Pakistan set sights on elusive Champions Trophy title

KARACHI: The ICC Champions Trophy isn’t particularly among Pakistan’s favourite one-day tournaments.

In its previous seven editions, Pakistan couldn’t even reach the final even once. With the eighth edition, to be held in England and Wales, fast approaching things aren’t looking really bright for the Pakistanis this time either.

They will begin their title campaign with an explosive encounter against arch-rivals India, the defending champions, in Birmingham on June 4. That match will be followed by another tough game against South Africa on June 7, also in Birmingham. In their last pool game, Pakistan will meet Sri Lanka in Cardiff on June 12.

It’s a tough draw and unless Pakistan punch above their weight, the team’s chances of progressing to the semi-finals of the tournament do not appear to be bright.

However, Pakistan’s captain Sarfraz Ahmed is upbeat about his team’s chances.

The team’s sprits are certainly high after having won the T20, ODI and Test series during the recently-concluded tour of the West Indies.

On Tuesday morning, seven members of the Pakistan squad for the Champions Trophy left for England ahead of the eight-nation tournament.

Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Fakhar Zaman and Faheem Ashraf departed from Lahore to feature in the Champions Trophy.

Shane Bond, the New Zealand fast bowler believes that it will be important for Pakistan to capitalise on the momentum that is with them after a 2-1 Test series win against the West Indies.

“Pakistan has just completed a Test series in the West Indies, so the bowlers who will be going to England are in a good space in terms of value. But it is what the players out of the Test squad are doing that will be crucial,” Bond commented on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced it will be taking the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 action to even more fans after unveiling the first ever ICC Official Fan Park for the opening weekend of the tournament in Victoria Square, Birmingham.

The addition of the Official Fan Park comes as Visit Birmingham and Birmingham City Council are revealed as the latest in a number of high-profile partners for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in their capacity as Tourism Partner.

Over the three-day period, fans heading to Birmingham for the showcase tournament can look forward to soaking up the atmosphere around two of the tournament’s biggest fixtures and cricket’s closest rivalries – New Zealand v Australia and India v Pakistan – in the Official Fan Park. To accommodate the expected increase in numbers for the screening of India v Pakistan, a second site will open in Edgbaston Street.

ICC Chief Executive, David Richardson, said: “The ICC are delighted to be partnering again with Visit Birmingham and Birmingham City Council for the ICC Champions Trophy, after the great success of 2013.  Birmingham is an exciting city and fantastic hub for cricket and in addition its diversity means every team and every supporter is guaranteed a warm welcome. It is very pleasing we can work in partnership together to improve fans’ experience of the tournament.”

The Champions Trophy which begins from June 1 carries a total prize money of US$4.5 million with the winner of the eight-team tournament taking home a cheque of US$2.2 million.

The eighth edition of the tournament sees an increase of $500,000 in prize money from the 2013 edition, which too was played at the three venues being used this time - Cardiff Wales Stadium, Edgbaston and The Oval.

The runner-up of the tournament will get a cheque of $1.1 million, while the other two semifinalists will earn $450,000 each. Teams finishing third in each group will take home $90,000 each, while the teams finishing last in each group will get $60,000 each.

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali, Ahmad Shahzad, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmad (captain/wkt), Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hassan Ali, Junaid Khan, Fahim Ashraf.