Neighbour's envy, owner's pride
Match facts
November 24, 2008Start time 7.30pm (1400 GMT)
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The Big Picture
Pakistan XI have a clear advantage, since all their team members, except Abdul Razzaq and Taufeeq Umar, played together for Lahore Badshahs in the recently-concluded ICL 20-20 Indian Championship. Lahore's tremendous team spirit - one of the biggest positives - was evident as they rallied from a sluggish start to become champions. Javed Miandad, PCB's director-general, has voiced his concern against the board's ban on ICL players and the marginalisation of the unrecognised Twenty20 league. His case just might stronger if the Pakistan players continue to succeed in the unauthorised league.The immense talent at their disposal might overshadow the fact that the India XI might be a disjointed unit. Knit together with the top Indian performers from the Indian 20-20 Championship, the team will look to repeat the success from last time, when they beat the World XI in the finals. With the likes of Reetinder Sodhi, S Abbas Ali and Ali Murtaza keen to make up for the disappointment of their respective teams in the Indian 20-20 Championship, the Pakistan XI will be given no opportunity to ease off to a win in this their opening fixture.
Players to watch
A brilliant display by Imran Nazir with the bat was one of the key factors contributing to Lahore Badhshahs success in the Indian 20-20 Championship. The records expectedly followed: most runs (392 at 43.55 with a strike rate of 175.78), most sixes in the tournament (31 from 12 matches) and in a match (11 in the third final against Hyderabad), most runs from fours and sixes in an innings (seven boundaries and four sixes in the third final against Hyderabad).Player of the Series in the ICL 20-20 Indian Championship, Naved-ul-Hasan was the backbone of Lahore's bowling attack. With 22 wickets from 11 matches at 12.77, it is just a matter of time before he picks up the first five-for this season in the ICL.
R Satish was the only Indian player to feature among the top five run-getters in the previous tournament. The Chennai Superstars batsman scored 287 runs from the nine matches at 47.83. India XI will be hoping for similar performances from the aggressive right-hander, despite shouldering the responsibility of captaining the side.
Quotes
"I am happy with my performance because I contributed with bat and ball."Pakistan XI fast bowler Naved-ul-Hasan is pleased with the ICL journey so far
"Well, spinners are more effective on these wickets and end up taking more wickets as well as obstructing the run-flow." Ali Murtaza has the bulk of the responsibility in the spin department for India XI