Malik aiming a positive results in Toronto

Toronto, Oct 11 (UNI) After arriving here for a four-nation Twenty20 tournament that also features Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and hosts Canada, Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik is confident of producing positive results in the quadrangular event.

Pakistan landed here less than 24 hours before their opening game against Canada.

''It is going to be a tough event considering the playing conditions,'' said Malik, who left Lahore with his fellow players, just hours after competing in the final of the National Twenty20 Cup.

Malik led defending champions Sialkot Stallions to a third straight title and in the process defeated Shahid Afridi's Karachi Dolphins in the final.

Malik told reporters yesterday that the five-day National T20 Cup has helped his boys get in the twenty20 mode.

''We got some good practice in the National Twenty20 Cup and it is going to help us here in the four-nation event.'' He rejected the idea that Pakistan was the favourite for the title in Toronto.

''In twenty20 cricket, you can't pinpoint who is going to win.

Even weaker teams like Zimbabwe and Canada will have a chance of winning here,'' he said.

''We are not going to take any team for granted,'' he said.

Malik is hoping that Pakistan will reach the October 13 final where it is likely to meet Sri Lanka.

The skipper is expecting that comeback of fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will inspire his team in gloomy Toronto.

Shoaib, 33, will be playing for Pakistan for the first time in almost ten months.

''A fit Shoaib is an asset for the team,'' he said. ''He (Shoaib) is very excited about his international return and I'm hoping that he will inspire his team-mates by putting in some match-winning performances here.'' UNI XC CS VC1015