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Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has described the Champions Trophy tougher than the World Cup and said that any of the eight participating teams could win the coveted trophy as there were no favourites.
The Champions Trophy is more competitive than the World Cup and no team is favourite to win the title,” Malik told media persons here.
"In the first phase a team needs to win at least two matches to progress to the semi-final, so you have to do your best in each match and that's why this event is regarded as tougher than the World Cup," Malik said.
Pakistan has never qualified for the finals of the Champions Trophy since its inception in 1998.
Terming the India-Pakistan encounter as the match of the event, Malik said the clash between the two arch rivals would be the most intriguing contest of the tournament beginning September 22.
"It is the most awaited match, both for the crowd and for the players because if you perform well and help your team win you become an instant hero, so players from both teams try to put up their best," The Daily Times quoted Malik, as saying.
Pakistan would start its campaign against West Indies on September 23 before taking on India on September 26 at Centurion.
