The recent clash between India and Pakistan has made latter's win in ICC Champions Trophy final look like a fluke. When the arch-rivals met each other in Asia Cup, it was India who turned out to be the better team on both times. Nowhere in the game men in blue was in any trouble as Pakistan looked insipid in the quality of their cricket.
The two teams will face each other once again very soon in ICC World Cup 2019 on June 16 in Manchester. More than the result, fans are worried about a good match. Earlier, a one-sided India-Pakistan game was a rare sight.
Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz talked about how they are ready to overcome the biggest obstacle one faces while clashing with India. Riaz said they will have a strategy against Indian captain Virat Kohli who is capable of taking away the game alone.
"Pakistan will have a plan against Virat for sure, but if they play against India in the World Cup then they would not only plan against Virat but they will have to think about the whole team (Pakistan will play India at the World Cup - on June 16). It's not just about Kohli in the Indian team," Riaz told India Today.
Wahab is excited to defeat India again as they did in the CT 2017 final. "We can definitely repeat the 2017 Champions Trophy-winning performance in the World Cup next year. For that, we have to put in a lot of hard work. We have to play our best game. ODI cricket is more of a momentum game. We have a good side and we can do really good in England," Riaz added.
Opening up about his favorite batsman of the current time, he named Kohli and backed it with a reason as well. "The Indian team has very good batsmen and Virat Kohli is no doubt one of the best going around right now. Steve Smith is also another very good batsman.
"It's always difficult to bowl to a batsman who plays all around the ground because they are not one-dimensional. So it's not easy to bowl to any of those batsmen," Riaz said.
The Pakistan pacer who had bowled an outstanding spell in ICC World Cup 2015 quarterfinals against Australia hasn't been in a good form lately. But he is leaving no stone unturned to mark a return into the side. Riaz has also added extra pace.
"(Selection) That is not in my hand. What I can only do is perform and play to the best of my abilities wherever I get a chance. And that is what I'm doing. You can see my performance all around the world wherever I am playing. As a player I have to put that question to the selectors all the time," Riaz stated.
The pacer is currently playing for the Northern Warriors in the ongoing T10 League in the UAE. Talking about his experience he said, "T10 is a shorter game so it's more like bowling in the last 10 overs of a T20 match. The coach has been really good, he's been very calm and composed. Talks to the point and tells us where we are going wrong.
"Darren Sammy is a good leader, I have played against him in PSL (Pakistan Super League) as well and he has captained West Indies who are two-time (T20) champions. He has a lot of experience and he knows how to lead from the front."
