"Umar will be crucial against India"

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Ajay Jadeja feels Umar Akmal will play a big role in their high-profile Group A match against India at Centurion on Saturday. More... Friday 25th September 2009 "Umar will be crucial against India" Ajay Jadeja feels Umar Akmal will play a big role in their high-profile Group A match against India at Centurion on Saturday. "I saw him batting and he appears to be a very exciting young talent for Pakistan. I think he can create a difference tomorrow. I liked his game and attitude," Jadeja said on a cricket show on "Duniya" channel today. Jadeja, who represented the country in 196 One-day Internationals and 15 Tests and played a stellar role in India's quarterfinal win over Pakistan during the 1996 World Cup, said although the current Pakistan team lacked big names, Younus Khan has some exciting talents at his disposal. "They lack big names but they still have some good talents. Umar Akmal is certainly one of them," he stated. To a question about reports that they were differences in the Indian team, Jadeja replied in the negative. "I don't think so. People sitting outside may have this feeling but there is nothing in the team," the player-turned-cricket expert said. "Mahendra Singh Dhoni is leading the team smoothly. If there is any problem now, it is with the vice-captain?s spot since both Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh are injured and not available for the tournament," he said. Jadeja feels India were favourites to win tomorrow's much-anticipated match against Pakistan simply because the team boasts of some world class players. He, however, admitted that Sehwag and Yuvraj's injury is a big setback for the Indian team and the rest of the players would have to rise up to the occasion in their absence. Even talking to the channel from Johannesburg, Indian team manager Anurag Chaudhury also rejected speculations that Yuvraj's absence and Gautam Gambhir's fitness was a matter concern for the side. "Obviously Sehwag and Yuvraj are big players but injuries can happen to anyone and any time. Players can get injured during a match but I think our team has other good players capable of winning the match for us," he said.