Comment: The temperature is sure to rise for the clash of the mercurial

With the world cup’s 2 most unpredictable, yet talented sides facing off, many will mark February 21 on their calendar

Hopefully the Pakistan squad left behind the chastening memories of Adelaide en route to Christchurch in the six-hour long journey across the Tasman Sea.

Team insiders claim that the buzz word at the moment for the team in New Zealand is ‘stay positive’, as Misbahul Haq and coaching staff hope that morale remains high even after the humbling defeat against the defending champions.

Christchurch’s Hagley Oval is now the battleground for a clash with a team that perhaps even outdoes Pakistan in mercurial play and non-stop squabbling — both in the squad and in the offices of arguably the most incompetent incumbent cricket board, the West Indies Cricket Board. Even Jason Holder would have laughed it off if he was told a year ago that he would be the man in charge at the ICC World Cup 2015, but after a spate of incredulous decisions following an ugly row between the board and the players, the 23-year old is the man at the helm of a fractious cricket team.

A few former players are even putting their money on a West Indian exit from the tournament before the quarter-finals and the wide cracks were brutally exposed by Ireland, who chased down West Indies’ score of 304 with enviable ease.

But, leading up to the Christchurch clash, Pakistan have their own myriad of woes to deal with. The first practice session was staged on Tuesday with a renewed vigour in pursuit of a new playing combination after the eleven in Adelaide flattered to deceive.

The think tank has a lot to ponder on, including making a call on the retention of Younus Khan at the top of the order. Sarfraz Ahmed must return behind the stumps, while he may be used in as a floater in the batting line-up so that the versatile batsman can be sent in whenever the need be.

Umar Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood must be given another run, since Pakistan will need to make, and chase, scores in excess of 300, and their presence in the middle and lower order gives the team the requisite ammunition and firepower. Haris Sohail impressed with his 36-run knock against India and must be persisted with at the crucial one-down position.

At the bowling front, Muhammad Irfan’s lack of penetration in recent games is an increasing worry. Irfan looked overawed in his World Cup debut in Adelaide and, for no particular reason, relied little on the natural bounce that he can extract from the wicket.

Irfan, seven-foot tall, is best placed to utilise the two bouncers rule in ODI games and his new-ball burst is of massive importance for Pakistan’s chances of success. To make inroads in the opponent’s batting, Irfan must bowl with all his venom in the first 10 overs of the innings.

Irfan’s new-ball partner Sohail Khan’s magnificent return to top-flight cricket was one of the biggest positives in the defeat to India. The right-armer justified the faith placed in him by the selectors, who brought him back from the depths of wilderness, showing his varied skills as a death bowler.

The strongly built Pathan must bowl with the same rhythm against free-scoring West Indian openers Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith, and compliment Irfan from the other end if he is once again given the other new ball.

Shane Warne’s favourite leg-spinner, Yasir Shah, must also raise his game after a poor World Cup debut, where he gave away 60 runs in eight overs without taking a wicket.

While India were always going to compound the challenge for Yasir, the West Indians are infamous for their struggles against quality leg-spin. Hagely Oval provides the Swabi-born spinner a shot at redemption — he must not back down.

With the tournament’s two most unpredictable yet talented sides facing off, February 21 is a date many a neutral will mark on his calendar. The 22 players that take to the field must ensure that they do not disappoint.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2015.

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