5 things Pakistan need to beat New Zealand

At Mohali, Shahid Afridi will face a do or die situation against the undisputed Kiwis

We may have the lost the battle but we can still win the war. Coming back from a defeat against India won't be easy but failing to qualify for the semi-finals may end up being a tougher pill to swallow for the Pakistan team and fans.

Our only hope lies in defeating the dark horses of the tournament, New Zealand. Pakistan and New Zealand take on each other at Mohali today (Tuesday) in a crucial match for both teams. Pakistan will savour a chance to qualify for the semis if they win today, while the Kiwis will become the first team to book a spot in the last-four if they beat Shahid Afridi and co.



The Express Tribune takes a look at different strategies that Pakistan could apply to beat the Kiwis.

1. Read the pitch – correctly 

PHOTO: AFP

Playing four pacers in Kolkata possibly cost Pakistan the game against India on Saturday. After having retained the services of a former bowler as head coach (Waqar Younis), one did not expect Pakistan to commit such a big blunder – but they did.

“They couldn’t read the pitch. For such a high-profile match, they should have played a proper spinner,” former cricketer and spin master Saqlain Mushtaq was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency on Sunday. “It was not a pitch to field four fast bowlers.”

But circumstances have changed. Mohali is a batting paradise. The pitch has been kinder to fast-bowlers than spinners. If you look at the past seven editions of the Indian Premier League, fast-bowlers have dominated batsmen at Mohali with 269 wickets to their name. Meanwhile, spinners only bagged 102 wickets in the same time.

It's safe to assume that Pakistan’s reading should be based on putting up a big total and batting first to avoid chasing a 150+ target by the Black Caps. This reading should hold true unless the home curator doesn’t make any last-minute changes during pitch preparation.



2. Field a proper playing XI

PHOTO: AFP

Keeping the pitch in mind, Pakistan should be ready to play a stable batting line up which can deliver in this must-win encounter. Lately, the batting lineup has come good for Pakistan, scoring 201 against Bangladesh and managing 118-5 on a square turner.

Interestingly, the selection problem seems to be limited to bowlers. Pakistan have the services of four front-line fast-bowlers who are without any doubt the first choices when it comes to deciding team combination at Mohali: Muhammad Sami, Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Irfan and Muhammad Amir.

However, in India, with spin dominating batsmen more than pace, the choice of a bowling combination has become a tricky job for Shahid Afridi who has Imad Wasim and Muhammad Nawaz as his only two options after himself and Shoaib Malik. A Pakistan win may come down to Afridi's final selection.



3. Afridi needs to deliver

PHOTO: AFP

Shahid Afridi played a brilliant knock of 49 from 19 against Bangladesh in Pakistan’s campaign opener. But his performance, specifically his captaincy, came under criticism after the defeat against India.

It is high time 'Lala' gives his best with bat and ball in what may be the last match of importance under his captaincy.

If the 36-year-old wants to add a few more matches under his name, he will once again have to perform out of his skin and lead all three departments of batting, bowling and fielding to inspire the team. He made a statement against Bangladesh and a happy and prosperous departure will await him if he can repeat that effort.



4. Amir needs to continue firing

PHOTO: AFP

Muhammad Amir, since his return, has become the point man of Pakistan’s pace battery. With the other two left-arm pacers – Wahab and Irfan – currently not in red-hot form, it has become more important for Amir to continue bowling with the same efficiency.

He took two wickets against Bangladesh in his four overs giving away only 27 runs. Meanwhile against India, he bagged figures of 11-1 in his three overs with a maiden to his name as well. His spell will be important for Pakistan as early breakthroughs will be needed to ensure a win against New Zealand.



5. Stay positive

PHOTO: AFP

Afridi has always lived up to the crowds’ expectation of playing fearless cricket. He has never shied away from hitting a bowler out of the park on the very first ball he faces.

And while no one can stop Afridi with his bat, we can only hope he translates the same aggression into fielding choices as well. Against India, with Sami bagging two quick wickets on two consecutive balls for Pakistan, Afridi should have pressurised India by stopping singles and doubles. But India were given a hall pass to rotate strike all too easily, allowing them to regain confidence and get back on their feet.

Against the Kiwis, in any case, Afridi needs to stop the singles and force his bowlers to bowl a line in sync with his attacking field; this combined with a positive and confident approach by the team can lead to a win against the till-now undisputed New Zealand side.