Beating India by 5 Wickets
It was the first time since 26th September 2009, that Pakistan have beaten their arch rivals, albeit not in an international fixture this time, but a fixture nonetheless. Both times Shoaib Malik played an important innings when they got the wins. Kamran Akmal was on fire, he played a gem, and he played brilliantly, but with all the suffering he has caused Pakistani fans both on and off the field for a combination of cricketing and non cricketing reasons he owes us many of these special innings. Yet again, the magic man aka Saeed Ajmal bowled superbly, but this time against a strong batting line up on a flat track with his 2-22 from his 4 over quota.
This win shows that it’s better to chase against India and try to expose their bowling weaknesses in the 2ndhalf of the game where the match will be decided and the pressure will be the highest. However, it’s important not to get carried away as it was a warm up where teams don’t necessarily play as seriously as they would in a full on international and they usually try to be flexible by experimenting with their options which they wouldn’t do had it not been a warm up.
Pakistan is due to take on India on the 30th of September. This win will be a morale booster ahead of that super eight head to head, but it’s on that day when it really matters. If Pakistan does not win that, there is every chance that they might not qualify for the semi-finals. The celebrations in the camp showed they were pleased, but not overly ecstatic which is good to see and what you want to see and perhaps expect with such a high profile coach around like Dav Whatmore.
Pakistan were gone with 7 or so overs to go, but 2 of the more unpopular names in the team, played out of their skins and took us first back into the game and then kept their cool to see it through. It’s not the first time they have delivered against India either.
However, if Pakistan’s history is anything to go by losing warm ups are not necessarily a bad thing. This should warn them against any degree of complacency.
The victory over India is always special and even if it is a ‘friendly’ the exact word is non-existent when the two are battling it out on the playing fields. We should enjoy it while it lasts, but it will all be forgotten so quickly if they lose on the 30th.
The victory had a sour taste to end with when many of us saw Salman Butt’s face and heard his voice as a so called hired expert by a leading news channel, ARY. A man who betrayed his country and brought the image and name of this sport into disrepute should not have such a free platform to gain publicity and be taken seriously. He is a man lacking in integrity, credibility, loyalty and honesty and is yet able to voice his views of a game he was found guilty of corrupting. It’s beyond belief that ARY, with so many great names in Pakistan cricket, they could not find someone more suitable and trustworthy to hire for the showpiece event, but instead opt for a tainted criminal.
Setting the Scene
Pakistan vs. New Zealand has always been a tasty fixture over the years at world competitions. Generally, Pakistan has had the better of them, although the trend has changed in recent times. Pakistan will always remember beating the Kiwis during a world cup semi final at Eden Park in 1992, Manchester in 1999 and 2007 in the WT20 at Newlands Cape town. However, in the last 3 times they have met; New Zealand has beaten them at a world competition. This includes the 2009 Champions Trophy semi-final, 2010 WT20 super 8 encounter and 2011 World Cup group match. All times, Pakistan went into the match as the favourites.
Pakistan has met New Zealand 8 times in this format, winning 5 and losing 3. They had won 4/4 at one stage. They lost a 3 match T20 series against New Zealand in December 2010, 2-1 when the sides last met. However, during the time Shahid Afridi was captaining the side and Waqar Younis was coach so a lot has changed since they last went head to head in this format, which suits both of these sides in fairness.
It’s important Pakistan win this fixture, otherwise they will have to beat Bangladesh to qualify for the last 8 and that much will be a do or die situation. With the way Bangladesh played in the Asia Cup, Pakistan shouldn’t take them lightly and they shouldn’t be surprised if they’ll be in for a close contest.
New Zealand – a good tournament side
They are renowned for punching above their weight in world competitions and regularly going beyond what the lay man will predict. They make the best utilisation of their resources, gel well together and through plenty of hard-work and team-work find a way of earning a spot in the business end of the competition. If you haven’t forgotten as recently as 2009, they were champion’s trophy finalists; in 2011 they reached the semi final despite losing 9 consecutive ODIs in Asia prior to the tournament. The culture is also passed on to their younger side as we saw their juniors reach the semi final of the youth world cup this year, to many people’s surprise.
Stats
New Zealand beat India by 1 run in their last T20 international
Imran Nazir has scored 2 of his Twenty20 half centuries against them
Pakistan have recorded their largest victory by runs against them
Last time they played, Razzaq was MOM with 34* from 11 and 3-13 in 4 overs
The 2nd best figures in a Twenty20 international came by a Pakistan bowler
against New Zealand with Umar Gul’s 5/6 at the Oval in June 2009
Pakistan has never won both of their preliminary matches during a WT20 in any of the previous 3 editions
Shahid Afridi has his best figures against a test playing nation in this format against them
Pakistan have a 2-1 record against them in WT20s, losing by 1 run the last time they met
Kamran Akmal has scored 162 runs in his last 4 T20s since returning to the side, dismissed only once and thereby averaging 162
Prediction
Pakistan should win it, but don’t write off New Zealand so easily. On paper Pakistan are stronger than them in every one of the 3 disciplines, barring fielding.
Potential MOMs
Razzaq – Highly respected and known to the New Zealand players as a dangerous striker of the ball. Razzaq has had fond memories against them. This WT20 could be his swansong so he’ll be up for it more than ever. The one paced seam attack with line and length bowlers plays perfectly into his hands.
Nazir – If he plays it could be a case of last chance saloon. The Kiwi attack is not particularly threatening and he will back himself to get on top of the bowlers and regain his form and show us what he can do.
Ajmal – He’s a much better and accomplished bowler now since he last played them. With so many leg side batsmen in the Black caps side who like to target the mid-wicket region he will really fancy knocking them over with his doosras, top spinners, drifters when bowling around the wicket especially.
McCullum – Pakistan held out to the off spin of Ahswin in the previous game many times. McCullum is a top bowler for this format who tucks batsmen up and skids them on.
Southee – in 2011 got international T20 performance of the year for his 5-for against Pakistan on Boxing Day at Eden Park where he also claimed a hat-trick. His late swing, could trouble the attacking Pakistan batters who are all sketchy outside the off stump channel when it is doing a bit.
My Preferred Pakistan XI
Mohammad Hafeez
Nasir Jamshed (left, right opening combination, orthodox, but score quickly)
Kamran Akmal/Umar Akmal (WK)
Asad Shafiq (steady accumulator, technically best batsmen in side)
Shoaib Malik (accumulator, excellent outfielder, finisher)
Abdul Razzaq (floater and finisher)
Shahid Afridi (leg-spinner and slogger)
Sohail Tanvir
Umar Gul
Saeed Ajmal
Raza Hasan
2 seamers, 4 spinners, Malik and Razzaq also available
Reserves therefore are Mohammad Sami, Yasir Arafat, Imran Nazir
Ideally This Would Have Been My squad for this WT20
Mohammad Hafeez
Ahmed Shehzad
Asad Shafiq
Umar Akmal (WK)
Misbah ul Haq ©
Hammad Azam
Shahid Afridi
Sohail Tanvir
Umar Gul
Saeed Ajmal
Raza Hasan
Reserves: Aizaz Cheema, Junaid Khan, Safraz Ahmed (WK), Sharjeel Khan
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