Pakistan look to the past for clash against India
Shahid Afridi aside, Pakistan fans have much to worry about in today’s crucial Asia Cup clash against arch-rivals India.
Shahid Afridi aside, Pakistan fans have much to worry about in today’s crucial Asia Cup clash against arch-rivals India - and the hideous green that the eleven will take the field in is the least of their worries.
These teams have played only one One-Day International (ODI) since their 2008 Asia Cup clash in Karachi where Pakistan prevailed in a high-scoring encounter. The two sides last met at Centurion in the 2009 Champions Trophy where Pakistan came out on top again, this time courtesy a Malik 128.
However, an all-too-familiar batting collapse spurred on Pakistan’s new captain Shahid Afridi but cramps, and a moment of brilliance, sealed their fate in the tournament-opener against hosts Sri Lanka - a 16-run loss. The young duo of debutants Shahzaib Hasan and Umar Amin consumed 59 deliveries for 18 runs but it was the failure of vice-captain Salman Butt, with a dropped catch to his name, and the returning Shoaib Malik that hurt Pakistan most.
While Shoaib Akhtar delivered a content performance - picking up three wickets in the process - playing back-to-back matches will determine his level of fitness and his chances for the tour of England. There may also be a return of Saeed Ajmal to the playing eleven following his omission on Tuesday.
India, on the other hand, looked convincing and a shadow of their poor self that lost consecutive matches to Zimbabwe in the tri-nation series. A magical over from Virender Sehwag - three wickets in six balls - and a composed 82 from opener Gautam Gambhir ensured a six-wicket thumping of Bangladesh, despite a top-order stutter that saw Sehwag, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma score an aggregate of 22.
Much, again, will be riding on Afridi’s performance in the field with Pakistan placed in a must-win situation.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2010.
These teams have played only one One-Day International (ODI) since their 2008 Asia Cup clash in Karachi where Pakistan prevailed in a high-scoring encounter. The two sides last met at Centurion in the 2009 Champions Trophy where Pakistan came out on top again, this time courtesy a Malik 128.
However, an all-too-familiar batting collapse spurred on Pakistan’s new captain Shahid Afridi but cramps, and a moment of brilliance, sealed their fate in the tournament-opener against hosts Sri Lanka - a 16-run loss. The young duo of debutants Shahzaib Hasan and Umar Amin consumed 59 deliveries for 18 runs but it was the failure of vice-captain Salman Butt, with a dropped catch to his name, and the returning Shoaib Malik that hurt Pakistan most.
While Shoaib Akhtar delivered a content performance - picking up three wickets in the process - playing back-to-back matches will determine his level of fitness and his chances for the tour of England. There may also be a return of Saeed Ajmal to the playing eleven following his omission on Tuesday.
India, on the other hand, looked convincing and a shadow of their poor self that lost consecutive matches to Zimbabwe in the tri-nation series. A magical over from Virender Sehwag - three wickets in six balls - and a composed 82 from opener Gautam Gambhir ensured a six-wicket thumping of Bangladesh, despite a top-order stutter that saw Sehwag, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma score an aggregate of 22.
Much, again, will be riding on Afridi’s performance in the field with Pakistan placed in a must-win situation.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2010.