Pakistan can beat any team, says Miandad

Karachi:

Javed Miandad said on Monday Pakistan is blessed with the best bowling attack in the world and can beat any team provided the squad overcomes its batting problems.

Pakistani players are immersed in a five-day training camp in preparation for next week's Champions Trophy in South Africa with the former legend appointed to help improve their batting prowess.

"I think Pakistan has one of the best bowling attacks in the world and if they improve their batting they can win the Champions Trophy," said Miandad, who has coached Pakistan on three stints in the past.

He was made a consultant after the team's batting failure in Sri Lanka last month where they lost the Test series 2-0 and one-day series 3-2.

Pakistan face a stern test at the Champions Trophy from September 21-October 5, where they meet the West Indies, Australia and India in Group A.

"Australia were seen struggling in the Ashes because their bowling attack is not as strong as it used to be, but their players have basic batting technique which is the difference between them and other teams," said Miandad.

He added that he was doing his best to help batsmen overcome their problems.

"Unlike Australian batsmen, our players do not rely on basics," said Miandad, himself a great batsman with 8824 runs in 124 Tests.

"Some of them play strokes while running at the crease and some leave the stumps to hit a ball which are flaws and I am doing my best to tell them the basics."

With the return of frontline paceman Mohammad Asif, Pakistan have Umar Gul, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Mohammad Aamir and Rao Iftikhar as fast bowlers with leg-spinner Shahid Afridi and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal to handle the spin.

Asif, banned for a year after failing a dope test in the Indian Premier League, will be available to play after his ban expires on September 21.

Pakistan flies to South Africa on Thursday and play their first match against the West Indies on September 23 before taking on arch-rivals India on September 26 and Australia on September 30.

Miandad said the Champions Trophy was the most competitive cricket tournament with no favourite to win.

"The Champions Trophy is played by the best eight teams in the world and this time around the West Indies have sent a weak team because of their own problems, so barring them, I think any team can win the Trophy."