The Hindu : Daunting task for Pakistan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

Daunting task for Pakistan

Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) March 3. Pakistan takes on host Zimbabwe in its last World Cup league match here on Tuesday needing a big win to make it to the Super Sixes.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, will go through if it defeats a lacklustre Pakistani side still recovering from a six-wicket defeat against archrival India on Saturday.

Defending champion Australia and India have booked two Super Six spots from Group A, leaving Zimbabwe, Pakistan and England to battle for the remaining spot.

Pakistan could still lose out to England even if it beats Zimbabwe due to a superior run-rate Nasser Hussain's team enjoys.

It would have been curtains for Pakistan if England had upset Australia at Port Elizabeth on Sunday but the defending champion survived anxious moments before squeezing out a two-wicket win in the last over.

``We all watched the match with our fingers crossed,'' said Pakistani coach Richard Pybus. ``It was a tight finish and we can see a small ray of light which gives us a chance to sneak through. I know the calculators will be out but we have to just go out flat and beat Zimbabwe well.''

Pakistan, losing finalist in the last World Cup, was shattered after the defeat against India and Pybus admitted it will not be easy to lift the team's morale.

``Unfortunately our destiny is not in our hands as we allowed others to dictate terms. We didn't play well against England or India. We should have won both those games and we would not have been in such a disappointing position,'' Pybus said.

Pybus, whose third term as coach ends after the World Cup, said he was confident Zimbabwe could be beaten — Pakistan beat its African opponent in all five one-day matches and two Tests during last year's tour.

``The players need to lift themselves up and play to their potential which they have not done in the World Cup so far,'' Pybus said.

Captain Waqar Younis said it would be a miracle if Pakistan qualified for the Super Sixes. ``We may be down but I hope the players pull up their socks and give it one final go.''

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak was confident that his side can defeat Pakistan and qualify for the Super Sixes despite having only won two of its 29 matches so far against the Asian giant.

``We have played some good cricket in the tournament and I think we can pull off the one win we badly need to go through,'' said Streak.

Zimbabwe will be strengthened by the return of Grant Flower, who missed the Netherlands encounter due to a finger injury.

The teams (from):

Zimbabwe: Heath Streak (capt.), Andy Blignaut, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Douglas Hondo, Douglas Marillier, Brian Murphy, Henry Olonga, Tatenda Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart.

Pakistan: Waqar Younis (capt.), Saeed Anwar, Taufeeq Umar, Saleem Elahi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Abdur Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Wasim Akram, Rashid Latif, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq.

Umpires: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka), Billy Bowden (Nzl). TV umpire: Rudi Koertzen (RSA). Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

Hours of play: 1 p.m. to 4-30 p.m.; 5-15 p.m. onwards. — AFP

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