Big two gear up for exciting opener
Sriram Veera previews the first match of the new ICL season between last year's winners Hyderabad Heroes and runners-up Lahore Badshahs
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Match facts
Oct 10, 2008Start time 7.30pm (14.00 GMT)
Big Picture
The opening match is a re-run of last year's final when Hyderabad Heroes surprised the favourites Lahore Badshahs. Hyderabad's strength has been the performance of the local players like Alfred Absolem, who took a record seven-for in a game, Stuart Binny, who starred with 228 runs and nine wickets, Ambati Rayudu and Ibrahim Khaleel, the wicketkeeper. Captain Chris Harris, who bats at No. 7, believes their strength is that they bat deep down.Watch out for
Imran Farhat: All eyes will be on Inzamam but watch out for Farhat, an aggressive opener. Farhat and Imran Nazir form the tournament's most deadly opening pair.Pitch & conditions
Does it matter in this format? The only worry is it has been raining in the evenings for the last couple of days. The organisers would hope it doesn't affect a) the opening ceremony and b) the pitch.Quotes
"Whenever we have been down, one man has stood up... That has made all the difference and that is why we are a strong unit."Alfred Absolem on the strength of Hyderabad Heroes.
Mushtaq Ahmed on a mission.
Sriram Veera is a staff writer at Cricinfo