Cricket-Pakistan need confidence boost from Wasim
LONDON, June 10 - Pakistan look to Wasim Akram's inspirational captaincy to repair their shattered confidence as they face the World Cup Super Six match against Zimbabwe at The Oval on Friday needing victory to secure a semifinal place.
Three consecutive defeats, by Bangladesh in their last group B match and by South Africa and arch-rivals India in the second stage of the tournament, have knocked Pakistan's powerful challenge off course.
Injuries to talented all-rounder Adbur Razzaq and middle order batsmen Yousuf Youhana and Inzamam-ul-Haq have compounded their problems during the Super Sixes in which their final game is also a must-win for Zimbabwe, who are seeking to reach the semifinals for the first time.
Zimbabwe will be buoyed by their spirited attempt to beat Australia at Lord's on Wednesday, losing by 44 runs after making 259 for six in pursuit of their opponents' 303 for four.
Yet Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell is realistic about his team's task against Pakistan. "They're a tough side and we're going to have to be on the top of our
game if we're going to compete," he said.
Wasim's influential role for Pakistan since he started his fourth spell as captain earlier this year is reflected in an impressive sequence of results.
He led the side to victory in the inaugural Asian test championship against India and Sri Lanka, then won a limited overs series against the same opponents as well as a one-day tournament in Sharjah involving England and India.
His ability to produce a winning combination out of a gifted but sometimes volatile set of individuals mirrors a quality which made his mentor Imran Khan such a successful captain in a reign that culminated in Pakistan's 1992 World Cup triumph.
After winning their first four games of the current tournament, Wasim's side have subsequently fallen away through a shortage of runs from the specialist batsmen and
loose out-cricket.
That was particularly apparent during their 47-run defeat by India at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
The fact that Wasim, a diabetic, has been unwell during the past week has not helped their cause either.
Pakistan, in their form at the start of the competition, would be odds on to beat Zimbabwe. But they should remember that South Africa were also expected to do so in a group A match at Chelmsford and ended up suffering a shock 48-run defeat by their African neighbours.
That has been the high point of Zimbabwe's tournament. It lifted their tally of points to be carried into the Super Six phase to four, which they increased by one after
rain prevented a result against New Zealand at Headingley earlier this week.
A key element in the Zimbabweans' progress has been the all-round form of Neil Johnson who reached a peak with an unbeaten 132 against Australia.
Johnson finished his magnificent innings in some discomfort. "It's a bit of knee, groin, ankle, back (trouble) but I'll be fit for Friday," he said. Zimbabwe and Pakistan have met only once before in the World Cup, at Hobart in 1992, when the Pakistanis won by 53 runs.
dil..dilseee
LONDON, June 10 - Pakistan look to Wasim Akram's inspirational captaincy to repair their shattered confidence as they face the World Cup Super Six match against Zimbabwe at The Oval on Friday needing victory to secure a semifinal place.
Three consecutive defeats, by Bangladesh in their last group B match and by South Africa and arch-rivals India in the second stage of the tournament, have knocked Pakistan's powerful challenge off course.
Injuries to talented all-rounder Adbur Razzaq and middle order batsmen Yousuf Youhana and Inzamam-ul-Haq have compounded their problems during the Super Sixes in which their final game is also a must-win for Zimbabwe, who are seeking to reach the semifinals for the first time.
Zimbabwe will be buoyed by their spirited attempt to beat Australia at Lord's on Wednesday, losing by 44 runs after making 259 for six in pursuit of their opponents' 303 for four.
Yet Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell is realistic about his team's task against Pakistan. "They're a tough side and we're going to have to be on the top of our
game if we're going to compete," he said.
Wasim's influential role for Pakistan since he started his fourth spell as captain earlier this year is reflected in an impressive sequence of results.
He led the side to victory in the inaugural Asian test championship against India and Sri Lanka, then won a limited overs series against the same opponents as well as a one-day tournament in Sharjah involving England and India.
His ability to produce a winning combination out of a gifted but sometimes volatile set of individuals mirrors a quality which made his mentor Imran Khan such a successful captain in a reign that culminated in Pakistan's 1992 World Cup triumph.
After winning their first four games of the current tournament, Wasim's side have subsequently fallen away through a shortage of runs from the specialist batsmen and
loose out-cricket.
That was particularly apparent during their 47-run defeat by India at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
The fact that Wasim, a diabetic, has been unwell during the past week has not helped their cause either.
Pakistan, in their form at the start of the competition, would be odds on to beat Zimbabwe. But they should remember that South Africa were also expected to do so in a group A match at Chelmsford and ended up suffering a shock 48-run defeat by their African neighbours.
That has been the high point of Zimbabwe's tournament. It lifted their tally of points to be carried into the Super Six phase to four, which they increased by one after
rain prevented a result against New Zealand at Headingley earlier this week.
A key element in the Zimbabweans' progress has been the all-round form of Neil Johnson who reached a peak with an unbeaten 132 against Australia.
Johnson finished his magnificent innings in some discomfort. "It's a bit of knee, groin, ankle, back (trouble) but I'll be fit for Friday," he said. Zimbabwe and Pakistan have met only once before in the World Cup, at Hobart in 1992, when the Pakistanis won by 53 runs.
dil..dilseee
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