Monday 4th August 2008
India favourites to win series: Akram
Cricket legend Wasim Akram believes India are the favourites to win the series after they beat Sri Lanka at Galle on Sunday.
"India's confidence will be high. After losing the first Test, to beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka is a huge achievement," Akram told Mobile ESPN.
"This is a great win and a great comeback and India will be going in as favourites in the deciding Test at Colombo," he added.
The former Pakistan skipper lavished praises on spinner Harbhajan Singh, who picked up 10 wickets in the match, and on double centurion Virender Sehwag.
"Harbhajan was incredible in the match. He sat out for such a long time, he came back and bowled so many overs in the first Test at SSC, Colombo and then again in the second Test at Galle - he is a match winner," said Akram.
"He should not have been banned for so long, they could have just fined him and let him play," he added.
"And of course Sehwag was fabolous. He hit a double hundred and a fifty and carried his bat through. In any match that he plays well, India are always with a chance to win."
Akram said the 170-run win at Galle "shows the character of the side".
"India are getting up there with Australia as far as consistency is observed," he noted.
