Try-series for all the three

A keen battle between Pakistan8217;s blooming pace attack and India8217;s batting prowess is likely to steal the show as the two arch-riva...

A keen battle between Pakistan8217;s blooming pace attack and India8217;s batting prowess is likely to steal the show as the two arch-rivals along with Sri Lanka vie for honours in the tri-nation Kenstar Asian 8216;A8217; teams tournament beginning here tomorrow. 8220;It has always been a battle between Pakistan pacers and Indian batsmen. The Indians have a good batting line up but we have a few genuine pacers in our side. It will be a tough fight,8221; Pakistan 8216;A8217; skipper Shahid Afridi told newspersons after the unveiling of the Kenstar Cup here.

All eyes would be on Pakistan8217;s young pace batteries like Abdur Rouf Khan, Muhammad Irshad and Junaid Zia, Afridi felt, but admitted that India, which has 8220;always produced world class batsmen,8221; had a tall batting line up and a well balanced side.

Besides the interesting duel, the tournament, which followed the academy level and under-19 championships in the sub-continent, would be a great opporunity for senior players to make a comback to respective national sides and the youngsters to break into the international arena.

8220;I am keen to perform in the tournament and show my potential as captain. This gives me a chance to make a comeback,8221; the 23-year-old all-rounder said.

India 8216;A8217; skipper Hemang Badani did not disclose his personal target but said he would focus on scoring runs with a faith that 8220;if you perform, your place will be found8221;.

For Sri Lankan captain Russel Arnold, a member of the 1996 World Cup winning squad, it would be an opportunity 8220;to rectify mistakes8221; and get a recall.

The personal goals, however, come hand in hand with the teams8217; ambitions as the skippers of both the touring teams said they were keen to 8220;return with happy faces8221;.

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Arnold, who accorded India 8216;A8217; the top billing, said his team would look forward to valuable contributions from youngsters like Chamara Silva, off-spinner Tilina Kandamby and pacer Nuwan Kulasekara besides speedstar Nuwan Zoysa. As for the Indian players, a commendable performance in the tourney could get them a place in the senior team for the upcoming triangular series in Australia.

Indian coach Sandip Patil ruled out any problem for the seasoned stars like skipper Badani, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Mongia, among others to switch over from the Ranji trophy mode to one-dayers.

Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka had a week-long preparatory camp for the tournament and were keen to reach the final.