Pakistan, India favorites in Twenty20 World Cup - Misbah

Dubai: India and Pakistan are favourites to win next month's World Twenty20 tournament in England, as both have shown good form in the rapid-fire version of the game, said Pakistan's stand-in captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

"Both Pakistan and India have been doing very well in Twenty20 cricket, so I think both have a very good chance of winning the World Twenty20," Haq said after Pakistan's seven-wicket win over Australia on Thursday.

Pakistan, led by Haq after regular captain Younis Khan pulled out due to fever, rode on a career-best 4-0-8-4 by paceman Umar Gul and leg-spinner Shahid Afridi 3 for 14 to dismiss Australia for a low score of 108.

In reply, Kamran Akmal hit a fiery 59 to help Pakistan reach their target with 3.5 overs to spare an emphatic win that Haq said would lift his team's spirits ahead of the World Twenty20 starting in England next month.

Thursday's victory was Pakistan's 17th out of 20 Twenty20 matches it has played since this popular brand of cricket was introduced in 2005.

Pakistan finished runners-up to India in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup, held in South Africa two years ago.

Haq said he believed Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 championship had helped to build the team.

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

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