"I want to thank the people of Pakistan for their prayers and the way they have backed the team following consecutive wins", Ahmed said.
"It is just another game of cricket tomorrow, whatever the result we have to go forward and play more games after that", said Kohli during the pre-match media interaction.
Although gambling is illegal in most parts of India and Pakistan, Indians can lay their bets through UK websites using their global credit cards and e-wallets, said Landers as gambling was legal in the United Kingdom.
Pakistan, without their leading fast bowler Mohammad Amir due to injury, strangled the usually free-scoring England batsmen on a slow wicket in Cardiff with a disciplined display of bowling and fielding. "We have changed nothing from the day we came here", he added.
After losing the first match against India by a huge margin of 124 runs, Pakistan kicked that defeat under the carpet and made a remarkable comeback by registering back to back win.
"But have to say that Pakistan's bowling is slightly better and India's batting is better".
Former star batsman Aamer Sohail has backtracked on his comments after his claim that the Pakistan team fixed matches at the ongoing Champions Trophy cricket tournament drew widespread criticism across the country.
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Russian fan leader Alexander Shprygin was prevented from attending the opening match, according to Reuters. Putin this week demanded better results from the 63rd-ranked team to impress the Russian public.
"We have guys who have such skill and such an ability that they can perform on any stage".
Imran's teammate and close ally, Javed Miandad said the Champions Trophy final could prove to be the gateway for the restoration of bilateral cricket series with India. India won the last encounter, the finals of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007.
Team India captain Virat Kohli at training ahead of final against Pakistan.
India won the Champions Trophy title in 2013, under the leadership of Dhoni, and will aim to lift the trophy once again when they take on bitter rivals at the Kennington Oval on Sunday. "They've beaten sides that looked really strong against them, but the belief just showed on the field [with] the way they played together as a team", he told reporters after Thursday's game. So we've got to try and put them under extreme pressure particularly by knocking their top order over.
"When you go to a final, you want your experienced player, you want him to be fully fit and participating on that particular day", Mahmood said.
Virat Kohli insisted that the Men in Blue were neither too intimidated, nor were too arrogant about their performance in the tournament. "Some teams might not have the best starts, and they come back amazingly, which Pakistan has done". "This is gone. If we play good cricket, definitely we will win this tournament".
However, Pakistan has tasted success against India at the Champions Trophy winning two of the four games against them.
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