Pakistan look to break World Champions’ winning run
Victory against the defending champions Australia will give Pakistan confidence, feels the coach.
KANDY:
Pakistan will not be easing up on the gas pedal for the last group match despite making it to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, a feat they have failed to perform in the last two editions, according to team coach Waqar Younis.
The former champions take on three-time defending champions Australia in Colombo on Saturday after confirming their progress courtesy a rain-affected seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Monday in Kandy. Taking on arguably their toughest opponents in the group stages, Younis wants to leave an impression on his future opponents by toppling Australia and taking the much-needed confidence and momentum into the knock-outs.
“It’s pleasing but the most important game for us is the next one,” said Younis. “We need to beat a bigger team and take the momentum into the next round because that’s where the real game starts. We’re taking on such a big team and by winning this match, we can leave a mark on other teams as well.”
Australia last lost a World Cup match in 1999, incidentally against Pakistan. However, their unbeaten streak from then has given them three consecutive titles and despite scattered jitters last year, the team crushed England in a One-Day International series that preceded the World Cup to silence the critics.
Often reluctant to experiment in tournaments and sticking with a winning combination – while being vocal about it as well – Pakistan opted to bring in Asad Shafiq and Wahab Riaz on Monday while omitting Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Akmal. Younis, emphasising the need of rotation and choosing the playing-eleven according to conditions, lauded the included duo’s efforts that contributed heavily towards Pakistan’s win.
“Riaz gives us variety in the attack and he bowled well against Zimbabwe. Shafiq made a lot of difference. His future is bright and together with Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq, I think we have a very good base in the middle-order.”
With the middle order, bowling line-up and Kamran Akmal all functioning well for the time being, Pakistan’s only worry remains the opening stand with Ahmed Shehzad’s fifth failure in as many matches fuelling calls for his omission as the tournament approaches the stage where mistakes will not be forgiven or given time to be rectified.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2011.
Pakistan will not be easing up on the gas pedal for the last group match despite making it to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, a feat they have failed to perform in the last two editions, according to team coach Waqar Younis.
The former champions take on three-time defending champions Australia in Colombo on Saturday after confirming their progress courtesy a rain-affected seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Monday in Kandy. Taking on arguably their toughest opponents in the group stages, Younis wants to leave an impression on his future opponents by toppling Australia and taking the much-needed confidence and momentum into the knock-outs.
“It’s pleasing but the most important game for us is the next one,” said Younis. “We need to beat a bigger team and take the momentum into the next round because that’s where the real game starts. We’re taking on such a big team and by winning this match, we can leave a mark on other teams as well.”
Australia last lost a World Cup match in 1999, incidentally against Pakistan. However, their unbeaten streak from then has given them three consecutive titles and despite scattered jitters last year, the team crushed England in a One-Day International series that preceded the World Cup to silence the critics.
Often reluctant to experiment in tournaments and sticking with a winning combination – while being vocal about it as well – Pakistan opted to bring in Asad Shafiq and Wahab Riaz on Monday while omitting Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Akmal. Younis, emphasising the need of rotation and choosing the playing-eleven according to conditions, lauded the included duo’s efforts that contributed heavily towards Pakistan’s win.
“Riaz gives us variety in the attack and he bowled well against Zimbabwe. Shafiq made a lot of difference. His future is bright and together with Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq, I think we have a very good base in the middle-order.”
With the middle order, bowling line-up and Kamran Akmal all functioning well for the time being, Pakistan’s only worry remains the opening stand with Ahmed Shehzad’s fifth failure in as many matches fuelling calls for his omission as the tournament approaches the stage where mistakes will not be forgiven or given time to be rectified.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2011.