Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has stressed his side’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign is about far more than one eagerly-anticipated game against India.
Excitement is building ahead of next month’s sell-out group match against India at Edgbaston, but Misbah is looking at the wider picture and a tournament he believes Pakistan can win.
Pakistan also face West Indies and South Africa at The Oval and Edgbaston respectively before taking on their neighbours and rivals, and Misbah said: “Every game is important. Coming into this tournament, I think the first two games are more important for us because (by) the last game, you may know if you are in or out of the tournament.”
He continued: “Obviously playing against India is always important because of the interest of people back there in India and Pakistan, all over the world.
“(There is a) huge fan club for these two teams, so it’s really important for us to play well in that game and just win.
“For both teams I think it’s very important but I think every game is important here in this tournament.”
On the tournament in general, he added: “You always have to be positive and think that we’re going to win this.”
