Sarfraz Ahmed comfortable with underdogs tag; talks about match against India

The skipper said he and coach Arthur are clear about strategies for the event

With a bowling attack to crave for, Pakistan has an edge over India in the upcoming ICC World Cup in England. These are insights straight from the thinking of skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed. The viewership of an India-Pakistan game is on another level altogether. The Mohali semifinal in the 2011 WC was for 3 years the most watched cricket match on Television.

With the sides not locking horns in any bilateral series since 2009, the anticipation amongst fans and experts for these awaited clashes at multinational events is huge. After the Pulwama attacks, speculations were rife that India could forfeit the clash but that scenario looks unlikely given no clear communication on that front.

The Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper, Sarfraz Ahmed, embraced the underdog's tag despite winning the Champions Trophy in 2017. "Look, when we go as favourites, then it's a problem, but if we go as underdogs then other teams feel the danger, so I think being underdogs is good for us and eases the pressure," Sarfraz told a press conference in Lahore before the team's departure for England

"For us, all nine matches are important so we will take every match as a match against India," Sarfraz said before adding, "We have beaten India in a bigger event recently so we will have that advantage."

Image credit: Twitter @TheRealPCB

Pakistan is aiming to treat the upcoming ODI series against England, as an audition for the World Cup. Members like Mohammad Amir, the hero of their Champions Trophy triumph on the same soil and big-hitting batsman Asif Ali will have a chance to impress the chairman of selectors Inzamam-Ul-Haq. ICC permission is not allowed to change the announced WC squads till May 23 and injuries could mean we find new players coming into the forefront.

Ahmed strongly defended the decision to drop Amir from the side saying the promising pacer would have a chance to perform in the England series. Notably, Amir has averaged a dismal 92.5 with the ball in ODIs after the CT final in 2017.

Sarfaraz added that his side would take the confidence from the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy triumph, where they defeated India in the final by 180 runs, saying: "We have beaten India in a bigger event recently so we will have that advantage".

Pakistan will play three warm-up matches before taking on joint-hosts England in a five-match one-day series and a Twenty20.

The bottom line: The highly-awaited India-Pakistan clash is scheduled on 16 June and just a gentle reminder: Pakistan has never beaten India at a World Cup game. Will they finally this time?

Coach Speak

"We've worked really hard over the past two years and we are well prepared for the event," Arthur said. "We are as prepared as we can be. We have to bring (out) all our capabilities to produce results in our favour." – Mickey Arthur