Last chance for players to remove errors

[sonicboom]

Last chance for players to remove errors

By: Mohsin Ali | Published: March 14, 2011


ISLAMABAD - Pakistani cricket team is all set to take on minnows Zimbabwe in a crucial World Cup Group-A encounter at Kandy today (Monday).

After the shocking defeat against New Zealand, the Green Shirts must have prepared themselves for this must-win game. The indications coming from Pakistani camp are clearly showing the team management is in no mood to replace or drop Kamran Akmal or any other individual from the side. So it will be the wastage of time to talk about this. Now the management has decided to stick to its policy of continuing with the same bunch of players and one could only hope and pray for a miracle which can help the side get through the first round. If they somehow mange to do so the most difficult thing which is waiting for them is the quarterfinals, where their most likely opponents could be South Africa which had beaten the mighty Indians in a thriller. Pakistan bowling, apart from the match with New Zealand, had performed more than satisfactory, and if we talk about that particular match against Kiwis, the bowlers can't be blamed for the poor performance as Shoaib had bowled brilliantly, had Kamran Akmal not presented the birthday gifts to Ross Taylor twice, the situation of the match could have been completely different. But one can't use this as an excuse for the teams' overall performance in that particular match, from the beginning of the New Zealand's innings Shahid Afridi made a serious blunder by introducing Abdul Rehman with the new ball with Shoaib Akhtar. Abdul Razzaq was bowling well as second new ball bowler, therefore, stopping him and giving him the bowling at later stage of the match was by no means a wise decision, which eventually cost Pakistan the match.

The main area of concern for Pakistan is their reliable middle order, where Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq were doing great job, but by now they both have twice failed to hold on the innings. The match against Zimbabwe is great opportunity for both these players and especially for the openers to rectify their past performances and regain their confidence. With all due respect to Zimbabwean bowling there is not a single individual among their ranks who can provide any serious threat to Pakistani batsmen.

All the bowlers are spinners or medium pacers. Pakistani players would have to select their shots wisely, as patience and shot selection hold the key for Pakistani players to excel in that match.

This is also the ideal situation to gain maximum match practice before their crucial fixture with Australia. It is a duty of Coach Waqar Younis and Manager Intikhab Alam to chalk out a game plan before every game instead of giving statements in favour of their players. They are with the team to help the players overcome their mistakes not to hide them. Waqar and Shahid Afridi must sit together and discuss their weaknesses, and they should not to repeat them in the next matches. Pakistan can't afford to take this match easy, this is the match, which will decide their fate whom they are going to face in the quarterfinals. And the situation in Group B is clearly indicating the most likely opponents for Pakistan in quarterfinals can be South Africa or India if things remain the same. If Pakistan manages to win both of its remaining matches against Zimbabwe and Australia then the situation will be somewhat easier for them as they would have to face relatively a weaker opponent. The destiny of Pakistan cricket team of making any further progress in this World Cup lies in their own hands, any slip certainly means their 2011 World Cup journey would be over.


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