Pakistan's master spinner Saeed Ajmal believed that his team was capable of beating India in the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy. Talking to private news channel, Saeed Ajmal said that both sides were very strong and at the end of the day, the team that handles the pressure will be victorious.
He said that Pakistan has the psychological advantage having defeated India in their own back yard in the One-day series and he was confident that Pakistan team can defeat them in Birmingham. Ajmal was of the view that Pakistan's preparations for the Champions Trophy were going in great spirit and team will fight hard for sure. Ajmal praised the innovative idea by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for holding training camp in Abbottabad adding that the camp was very enjoyable and very well organised. "The wickets in Abbottabad were very conducive to seam bowling and batsmen got a feel of what they could expect in England during the Champions Trophy.
Undoubtedly, it would be beneficial for them as the wickets were prepared to replicate English conditions," he added. To a question, he said that the rule changes by ICC have made life even tougher for spinners in One-day cricket. Fast bowlers have been given the luxury of being allowed to bowl two bouncers in an over in One-day cricket, but the rule changes have definitely made life tougher for spinners.
Commenting about Misbah's captaincy Ajmal said that Misbah was an excellent captain and not a defensive captain. He knows how to handle the talent and youngsters in the team and how to make them perform. To a question, magician spinner said that he does not see any new innovations in future in bowling saying that conventional off break, the Doosra, the Teesra, the straighter one and the quicker one are the core of the spin bowling and he can not think of any other varieties and off break bowler can add in future.
Ajmal articulated that top eight teams in the world will be competing in the tournament and competition will be tough. Being confident about Pakistan's victory in forthcoming Champions Trophy he said that Pakistan has six matches ahead of its first game so that gives plenty of time to get the team balance right and establish a settled starting eleven.