Pakistan hit top form in time
WITH 10 DAYS remaining in the month-long pool stage of the Cricket World Cup, 1992 champions Pakistan have found form in time for the second half of the tournament.
After incurring big losses to archrivals India and the West Indies, Pakistan have recovered with victories over Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates to level their win-loss record at 2-2.
The win yesterday came at Napier, New Zealand, where Pakistan scored 339/6 – the first time they have topped 300 runs at the tournament – before restricting the UAE to 210/8 for a 129-run victory.
Just how much improvement has been made will be tested in Pakistan’s two remaining matches, though, against South Africa on Saturday in Auckland, and against Ireland in Adelaide on March 15.
Any chance Pakistan have of making the quarter-finals will rest on a win in at least one of those games, and they might have to win both depending on other results.
Opener Ahmed Shehzad topscored before being run out seven runs short of Pakistan’s first cup century in eight years, while Shaiman Anwar led the UAE with 62.
“Everyone contributed, and we pushed hard,” Man of the Match Shehzad said.
“Very happy to see some momentum before our next big game against South Africa.”
Today in Nelson, New Zealand, Scotland will have another chance to win their first ever cup match and escape last place in Pool A.
Their opponents Bangladesh, however, are vying for a quarterfinal place. With one win to their credit – a 105-run victory over Afghanistan – and shared points with Australia from a washed-out match in Brisbane, Bangladesh could take a major step towards the last eight with a win.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said his squad “expects to win” against Scotland and, while a loss to Sri Lanka was a setback, they remained confident of reaching the quarter-finals. Bangladesh need full points at Nelson, as they have tough matches remaining against England and New Zealand.
“We have a great chance to go through to the quarter-finals,” he said.
“If we can play better cricket here, hopefully the confidence we can take into the England match.”
Elsewhere, Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura was injured and won’t play against Ireland at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Saturday.
Chigumbura tore a left quadriceps muscle while fielding in a 20run loss to Pakistan last weekend.
Meanwhile, India’s team management has denied reports that Virat Kohli used offensive language at a journalist during a World Cup practice session in Perth, Australia.
The Indian media reported widely yesterday that Kohli apparently mistook the journalist for somebody who had published a negative story about the batsman’s girlfriend.
Kohli, who was elevated to India’s Test captaincy when Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from the longer format during the recent series against Australia, is key player in India’s attempt to defend the World Cup title.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India issued a brief statement saying: “There was a misunderstanding and no abusive language was used. Virat has spoken to the concerned gentlemen immediately and matter ends ...” – Sapa-AP