Pakistan aiming to do what India, Australia could not

Men in Green take on unbeaten New Zealand side at Mohali today.

MOHALI:

A resurgent New Zealand side will be eyeing a semi-final berth when they take on a deflated Pakistan in their World T20 group match in Mohali today.

Smarting from a six-wicket defeat to arch-rivals India, Shahid Afridi’s men need a victory against the table-topping Kiwis to keep their hopes alive of winning the trophy for a second time.

Pakistan won their opener against Bangladesh comfortably but things have gone downhill since then as they unravelled against the Indians on Saturday, sparking an angry backlash from fans back home. However, the Men in Green still sit second in Group 2, thanks to their superior net run-rate over India and Australia — the two sides tipped as favourites to progress from the difficult group.



The Black Caps have been riding high with their horses-for-courses policy paying rich dividends against India and Australia.

New Zealand are perched on top of Group 2 with four points, followed by Pakistan, Australia and India all on two each from as many games.

Skipper Kane Williamson has won plaudits after he packed his side with unheralded spinners and left out tested fast-bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee in the key opening game against favourites India.

Their strategy worked well against Australia too, with rookie spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi combining with recalled paceman Mitchell McClenaghan to wreak havoc in the opposition ranks.

McClenaghan was a surprise replacement for Nathan McCullum, one of the heroes of New Zealand’s dramatic victory over India, but justified his selection with three crucial wickets.

“I think we were fortunate to play on two wickets which were very similar. We adopted similar tactics,” Williamson said after the win over his trans-Tasman rivals. “You have to try and read the conditions and select accordingly.”

Another win will see New Zealand cruise through to the knockout stages of the tournament, which would be a commendable feat for a young side that recently saw talismanic skipper Brendon McCullum hang up his boots.

Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi, 36, will be under pressure to deliver after taking flak for his tactics against India, especially for bringing in right-arm pacer Mohammad Sami in place of left-arm spinner Imad Wasim on a square turner.

Former Pakistani spin great Saqlain Mushtaq was surprised at the team selection by Afridi, who is tipped to retire at the end of the WT20.

“They couldn’t read the pitch. For such a high-profile match they should have played a proper spinner,” 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.”

Wahab hit on shoulder during practice

Left-arm fast-bowler Wahab Riaz was struck by a throw between his neck and right shoulder and had to be taken to a hospital for a scan.

However, the team management has confirmed that Wahab’s scans came out clear and he is available for selection against New Zealand.



“Wahab was struck by a stray throw during the fielding session and his scans were taken as a precautionary measure,” Pakistan media manager Agha Akbar told The Express Tribune. “He is ok and will be available for selection against New Zealand.”

Meanwhile, fellow pacer Mohammad Amir was given a rest so that he could recharge his batteries for the matches against New Zealand and Australia.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2016.

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