Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal are set to play crucial roles on the wearing Mirpur pitch in Pakistan’s match against the hosts. PHOTO: AFP
Misbahul Haq’s men have the opportunity of ensuring a berth for the final by recording a straightforward win against the hosts. Only a defeat can complicate the equation for the defending champions, giving India and Bangladesh a ray of hope of sneaking through.
Having secured nine points from three matches, Pakistan will meet hosts Bangladesh in their last league match on Tuesday, with victory ensuring them a place in the final.
On paper, the men in green are favourites to beat the home team which is not having a good run in the tournament, having lost both their matches, including a shock against debutants Afghanistan.
Out of the 31 One Day International (ODI) matches between the two sides, Pakistan have won 30 while Bangladesh secured victory in one — their memorable triumph coming in the 1999 World Cup in England.
Despite the contrasting record, Bangladesh have the potential to steal a shocker in their home conditions. The hosts came close to achieving an upset win in the last edition, losing the final by just two runs.
They are now expecting a change in fortune with the return of Shakib Al Hasan after his three-match suspension.
The all-rounder is one of the two Bangladesh batters who has scored a century against Pakistan.
The defending champions, on the other hand, need to get rid of the hangover of the spine chilling win against the archrivals, and it seems that it is exactly what they are focusing on.
“On a given day, Bangladesh can give you a tough time,” said Misbah. “One of their main players, Shakib is back; we are not relaxed and will try to win that game.”
‘Sharjeel unlikely, Talha fit to play’
Opening batsman Sharjeel Khan, who suffered an injury after a collision with Mohammad Hafeez in the field during the India match, is likely to miss Tuesday’s fixture.
Pakistan’s surprise package against India, fast-bowler Mohammad Talha, who only bowled seven overs on his ODI debut, was declared fit to play, according to an official close to the team management.
Sharjeel’s injury may pave way for middle-order batsman Fawad Alam, while fast-bowlers Anwar Ali and Bilawal Bhatti and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman could also play against Bangladesh.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2014.
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PCB, Gov of Nawaz Sharif; Kindly do not order the team to lose against bangladesh to appease them. They can never be appeased by us. Remember we lost world cup match against them in 1999 (our only loss against them in 31 matches) to get them better status in international cricket and they said they took revenge of 1971. So please have mercy on this unfortunate country and let it have some self respect.