record, the Arctic ice-cap is melting and last year's inflamed oil and food prices provide a foretaste of future havoc. In scientific journals the question is no longer whether humans are to blame, but how little time we have got left to limit the damage. Yet so far the world's response has been feeble and half-hearted."
"But the politicians in Copenhagen can and must agree the essential elements of a fair and effective deal and, crucially, a firm timetable for turning it into a treaty. Next June's UN climate meeting in Bonn should be their deadline. As one negotiator put it: "We can go into extra time but we can't afford a replay."
"Many of us, particularly in the developed world, will have to change our lifestyles. The era of flights that cost less than the taxi ride to the airport is drawing to a close. We will have to shop, eat and travel more intelligently. We will have to pay more for our energy, and use less of it.
But the shift to a low-carbon society holds out the prospect of more opportunity than sacrifice. Already some countries have recognized that embracing the transformation can bring growth, jobs and better quality lives. The flow of capital tells its own story: last year for the first time more was invested in renewable forms of energy than producing electricity from fossil fuels.
Kicking our carbon habit within a few short decades will require a feat of engineering and innovation to match anything in our history. But whereas putting a man on the moon or splitting the atom were born of conflict and competition, the coming carbon race must be driven by a collaborative effort to achieve collective salvation.
Overcoming climate change will take a triumph of optimism over pessimism, of vision over short-sightedness, of what Abraham Lincoln called "the better angels of our nature".
It is in that spirit that 56 newspapers from around the world have united behind this editorial. If we, with such different national and political perspectives, can agree on what must be done then surely our leaders can too."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/06/copenhagen-editorial
Thoughts?
Date : 2009-12-08 15:37:37
