Pakistan hungry to get a shot at India

Colombo, September 10: Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis on Tuesday expressed happiness that India had sent a full-strength team for the ICC Champions Trophy, after the contract problem was sorted out on Monday evening.

"If the top Indian players had not come here, there would have been a gaping hole in the tournament. So it's great that they are all coming and hopefully we will get a chance to bowl at them," said Pakistan captain Waqar Younis at the team hotel here on Tuesday.

The ICC media co-ordinator Mark Harrison was busy distributing the hand-out listing the 14 players of the Indian team that will participate in the Champions Trophy here.

The Indians, who finally sorted out their financial differences with the ICC and BCCI on Monday, will be arriving here on Thursday. They will play their first match against Zimbabwe on Sept 14.

After their impressive showing in the NatWest Trophy in England, India are expected to qualify for the semi-finals, where their likely opponents could be Pakistan.

"The Indian team has got some of the best batsmen in the world and it's always a challenge to bowl at the best in the business.

"We haven't played them in quite some time and we are looking forward to doing that over here," said senior Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram.

Ace fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar also echoed the same views saying he would like to have a go at Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

"Dravid has batted beautifully in England and I would love to go all out against him, while bowling to Tendulkar is always a challenge," said Akhtar.

If the script of the tournament goes according to form and rating, India and Pakistan could well be on course for a clash on the island. And that could generate some heat and excitement in the calm surroundings here.