Misbah's men embark on a mission to match Imran Khan's World Cup triumph - Pakistan's only win - in Australia some 23 years ago. PHOTO: ESPNCRICINFO
The talented yet unpredictable side are haunted by injuries to their fast bowlers, the suspension of match-winning spinner Saeed Ajmal and a covert struggle for captaincy between Misbahul Haq and Shahid Afridi.
But all seems to have settled down as Misbah's men embark on a mission to match Imran Khan's World Cup triumph — Pakistan's only win — in Australia around 23 years ago.
“This team has the spirit of cornered tigers," said chief selector and former captain Moin Khan, a key member of the 1992 winning team. “If they play to their potential, then this team can surprise the world.”
Captain Misbah, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, is also confident. “The format of this World Cup is such that teams have a lot of opportunities," said Misbah, who will retire from one-day cricket after the World Cup. “It would be the icing on the cake if I end my one-day career with the trophy.”
But Misbah knows his side will miss Ajmal, who has single-handedly won matches for Pakistan before being suspended for an illegal bowling action last September.
The skipper felt that spinning all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez — suspended in November last year also over an illegal bowling action — needs to clear a reassessment test for the team to have the right balance.
“It will be important that Hafeez clears the test because he is two-in-one and his bowling gives us the right combination,” said the captain.
Lanky paceman Muhammad Irfan — the tallest man to ever play international cricket at 7 feet, one inch — is expected to be the ‘X-factor’ in an otherwise inexperienced pace attack which will miss Umar Gul, not fit enough for the event after knee and ankle problems.
“To me the X-factor in our team is Irfan. With his height I think he can be dangerous,” said coach Waqar Younis, who missed Pakistan's World Cup win in 1992 with a back problem.
In Ajmal's absence, leg-spinner Yasir Shah, along with all-rounder Afridi, will be in charge of the spin department.
Afridi, who will also quit ODIs after the World Cup, will also be important as a batsman in the slog overs as will be Umar Akmal, Misbah and Sohaib Maqsood.
Pakistan's top-order problem persists and will continue to haunt them as Hafeez opening the innings with Ahmed Shehzad doesn't always guarantee a trouble-free start.
They will hope that the experienced duo of Younus Khan and Misbah provide stability to the batting, for which the main problem lies in playing too many dot balls.
Pakistan have the worst record among the top ten teams in playing dot balls from over 11 to 40.
Pakistan must win one of their first two matches — against arch-rivals India and the West Indies — in order to have easier passage into the last eight.
If not, their qualification will rely on their last Group B match against a dangerous Ireland side, the same opponents who ousted them in the first round of the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. AFP
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There is no method to this madness. Pakistan is probably one of the most disorganized countries in the world, and the cricket team is only reflective of the country at large.
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If Pakistan win the world we will have 11 new politicians in Pakistan. Sometimes i wonder what is the link between a cricketer and politician.
Imran khan in the previous world cup degraded the Pakistan team. Now he should not pass comments as professional rather pass comments as politician to boost the moral of his team. On the other side Shahrayar Khan who as chairman praising the other cricketers and down grading his team. He should immediately be fired. Getting money of Pakistan nation and praising Indian Cricket like his boss Nawaz Sharif. Very disappointing.
You are not supposed to leave your team infront of the whole world about the match fixing thing , you are not the one who decide u can sell himself for some extra bucks @Ahmed:
Adnan Siddiqui: if one does not have anything good to say, then silence is golden:) friendly advice.
Let,s play cricket let,s enjoy cricket .forget politics for a while. Leave your hatreds and prejudices at the doorstep,support your team. It should be national pastimes as it used to be. Look at the performance then express opinion .but support the team it is all you got. You heap praise or ....latter. From this old fan of cricket best of luck. Do well .
@Bio Amla:
I guess you haven't been following "Our Boys" progress in New Zealand right now. Twice they have fallen comprehensively against some second strings President and Board XI teams. To expect the likes of Younis, Misbah, Akmal, Afridi and some two bit sorry excuse of bowlers to take the team all the way to the finals is asking a bit too much. Personally for me, I am just expecting Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood and Yasir Shah to showcase their talents at the big stage, who hopefully would go on to serve the country for a long time.
Good luck Champs!
@Adnan Siddiqi: You won't get another Imran Khan .unfortunately P
@Syed Imran: While being speechless, if you can share a 6 row long comment, what will happen when you will be speech able?
Ah well....y'all can get as much senti as y'all want but the bottom line is that these overpaid and untalented lot does not have what it takes to win a world cup. Because of the anticipated first round exit, the likes of Misbah and Afridi preempted their retirements.
@Adnan Siddiqi: Its ok, we understand, just continue your medication and you will be better in a few months.
This is the weakest Pakistani team ever to take part in the World Cup.
@Adnan Siddiqi: You have left me speechless, i have no words to say anything reply. How could someone pray for his team to lose? For what ex-captain Imran Khan is doing is not wrong, but lets say for sake of argument he is wrong, doesn't mean everyone will be wrong. We have to change our perception and thinking otherwise we are destined to be doomed. This country has been going down the hill because we have never stood up for our rights.
Above is just an analysis nothing more as for/against articles dont win/loose matches. IK being politician may not be that good but for those who are saying thathe just gave trophy & container please count SKMTH & Namal which are by no means lesser achievements. Our countrymen must learn to evaluate a person being human being not something supernatural.
Above is just an analysis nothing more as for/against articles dont win/loose matches. IK being politician may not be that good but for those who are saying that he just gave trophy & container please count SKMTH & Namal which are by no means lesser achievements. Our countrymen must learn to evaluate a person being human being not something supernatural.
@Adnan Siddiqi: if it is such a lousy trophy, then why couldn't we win it more than once. It is very easy to sit in your room and post such hateful comments. It takes a lot to do something worthwhile for your country.
don't expect much from paki cricket team members because pitches at australia venue not give much, you must perform well without mistake which I think paki team members can't
@nobody:
his sheer hate for a man who has given the country so much
That is my fundamental problem! Giving so much to an extent of just some lousy trophy and doing politics on it for the last 20 years.
@Adnan Siddiqi
Misbah ul Haq on one side is a member of PTI and on the other side he is asking government owned PCB to pay him up more money. This is exactly the type of hypocrisy that is in Imran Khan.
Cricket is a game played by very few countries. Can't believe people in Pakistan actually take it religiously.
@Adnan Siddiqi: You and sincerely pray. Hahha....Ask your self when you have really prayed and asked forgiveness for your hate speeches. Tons of Shame on you.
Lol ok i know we are used to mercurial performances from our team every now and then but even we gotta admit.. this team is not winning the world cup.
@Adnan Siddiqi: if peoles like you tend to hate business-mafia turned to politicians flip, we certainely had an ouster of these to date, after having tast in your hate,
Pakistan's 2015's world cup's winning chances are very less and I guess Pakistan's team may/shall hardly reach quarterfinals or semifinals.......
@Adnan Siddiqi: i may be wrong, but ostensibly your comments are always seem to opposing Imran khan either he right or wrong, thanks
What about losing in the quarterfinals. I guess it is the real first round.
For winning all they need is the mentality of the Great Khan
@Adnan Siddiqi: And hope People are not paid to write stupid comments like yourself
This guy "Adnan SIddiqui" hates his country so much that he'd much rather see his team crash out in the first round, than do well in such a big tournament out of his sheer hate for a man who has given the country so much. How sad it is to see these noora league darabaris spew their hate on every forum possible?!?!??
@Adnan Siddiqi: Well said. What a moment required comment. Teams spirited have gone high.
I sincerely pray that this team ends up crashing in the first round. We just don't want some ex-captain to go loco and dance on top of a container at D-Chowk 20 years from now, just because he ended up winning a world cup in 2015......NO WAY!
The fear of match-fixing will always loom somewhere at the back of our minds and with a higher tendency of players like Ahmed Shehzad, Hafeez and Akmal to go for the bucks instead of national pride, I don't think we should expect anything but disappointment. You won't know which match they will dump. These guys have always let us down. They will do it this time as well !!