Langer does not mind playing 1st match against IPL champions

Hyderabad:

Somerset County Cricket Club captain Justin Langer reckons that playing their first match of the Champions League against IPL-II winners Deccan Chargers will prepare them well for the rest of the event.

Somerset and Sussex are the two team who qualified from England for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament, that kicks off on Thursday.

"I am glad that we are playing against Deccan Chargers first actually. They are the champions of IPL. That would give us an indication of how close we are. We come from a very successful English summer. So we have confidence," Langer told reporters on Tuesday.

Langer said the key to success in the high-profile event would be the handling of the panicking and pressure situations.

"We have got plenty of talent. As long as we don't panic in the big moments and keep our focus on the game, I think there is no reason why we cannot be successful," he said. Somerset will open their campaign against Adam Gilchrist led side on Saturday.

Langer, a former Australian Test cricketer, said his players are ecstatic to be part of such a big event.

"We are really excited to be here. I am excited for Somerset. Somerset is in South West of England, small place. To be here on the world stage is a great opportunity for the Somerset county cricket," Langer said.

"The strategy is to win. There is no point coming to any tournament whether it is in India, in Australia or in England not expecting to win. So we have come here to play best cricket. As I said, we have plenty of talent. We have to react to the pressure of the game," Langer said.

Somerset's Indian-origin all-rounder Arul Suppiah sees tournament as a great opportunity to showcase his talent. "Twenty 20 is fun. Understanding my role, contributing my bit, it's a great opportunity for me to express myself," he said.

Suppiah, who joined the Somerset team in 2005, is a right-hand batsman and left-arm spinner.