Preview
Group A match
Pakistan versus Canada
Venue: R Premdasa Stadium, Sri Lanka
Start Time: 14:30 (IST)
After two convincing wins in first two matches of the tournament, Pakistan have graduated from dark horses tag to one of the favourites to lift the world cup.
The haunting episodes of 2011, it appears, have been forgotten and team looks passionate, upbeat and committed to deliver goods in this tournament.
Players seem to enjoy each other’s success and seniors mentoring junior wards in the team, all symptoms of a united team. And, if Pakistan team is united, spectators are in for special treat from this unpredictable side.
Minnows Canada have failed to give a solid performance thus far in the tournament getting beaten by Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe without showing much of a fight.
While their batting is brittle, bowling doesn’t have penetration to trouble the opposition batting line-ups. At most, with resources they have on their disposal, Canada is expected to make sure there are no mismatches when they play against top teams like Pakistan.
Pakistan are keen to top the group A table and said they will come hard at Canadians which isn’t a good news for Canada.
Pakistan
Pakistan’s batting effort has revolved around their senior pair of Misbah-ul Haq and Younis Khan scoring half-centuries in both the games team has played in the tournament and holding the fort in the middle overs. With Pakistan team management thinking of resting some players, Misbah might not feature against Canada which gives chance to talented Asad Shafiq.
Openers haven’t set the world on fire and have looked confused whether to go after the bowling upfront or see off the new ball and in the process failed to give a solid start to the team. Canada’s weak less penetrative bowling unit provides a good opportunity for them to make amends to their previous failures.
There has been a lot of talk about all rounder Abdur Razzaq batting too low in the batting order, Thursday encounter might see him coming up the order.
Bowling, as always, is Pakistan’s strong point and with Canada to play against, there might be some experimentation.
Shaob Akhter is likely to be rested and Wahab Riaz is expected to take his place. Injured left arm spinner Abdur Rehman will be replaced by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. Left arm fast bowler Junaid Khan might also make debut in this game.
Squad: Shahid Afridi (Capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Ahmad Shahzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdur Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Syed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Shoab Akhter and Umar Gul
Coach: Waqar Younis
Canada
After being mauled in the first two games, Canada’s major aim should to make sure they aren’t blown away easily by Pakistan.
It will be tough for batsmen to score against strong Pakistan bowling line-up and bowlers will have a tough job on hands to contain Pakistan batting unit possessing some fierce hitters of cricket ball.
For Canada to show some fight, it is important that senior players like skipper Ashish Bagai and John Davison perform well. That will lift youngsters and make them believe that can also perform at the higher level.
Need of the hour, for Canada, is to get their basics right and don’t get overawed by the Pakistan’s powerful team.
Squad: Ashish Bagai (capt/wkt), Rizwan Cheema, Harvir Baidwan, Nitish Kumar, Hiral Patel, Tyson Gordon, Henry Osinde, John Davison, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Parth Desai, Karl Whatham, Khurram Chohan, Jimmy Hansra, Zubin Surkari, Balaji Rao.
Coach: Pubudu Dassayanke
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