Malik puts weight behind minnows

Captain Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq are worried by their limited opportunities

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Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik stressed he does not consider Zimbabwe and Canada as weak teams as they prepare for next month’s Canada Twenty20 tournament.

The four-nation tournament, which also features Sri Lanka, is scheduled to be played in Toronto between October 10 and 13.

Zimbabwe were a last minute inclusion after the West Indies refused to play in the competition.

Pakistan had whitewashed Zimbabwe in a five-match one-day series earlier this year, but Malik said that anything is possible in the Twenty20 format.

"I don't think they are weak teams," Malik said. "Any team can deliver on any given day in this version of the game. We saw that happen in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa last year."

Malik believes Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 competition, which is to be held from October 4 to 8, would be ideal preparation for the tournament in Canada.

"I think the domestic competition would be better preparation than a training camp.

But Pakistan middle-order batsman and vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes his team will be under-prepared for the series against India due to a lack of international cricket.

Pakistan have not played a Test match this year and have had little international cricket after Australia postponed a scheduled series in March as well as the postponement of the Champions Trophy.

Pakistan are desperate for some international cricket and have invited the West Indies for a two-Test series in November.

Pakistan vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq does not believe that sports and politics should mix

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However, should that series fall through, Pakistan will have no international cricket until India tours early next year.

"We will be under-prepared for the series against India because we have hardly played Test cricket or faced top quality ODI teams recently," said Misbah.

"The postponement of the Champions Trophy has badly affected Pakistani cricket. It is the public who suffer the most but for cricketers these problems should not be a bother.

"We need to prepare ourselves for every eventuality."

Misbah, who is a member of a domestic squad which will take on Ranji Trophy champions Delhi in a four-day match, said he had no fears playing in Delhi despite a series of bomb blasts on Saturday in the nation’s capital.

"I think sports should not be mixed with political issues," he added. "We have had similar problems back home and I think it is the game which suffers the most.

"So if you ask me if I'm scared, I would say no."

Malik echoed his views, saying: “India are scheduled to play three Tests and five one-dayers in a full tour of Pakistan. There would be a great deal of difference between the two teams.

"We have had hardly any international cricket this year while India have a good round on international matches against quality opposition.

"I would like to win the series and start the year on a high, but it is difficult to beat a top side when you haven't played enough cricket."