BIRMINGHAM: Former ODI captain and batsman Azhar Ali has insisted Pakistan will treat their Champions Trophy opener against title-holders India in Birmingham on Sunday as just another ‘super hard’ limited-overs game.
Despite all the anticipation surrounding the latest clash, Azhar told reporters at Edgbaston on Wednesday that his side will treat it as ‘just another incredibly difficult match for a team ranked at the bottom of the pile in the tournament’.
“I think when the game starts it all looks the same. Our players know that the other team is far superior – especially in terms of batting – and that they would be the overwhelming favourites to win. It’s not going to be much different against India.”
Pakistan, who are ranked eighth in the eight team tournament, have never won the Champions Trophy. And Azhar insists it would be insanely ridiculous to expect that to change this year.
“We have failed abysmally with much superior sides, so we have the complete license to replicate that with the current bunch that we have,” he maintained.
However, the former skipper refused to rule out Pakistan going for a win.
“We do like to play with the back against the walls. But we have got so accustomed to it that we now have the entire body inside the wall,” he said.
