Hastings believes Pak have good chance to make it to next stage

BIRMINGHAM: Australian all-rounder John Hastings believe that Pakistan with a young group of players has a very good chance to make it to the next stages in the ICC Champions Trophy which is set to commence in UK on June 1.

Talking exclusively to Geo.tv, the 31-year-old said that Pakistan is a good team and the high voltage encounter between Pakistan and India would be a good spectacle to watch.

“Pakistan is a very good young group, they have got a very good attack, have got some good left-arm options, some good spin options and they have got some powerful top order. I think they’ll be upright up there in the group as well,” he said when geo.tv asked him about Pakistan’s chances in the Champions Trophy.

“India and Pakistan are two very good teams also they don’t play each other a lot, it would be very good class and a pretty good spectacle to watch,” he said on Pakistan versus India encounter, which is scheduled to be played in Edgbaston on June 4.

Talking about Australia’s chances in the tournament, Hastings said that his team is well prepared but it has to play the best cricket in the tournament where eight of the top teams are competing.

When asked which team he sees as a threat to Australia in the group stages, Hasting said that England is a good team and can be very dangerous to opponents at home conditions.

“English team has been very good for last few months and in home conditions, they have played really well against South Africa in last few games,” he said.

In last few innings they batted first have score big runs. They are a dangerous outfit. We will have to be best to beat them,” he added.

The ICC Champions Trophy starts on June 1st with hosts England taking on Bangladesh in the opening game at The Oval. Pakistan will play its first match against India next Sunday in Birmingham.