Pakistan eye winning route to Champions Trophy

Tourists kick off UK tour with ODI against Scotland today.

KARACHI: Pakistan kick off their UK tour with a challenge from Scotland in the first of a two-match One-Day International series against the minnows in Edinburgh today.

It may be a low-profile series, but it gives the Pakistan team a chance to warm-up ahead of the last edition of the ICC Champions Trophy that follows the two ODI series — against Scotland and Ireland.

Pakistan have won both their previous two encounters against Scotland, beating them during the 1999 World Cup by 94 runs and overcoming them by five wickets in a one-off ODI in 2006.

Captain Misbahul Haq described the series as important as it will help his team acclimatise with weather and playing conditions before the Champions Trophy starts on June 6.

A team official said Pakistan will not take the series lightly despite being favourites.

“The ODI and T20 formats are unpredictable,” said the official.

“There is a long history of upsets in these formats and we do not want that to happen. We want to head for the Champions Trophy after being victorious.”

The team management will also get a chance to test various batting combinations during the series.

Pakistan have three specialist openers – Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat – in the squad while Kamran Akmal can also be a potential make-shift opener.

“We’re clear as far as the batting order is concerned. But these matches will provide an opportunity to test combinations if need be.”

On the other hand, Scotland will be led by new captain Kyle Coetzer who will be hoping to stun the big guns of cricket.

Pakistan squad: Misbahul Haq (c), Nasir Jamshed, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Asad Ali, Ehsan Adil and Wahab Riaz.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2013.