Australia are favourites, but favourites don't always win: Misbah-ul haq
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-haq has fired the first salvo ahead of his team's quarter-final match in Adelaide on Friday. He mentioned that Australia are favourites, but favourites don’t always win. The odds are in favour of the four-time World Champions but Pakistan’s unpredictable nature and four consecutive wins on the trot after a poor start to the tournament makes them a threatening opponents.
"They (Australia) are favourites but there is no hard-and-fast rule that favourites are always going to win the match," said Misbah. "It's which team performs better on the day, takes their chances and have some luck, they can really defeat any team," he added.
"We are positive and hopeful. I think we've got a bowling line-up which can go through any (batting) line-up."
Four straight wins gives you a lot of confidence: Misbah
Misbah insisted that his side were not intimidated by the overwhleming favourites and believed that the teams that wanted to win the World Cup had to expect to face major opposition.
"When you have a goal of winning the World Cup, you have to beat any team on the way," he added. "Australia is tough in home conditions,"
Pakistan's most recent win against Australia in Australia came in Perth in 2005 and they have lost their last seven one-day internationals away to the Aussies.
"Everyone is calling them favourites and if any other team beat them then it's called an upset, so for us if we can do that then it's very good for Pakistan cricket as well," Misbah said.
"I think four straight wins gives you a lot of confidence as a playing unit, the mindset is good and the momentum is with us and this is the best time to play against such a good team because we are also in a good frame of mind,"
Australia can play aggressive cricket: Misbah
The Adelaide Oval is familiar territory for Pakistan, who lost their World Cup opener to defending champions India before defeating Ireland there in the pool phase.
"When you are playing more games at a certain venue you tend to adopt the conditions well," said Misbah. "You know the dimensions well, you are used to that atmosphere and that can help you," he added.
"Australia play aggressive cricket and if you want to be up against them, you also need to play good aggressive cricket."
Misbah also admitted that losing their pace bowler Mohammad Irfan was a big loss abd believes that his bowlers can step up and perform well in the match.
"Obviously he is a different kind of bowler and his loss is big, but you have to manage things and you can't say that if he is out, we can't play. We have other good bowlers, the kind of bowlers who can put Australia under pressure." he concluded.