Former Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali confident about Wahab Riaz's availability

Just when news about Wahab Riaz’s injury broke out former Pakistani skipper Azhar Ali confirmed that the left-arm pacer would play a part in the match against arch-rivals India in the opening Champions Trophy encounter. Wahab had taken the Indian team to the cleaners when they faced each other in the World Cup 2011 semi-finals match picking up five wickets in the match.

Pakistan though enjoys an upper hand over Team India in the CT face-offs but are placed at No.8 in the ODI Team Rankings while their counterparts are the 3rd ranked team. Form is backing the Indian team as well since they beat both their opponents New Zealand and Bangladesh quite comprehensively to gain the momentum. The Pakistani team beat Bangladesh but their warm-up game against Australia was washed out.

Speaking about Riaz, Azar said: “Wahab has recovered well so we have no doubt that he will be fit to play,” Azhar told media. “He bowled well in the nets and has shown great recovery but its international cricket you have to be 100 percent fit. He has practiced today so we are hoping that by the time the first match comes he will be able to play,” added the former Pakistani skipper.

My fitness and form are looking good

Ali was stripped of the captaincy as recent as in February and was later left out of the squad in the month of March. The technically sound batsman would want to prove a point or two opening the batting for the Men in Green. The right-hander’s form and fitness have improved drastically over the last two months.

“My fitness and form are looking good so I really want to go in the middle and perform for Pakistan. ICC events are important so I take it as an important game. I don’t put expectations on myself as it will be putting yourself under pressure. I will try to execute my skills.” added the right-hander.

Indian challenge

He feels the challenge of Indian bowling in seaming conditions would be tough, considering their recent form in the warm-up games. “Birmingham hasn’t seen the proper summer so it will depend, I expect them to be good conditions. If there is overcast conditions then it will swing,”

“You can’t say that, every aspect is very important and teams want to do well in every department. I think every team is capable of doing well in all departments. Indian bowling has improved in the past years so they have been bowling well, in Asian conditions,” added the 32-year-old.

Azhar Ali struck down the hype for an India-Pakistan game and also on the fact that Pakistan has won only twice in Champions Trophy, while its head-to-head record in World Cup is restricted to all ‘Ls’.

“I think when the game starts its looks quite normal. They players play as per the situation and professional players are like that without worrying anything else. Look as professional players you have to take it as a game because when the game starts it’s a battle between bat and ball, so we have planned to take it as a game. Every international game doesn’t come easy for you so you have to work hard for that,” concluded the batsman on his comeback.