Pakistan have drawn first blood, electing to bat first after winning the toss. And as predicted, Shahid Afridi is not captaining Pakistan. It is Younis Khan, not wanting to miss a chance to try and vanquish the Indians.
On a pitch that is being used for the third time in the ICC Champions Trophy, Centurion will see India take on Pakistan in what promises to be a humdinger of a match. Pakistan have reasons looking at the pitch and with their spinners to want to bat first.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has predictably not opted for a second spinner in Amit Mishra and instead has included Yuvraj Singh’s replacement, Virat Kohli. But Pakistan’s big team news is the comeback of Younis Khan, who despite a fractured hand has been bizarrely stated fit although one knows what has brought him back into the line up. Pakistan have sacrificed Misbah ul Haq to make way for the skipper.
All the talk about there not being any hype looks like an attempt to lower the tension levels between the two teams and nations. But it is hard to imagine cricket lovers can tear their eyes away from this contest or even pay attention to the West Indies’ chase of Australia’s total in the other Group A clash.
Indian Team Line Up: G Gambhir, SR Tendulkar, R Dravid, SK Raina, MS Dhoni*†, V Kohli, YK Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, A Nehra, I Sharma
Pakistan Team Line Up: Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal
CT Eng v SL Full Time: Collingwood Answers Critics with Match Winning Effort
CT New Zealand news: Oram Out, Franklin Called in
CT Ind v Pak: A Rare Clash on the Cards, What Do the Cards Foretell?
CT AUS v WI Preview: Bracken , Clarke Out, Ponting Worries for Future
Champions League Twenty20 Schedule
Champions League Twenty20: Teams Line Up For Feast
CT Eng v SL Half Time: England Bowlers Batter Sri Lanka
Kirsten Says Not Me, It was Paddy Upton
CT Sa V NZ Full Time: AB de Villiers Steers SA to Points Table
CT SA v NZ: Parnell, Van Der Merwe Peg New Zealand Progress
South African Murmurs About Centurion
CT PAK v WI Full Time: WI Bowlers Put Pak Under Duress
Yuvraj, Younis: Broken Fingers Across Borders
CT PAK v WI Half Time: Pak Bowlers Enjoy Workout
Kirsten’s Mantra for India: Sex!
India Have Yuvraj Singh on Serious Injury List
ICC Champions Trophy Points Table and News in the Run Up
CT PAK v WI Preview: Shahid’s Moment to Shine
CT SA v SL Full Time: Hosts Suffer Shock Defeat
CT SA v SL Half Time: Hosts Face Stiff Target
CT SA v SL Preview: SA Want Good Start, Despite Losing Gibbs
Rahul Slams Preparations, Defies Fears After Loss
CT Teams Group B-South Africa Want it More Than Any One Else
