Pakistan go into today’s round match against Australia placed in unfamiliar territory: A place in the last-four already sealed and the added luxury of testing bench strength.
Back-to-back, convincing wins over West Indies and India — preceded by wins against Sri Lanka and the Warriors in the warm-up matches — have produced the healthy bout of momentum and confidence that Younis Khan, Pakistan’s captain, will hope to carry forward into the semi-finals.
However, with Australia’s simplest route to the semi-finals resting in Pakistan’s loss, the onus is on Younis’ team to carry on the winning form, perform to their potential to ensure a hundred per cent record going into the knock-out round.
“Even with our last-four place confirmed, I’d still like to tell my players to play good cricket to our potential because we’re a top side when we do that and ensure the winning momentum is not lost,” Younis said in his pre-match press conference.
“We have improved considerably over the last few months and Australia is a very strong side, fresh from their recent win in England, so I would not label any favourites for the game. We have a great chance of winning and are very lucky to be in the situation where we only need two more wins to lift the trophy and we’ll be looking to do just that.”
While Younis is still nursing the fractured finger on the right hand — a direct throw from the same hand effected Gautam Gambhir’s runout on Saturday — Imran Nazir, with stitches on his right hand due to injury suffered early in the Indian innings, looks certain to miss out. Out of form Misbah-ul-Haq will replace him.
The forced absence of Imran, the only specialist opener in the squad, will mean promotion for either Shoaib Malik or Fawad Alam who looks set to feature for the first time in the tournament.
Mohammad Asif also looks certain to cash in on the situation and will most likely replace Mohammad Aamir with Umar Gul hoping to recover from a horror show against India.
The loss of Imran Nazir has left Younis unperturbed as he emphasised the importance of flexibility in the batting order and doing away with the need for specialist openers in the side.
“Imran is a useful batsman for us and I know there is an innings left in him for us in the tournament. His stitches aren’t serious and we might play him against Australia or may decide to rest him. Even if he’s omitted, it won’t be a problem for us since we have experienced players who have played in that position before. Also, in Twenty20 and ODIs, you don’t need specialist openers anymore as we’re able to adapt to situations.”
“In today’s cricket, your performance on the day matters the most and not past results. We won against a top nation [India] recently and are pitted against another now. There are no guarantees on who will take wickets or score runs but both teams go into the match equal.”
Pakistani spinning duo of Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi caused problems for the Australians in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. With decent performances under their belt on the tour already, both Afridi and Ajmal are hoping for a repeat show. Ponting, though, shrugged aside any concerns and lauded his batsmen’s show against the Indian spinners.
“I’m obviously disappointed with the result against India as we were in a really good position,” Ponting said. “However, the positive out of that abandoned game was our batting, especially the show against spinners since we expect more of the same from Pakistan as well.
“It will be very disappointing if we lose to Pakistan and fail to progress,’ Ponting added. ‘However, it all depends on how we play knowing how dangerous Pakistan can be, especially with the kind of cricket they’ve been playing recently. We had a good result in the UAE and we’re hoping the lessons learnt there are utlised here as well.”
Younis was also wary of the fact that progress for India depended on Pakistan’s win at the Centurion today. With MS Dhoni, India’s captain, making it clear who he will be supporting — “We want Pakistan to win” were the words in his pre-match press conference — Younis has downplayed speculations that fielding a weakened team will undermine India’s effort.
“We wanted to be in a situation where we don’t need to depend on other teams for our progress. We have been lucky to be in this situation. Everyone knows the number of followers India has in Pakistan and vice versa. It’s cricket and life shouldn’t depend on winning or losing and we will give it our best to carry forward the winning momentum for our sake.”
© Faras Ghani 2009.
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 30, 2009.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Malik firm to carry form into remaining games
Shoaib Malik, the architect of Pakistan’s superb win over India on Saturday, remains confident that his match-winning knock was not a one-off spectacle and hopes to carry his form through to the next crucial matches of the Champions Trophy.
“When a team puts up a 300-plus total, the opposition is always under pressure even with aggressive starts,” said Malik during a chat with the media. “It was tough chasing under lights and the fact that we put up 300, it also added to the psychological pressure.”
I was quite content with my performance. It was difficult at the start and I had to adopt a defensive approach to my batting because stability was what the team needed. I blocked and blocked since the team had lost quick wickets that added to the pressure on me,” explained the all-rounder. “However, there came a point where I could play my natural game and could afford to attack. The resulting century was a joyous occasion for me, Pakistan’s win against India putting it into a different context. I’m very happy we won and I want to carry my form [second century on the tour so far] into the remaining matches.”
Meanwhile, Indian captain MS Dhoni was candid about his team’s shortcomings in the crucial game. “Pakistan bowlers exploited the conditions well, they had fielders in the right places and batted knowing fully well what was required,” said Dhoni. “We failed at that, lost too many wickets, gave away too many runs, bowled too short and a safe line and there were chances we could’ve created but we weren’t consistent with out line. In conditions like these, you have to change and adjust accordingly. We had to be smart but we weren’t and in the end, we could’ve done a lot better in the match.”
“At one point I thought we were short on three bowlers. It was an off day for Harbhajan and I didn’t know who to turn to, who to bowl, where to bowl and what field to place. The shots went into the gaps and it became really tough in the middle.”
While the Indian captain felt the heat, Younis, with the fractured right-hand finger, was happy with his side’s performance and looked forward to the match against Australia.
“I’m glad we made our own way to the semi-finals instead of relying on other teams. I’m also happy since I decided to play this match despite the injury as I would’ve definitely missed being out in the middle if I had opted to sit out. Even if we had lost, my risk would’ve been worth taking and people would’ve agreed that I tried instead of hiding. I’m glad with what we achieved and how the players responded in all three departments of the game and it was a great feeling to beat the top-ranked ODI team in the world by 50-plus runs.”
© Faras Ghani 2009.
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 29, 2009
“When a team puts up a 300-plus total, the opposition is always under pressure even with aggressive starts,” said Malik during a chat with the media. “It was tough chasing under lights and the fact that we put up 300, it also added to the psychological pressure.”
I was quite content with my performance. It was difficult at the start and I had to adopt a defensive approach to my batting because stability was what the team needed. I blocked and blocked since the team had lost quick wickets that added to the pressure on me,” explained the all-rounder. “However, there came a point where I could play my natural game and could afford to attack. The resulting century was a joyous occasion for me, Pakistan’s win against India putting it into a different context. I’m very happy we won and I want to carry my form [second century on the tour so far] into the remaining matches.”
Meanwhile, Indian captain MS Dhoni was candid about his team’s shortcomings in the crucial game. “Pakistan bowlers exploited the conditions well, they had fielders in the right places and batted knowing fully well what was required,” said Dhoni. “We failed at that, lost too many wickets, gave away too many runs, bowled too short and a safe line and there were chances we could’ve created but we weren’t consistent with out line. In conditions like these, you have to change and adjust accordingly. We had to be smart but we weren’t and in the end, we could’ve done a lot better in the match.”
“At one point I thought we were short on three bowlers. It was an off day for Harbhajan and I didn’t know who to turn to, who to bowl, where to bowl and what field to place. The shots went into the gaps and it became really tough in the middle.”
While the Indian captain felt the heat, Younis, with the fractured right-hand finger, was happy with his side’s performance and looked forward to the match against Australia.
“I’m glad we made our own way to the semi-finals instead of relying on other teams. I’m also happy since I decided to play this match despite the injury as I would’ve definitely missed being out in the middle if I had opted to sit out. Even if we had lost, my risk would’ve been worth taking and people would’ve agreed that I tried instead of hiding. I’m glad with what we achieved and how the players responded in all three departments of the game and it was a great feeling to beat the top-ranked ODI team in the world by 50-plus runs.”
© Faras Ghani 2009.
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 29, 2009
Bowlers’ generosity with extras worries Intikhab
Despite a convincing win against arch-rivals India at the Centurion on Saturday, Pakistan’s coach Intikhab Alam remained wary of his side’s generosity with extras and reminded his bowlers not to repeat the mistakes against Australia on Wednesday.
Pakistan, who restricted the top-ranked ODI team India to 248 who were chasing 303, gave away 22 extras that included 11 wides and seven no-balls. Umar Gul, who was taken apart by the Indian batsmen while going wicketless, was guilty of over-stepping three times with the resulting freehits costing Pakistan 14 runs.
Intikhab, Pakistan’s coach, braved sunny and warm conditions during Pakistan’s three-hour long training session on Monday to ensure his bowlers did not cross the line. “In today’s cricket, it is a crime to bowl no-balls,” Intikhab said after the training session. “It’s not just the extra run and the ball, but also the freehit that the batsmen get which can cause problems. We are very strict about it and I position myself at the bowler’s end in the nets to make sure we limit over-stepping.
“At times, it’s the pressure on the bowler as well. Against India, for example, the bowlers stretched a little extra to deliver what was required off them but that’s not an excuse. There won’t be as much pressure on them against Australia so I hope we don’t make such mistakes again.”
Apart from the extras situation, Intikhab was content with his team’s performance that has seen them win all four matches on the tour so far. Playing back-to-back matches against the world’s top-ranked ODI team and reigning world champions, according to Intikhab, will help the players improve their skills.
“We are fully prepared for the Australians and will go into the match with a different strategy to the Indians. It’s always a challenge to play a better side and gives our players a chance to learn. Our team has tremendous potential as well as definite plan for every individual so that if things don’t go in our favour, there is a back-up that we can fall on in the field. The good thing, for us, is that we are peaking at the right time and the winning momentum is doing wonders to the players’ confidence levels.”
Intikhab also termed the availability of Mohammad Asif, eligible for selection after completing his 12-month ban last Wednesday, a healthy dilemma for the team management but admitted it was difficult to accommodate him in the starting eleven.
Asif, who could have made his comeback in Pakistan’s opening game against the West Indies, last represented Pakistan almost 18 months ago and was unable to participate in international or domestic cricket due to the ban. “His omission is actually a good thing for Pakistan cricket. It does give us a headache selecting teams but it’s difficult to omit someone who has been performing in order to accommodate him. Our selection policy is simple: you perform and you’ll make it to the final eleven and that, itself, is a challenge and incentive for our players to perform in every single match.”
Pakistan’s match against Australia at Centurion may be of significance depending on India’s performance against the same opponents. Pakistan lost a five-match ODI series against the world champions in the UAE earlier this year. With Australia hosting Pakistan for a Test and ODI series starting in December, Intikhab wants a clinical show on the field and has backed his spinners to cause plenty of problems.
“I won’t say they are vulnerable to spin but we do have two world-class spinners in our squad who gave the Australians plenty of problems in the UAE. They are very professional but playing Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi will be a challenge for them as well. We did well against them earlier, in a series we should’ve won. But we beat them in the Twenty20 and that was the start of good things for us.”
Saeed, with four wickets in the tournament so far, caused a few problems in April, an act he is hoping to repeat when the two sides meet again.
“The Australians don’t play spin particularly well which was obvious in the UAE,” Saeed said. “It was a good series for me and I was successful against them and that is exactly what I will be aiming to repeat on Wednesday. I’m particularly looking forward to bowling against Ricky Ponting, who I’ve never bowled to before, and am targeting his wicket more than anyone else’s.”
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 29, 2009
Pakistan, who restricted the top-ranked ODI team India to 248 who were chasing 303, gave away 22 extras that included 11 wides and seven no-balls. Umar Gul, who was taken apart by the Indian batsmen while going wicketless, was guilty of over-stepping three times with the resulting freehits costing Pakistan 14 runs.
Intikhab, Pakistan’s coach, braved sunny and warm conditions during Pakistan’s three-hour long training session on Monday to ensure his bowlers did not cross the line. “In today’s cricket, it is a crime to bowl no-balls,” Intikhab said after the training session. “It’s not just the extra run and the ball, but also the freehit that the batsmen get which can cause problems. We are very strict about it and I position myself at the bowler’s end in the nets to make sure we limit over-stepping.
“At times, it’s the pressure on the bowler as well. Against India, for example, the bowlers stretched a little extra to deliver what was required off them but that’s not an excuse. There won’t be as much pressure on them against Australia so I hope we don’t make such mistakes again.”
Apart from the extras situation, Intikhab was content with his team’s performance that has seen them win all four matches on the tour so far. Playing back-to-back matches against the world’s top-ranked ODI team and reigning world champions, according to Intikhab, will help the players improve their skills.
“We are fully prepared for the Australians and will go into the match with a different strategy to the Indians. It’s always a challenge to play a better side and gives our players a chance to learn. Our team has tremendous potential as well as definite plan for every individual so that if things don’t go in our favour, there is a back-up that we can fall on in the field. The good thing, for us, is that we are peaking at the right time and the winning momentum is doing wonders to the players’ confidence levels.”
Intikhab also termed the availability of Mohammad Asif, eligible for selection after completing his 12-month ban last Wednesday, a healthy dilemma for the team management but admitted it was difficult to accommodate him in the starting eleven.
Asif, who could have made his comeback in Pakistan’s opening game against the West Indies, last represented Pakistan almost 18 months ago and was unable to participate in international or domestic cricket due to the ban. “His omission is actually a good thing for Pakistan cricket. It does give us a headache selecting teams but it’s difficult to omit someone who has been performing in order to accommodate him. Our selection policy is simple: you perform and you’ll make it to the final eleven and that, itself, is a challenge and incentive for our players to perform in every single match.”
Pakistan’s match against Australia at Centurion may be of significance depending on India’s performance against the same opponents. Pakistan lost a five-match ODI series against the world champions in the UAE earlier this year. With Australia hosting Pakistan for a Test and ODI series starting in December, Intikhab wants a clinical show on the field and has backed his spinners to cause plenty of problems.
“I won’t say they are vulnerable to spin but we do have two world-class spinners in our squad who gave the Australians plenty of problems in the UAE. They are very professional but playing Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi will be a challenge for them as well. We did well against them earlier, in a series we should’ve won. But we beat them in the Twenty20 and that was the start of good things for us.”
Saeed, with four wickets in the tournament so far, caused a few problems in April, an act he is hoping to repeat when the two sides meet again.
“The Australians don’t play spin particularly well which was obvious in the UAE,” Saeed said. “It was a good series for me and I was successful against them and that is exactly what I will be aiming to repeat on Wednesday. I’m particularly looking forward to bowling against Ricky Ponting, who I’ve never bowled to before, and am targeting his wicket more than anyone else’s.”
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 29, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Hardworking Rana Naved unperturbed by omission talk
As the Pakistan team management ponder over the inclusion of Mohammad Asif for the match against arch-rivals India, Rana Naved seems the likeliest omission despite a sound performance at The Wanderers.
A wicket in his second over and movement throughout the innings, Naved remained a threat to the under-strength West Indies line-up before Umar Gul and the spinners brought about a speedy end to the innings.
Naved, who made his comeback to the national side after quitting the ICL, was faced with a similar situation at the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. A shock loss at the hands of the hosts in the tournament opener left Pakistan facing an uphill task to make it past the first round.
Naved returned with unimpressive figures of 0 for 49 in nine overs and was then overlooked for the rest of the tournament that Pakistan exited early following shock defeat at the hands of Ireland.
Giving a confident look despite the axe looming, Naved, having taken 101 wickets in 66 ODIs, termed it part and parcel of the game and remained unperturbed by the return of Mohammad Asif who looks likely to take over his place in the starting line-up.
“I’m actually happy for Asif and his comeback following the ban,” Naved told Dawn. “It’s a good thing for Pakistan cricket and will help the team immensely. I’m not worried about him being included in the side at my expense as he is not only my club-mate but is also from the same city as me and I can only wish him well. I’m a strong believer in the team consisting of performers who will help achieve victory be it Asif or me.”
Asif, who underwent a surprise dope test on the first day back with the squad, shrugged aside apprehensions of match fitness and physical health. “Although I haven’t played international cricket for a long time now, I have been involved in training at the NCA as well as with club teams in Pakistan. I’ve never felt I’ve been away from the game itself and my fitness levels can be judged by my performance in the nets and the fact that the selectors chose me in the squad.”
Younis, fully aware of the stakes which a Pakistan-India match offers, and considering how a bad performance can jeopardise Pakistan’s stay in the tournament, remained adamant that Asif’s inclusion in the playing eleven was a risk worth taking. Refraining from naming the final eleven until the toss on Saturday afternoon, Younis, after viewing Asif’s performance during training on Thursday, hinted while taking to Dawn that the lanky pacer may make his return to international cricket sooner rather than later.
Whatever the playing eleven today, Rana Naved was content with his own performance after making his comeback to international cricket. Terming the ICL a good learning curve and event that helped Indian cricket immensely, he did emphasis on the difference in the level of cricket in the league to what an international opposition offers. However, part of the Lahore Badhshahs squad that won the final 50-over tournament, it was not only his bowling but his batting — and sledging at times — that helped his team lift the trophy.
“ICL was a wonderful experience as we had ex-Pakistan players in the Badshahs squad. We all had good seasons and that helped a lot of us make successful returns to the Pakistan squad as well. It also helped the Indian youngsters who got a chance to play with the experienced internationals and learn a lot by just sharing the playing field with them.”
Following a successful county stint with Yorkshire, Naved could only manage one wicket in the first two matches of his comeback. However, Naved’s 4 for 44 in his third matches silenced the critics and assured the selectors into handing him a place in the 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy.
“It was difficult making a comeback for Pakistan after being out for so long. The first match was specially difficult as is always the case when you come back after an injury or omission. However, my fitness levels remained high throughout and so was the morale so thankfully I didn’t have a reason to be worried and it showed in my performance in the following matches.”
However, with the team management desperate for Asif to get into form prior to the Test series in New Zealand and Australia, Naved, with an impressive 31 wickets in 15 matches against India, may well carry drinks against India. For Pakistan’s sake, the change, if it happens, must pay immediate dividends for the risk not to pay off may have severe consequences on Pakistan’s future in the tournament.
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN, Sep 26, 2009
A wicket in his second over and movement throughout the innings, Naved remained a threat to the under-strength West Indies line-up before Umar Gul and the spinners brought about a speedy end to the innings.
Naved, who made his comeback to the national side after quitting the ICL, was faced with a similar situation at the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. A shock loss at the hands of the hosts in the tournament opener left Pakistan facing an uphill task to make it past the first round.
Naved returned with unimpressive figures of 0 for 49 in nine overs and was then overlooked for the rest of the tournament that Pakistan exited early following shock defeat at the hands of Ireland.
Giving a confident look despite the axe looming, Naved, having taken 101 wickets in 66 ODIs, termed it part and parcel of the game and remained unperturbed by the return of Mohammad Asif who looks likely to take over his place in the starting line-up.
“I’m actually happy for Asif and his comeback following the ban,” Naved told Dawn. “It’s a good thing for Pakistan cricket and will help the team immensely. I’m not worried about him being included in the side at my expense as he is not only my club-mate but is also from the same city as me and I can only wish him well. I’m a strong believer in the team consisting of performers who will help achieve victory be it Asif or me.”
Asif, who underwent a surprise dope test on the first day back with the squad, shrugged aside apprehensions of match fitness and physical health. “Although I haven’t played international cricket for a long time now, I have been involved in training at the NCA as well as with club teams in Pakistan. I’ve never felt I’ve been away from the game itself and my fitness levels can be judged by my performance in the nets and the fact that the selectors chose me in the squad.”
Younis, fully aware of the stakes which a Pakistan-India match offers, and considering how a bad performance can jeopardise Pakistan’s stay in the tournament, remained adamant that Asif’s inclusion in the playing eleven was a risk worth taking. Refraining from naming the final eleven until the toss on Saturday afternoon, Younis, after viewing Asif’s performance during training on Thursday, hinted while taking to Dawn that the lanky pacer may make his return to international cricket sooner rather than later.
Whatever the playing eleven today, Rana Naved was content with his own performance after making his comeback to international cricket. Terming the ICL a good learning curve and event that helped Indian cricket immensely, he did emphasis on the difference in the level of cricket in the league to what an international opposition offers. However, part of the Lahore Badhshahs squad that won the final 50-over tournament, it was not only his bowling but his batting — and sledging at times — that helped his team lift the trophy.
“ICL was a wonderful experience as we had ex-Pakistan players in the Badshahs squad. We all had good seasons and that helped a lot of us make successful returns to the Pakistan squad as well. It also helped the Indian youngsters who got a chance to play with the experienced internationals and learn a lot by just sharing the playing field with them.”
Following a successful county stint with Yorkshire, Naved could only manage one wicket in the first two matches of his comeback. However, Naved’s 4 for 44 in his third matches silenced the critics and assured the selectors into handing him a place in the 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy.
“It was difficult making a comeback for Pakistan after being out for so long. The first match was specially difficult as is always the case when you come back after an injury or omission. However, my fitness levels remained high throughout and so was the morale so thankfully I didn’t have a reason to be worried and it showed in my performance in the following matches.”
However, with the team management desperate for Asif to get into form prior to the Test series in New Zealand and Australia, Naved, with an impressive 31 wickets in 15 matches against India, may well carry drinks against India. For Pakistan’s sake, the change, if it happens, must pay immediate dividends for the risk not to pay off may have severe consequences on Pakistan’s future in the tournament.
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN, Sep 26, 2009
I want to emulate Sachin’s 2003 feat in today’s clash: Younis
If wins could be traded for enthusiasm and courage, Younis Khan should collect the winner’s cheque following Pakistan’s crunch encounter against arch-rivals India at the Centurion today.
Younis confirmed his participation in today’s match after missing his side’s opening win against the West Indies due to a fractured finger. Advised four weeks’ rest, Younis remains adamant to play through the pain and hopes to emulate Sachin Tendulkar’s innings against Pakistan at the World Cup 2003 while leading his side to victory.
Pakistan come into the match following three consecutive wins on the tour, a feat alien to the team on tours. India, who claimed number one ranking in the ODI table following South Africa’s defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, were handed a 103-run loss by New Zealand in their only warm-up match. Younis, labelling the opposition the best team in the tournament, remains wary of the fightback India is capable of and opted to make himself available for the encounter despite the injury.
“If the opposition wasn’t India, I might have rested the fractured finger slightly longer,” Younis said in his pre-match conference after Pakistan’s training session. “It’s easy for me to run away from this and avoid the crunch match but I prefer to look at the bigger picture. I want to play, score a century, get the man-of-the-match award or just have a hand in leading Pakistan to victory. Not playing is not an option for me. I want to perform like Sachin did in 2003 against us so that people remember my innings just like they do his, especially given my fractured finger.”
Younis’ return is likely to mark the exit for Imran Nazir, the solitary specialist opener in the 15-man squad with Shoaib Malik likely to be promoted to open the innings with Kamran Akmal.
With Younis forming a formidable middle-order with Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq, with the in-form duo of Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s vice-captain, to follow. The return from the 12-month ban of Mohammad Asif also poses a tricky dilemma for the team management, with the captain keen on drafting the lanky pacer into the side to face India. While shying away from naming the playing eleven, Younis, in an exclusive interview with Dawn, realised that playing Asif would be a huge risk given the stakes but a risk he was willing to take.
“Asif’s return is a welcome sign for us. He looked in good form during the training sessions and, despite his inclusion being a total gamble, it is a risk I’m willing to take. He may turn out to be our trump card and help us beat India or it may backfire badly. But in life, you need to take risks and I’d rather face the consequences in the worst-case scenario than regret not having gambled on him.”
The likely omission, if Pakistan were to include Asif in the squad, will be Rana Naved who had figures of 1 for 26 in the opening match.
Whatever the team combination, Younis has emphasised the need for his players to perform and enable Pakistan to come out on top — a win that, according to Younis, the nation badly Centurion: Pakistan captain Younis Khan (R) and fast bowler Mohammad Asif wait for their turn during a training session at SuperSport Park on Friday. Both will be key
needs. “We all know it’s a crunch match but there is no need to take any pressure. I have told my players the same thing to help motivate them and not take any unnecessary pressure which sometimes directly contributes to a side’s collapse.”
Younis reserved special praise for the younger Akmal, terming his calculated innings against West Indies (and unbeaten 41 off 51 balls) a great sign for the future. “He is a very energetic player and uses his brain well despite being very new to first-class cricket. He adapted well to conditions at the Wanderers, took his time settling in and then launched into his natural game.”
While India will be missing Virendar Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh, much emphasis will be on Sachin Tendulkar who took Pakistan apart with a 75-ball 98 in 2003 and if he will be able to repeat his performance from six years ago at this ground.
The Pakistan captain, in awe of that innings and cherishing the chance to see Tendulkar in action once again, remained confident that it was the Indian batsman and not the Pakistan side that will be under pressure.
“As we know India will be without their key players and because of that, the onus will be on Sachin to perform and deliver. There’s nothing scary about him as he’s not a ghost and I’m actually happy when he scores
against us. It gives me pleasure to watch him bat and score and there’s a lot you can learn by watching him do just that. However, we’re playing against eleven men and not an individual so we need to look out for the whole team and not just a single batsman.”
While much will depend on the toss, with the lack of sunshine coming into the match likely to keep the pitch soft and difficult for batting, bowlers are still expected to be the underdogs with both teams fielding strong batting line-ups.
For India, it will be a case of carrying on from their Twenty20 win against Pakistan at The Oval in June. Pakistan, however, will be hoping for a lesson learnt, restricting the run-flow and hoping the wall crumbles against an unnerving and energetic bowling attack and an individual hoping to make amends for his actions just over twelve months ago.
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 26, 2009
Younis confirmed his participation in today’s match after missing his side’s opening win against the West Indies due to a fractured finger. Advised four weeks’ rest, Younis remains adamant to play through the pain and hopes to emulate Sachin Tendulkar’s innings against Pakistan at the World Cup 2003 while leading his side to victory.
Pakistan come into the match following three consecutive wins on the tour, a feat alien to the team on tours. India, who claimed number one ranking in the ODI table following South Africa’s defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, were handed a 103-run loss by New Zealand in their only warm-up match. Younis, labelling the opposition the best team in the tournament, remains wary of the fightback India is capable of and opted to make himself available for the encounter despite the injury.
“If the opposition wasn’t India, I might have rested the fractured finger slightly longer,” Younis said in his pre-match conference after Pakistan’s training session. “It’s easy for me to run away from this and avoid the crunch match but I prefer to look at the bigger picture. I want to play, score a century, get the man-of-the-match award or just have a hand in leading Pakistan to victory. Not playing is not an option for me. I want to perform like Sachin did in 2003 against us so that people remember my innings just like they do his, especially given my fractured finger.”
Younis’ return is likely to mark the exit for Imran Nazir, the solitary specialist opener in the 15-man squad with Shoaib Malik likely to be promoted to open the innings with Kamran Akmal.
With Younis forming a formidable middle-order with Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq, with the in-form duo of Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s vice-captain, to follow. The return from the 12-month ban of Mohammad Asif also poses a tricky dilemma for the team management, with the captain keen on drafting the lanky pacer into the side to face India. While shying away from naming the playing eleven, Younis, in an exclusive interview with Dawn, realised that playing Asif would be a huge risk given the stakes but a risk he was willing to take.
“Asif’s return is a welcome sign for us. He looked in good form during the training sessions and, despite his inclusion being a total gamble, it is a risk I’m willing to take. He may turn out to be our trump card and help us beat India or it may backfire badly. But in life, you need to take risks and I’d rather face the consequences in the worst-case scenario than regret not having gambled on him.”
The likely omission, if Pakistan were to include Asif in the squad, will be Rana Naved who had figures of 1 for 26 in the opening match.
Whatever the team combination, Younis has emphasised the need for his players to perform and enable Pakistan to come out on top — a win that, according to Younis, the nation badly Centurion: Pakistan captain Younis Khan (R) and fast bowler Mohammad Asif wait for their turn during a training session at SuperSport Park on Friday. Both will be key
needs. “We all know it’s a crunch match but there is no need to take any pressure. I have told my players the same thing to help motivate them and not take any unnecessary pressure which sometimes directly contributes to a side’s collapse.”
Younis reserved special praise for the younger Akmal, terming his calculated innings against West Indies (and unbeaten 41 off 51 balls) a great sign for the future. “He is a very energetic player and uses his brain well despite being very new to first-class cricket. He adapted well to conditions at the Wanderers, took his time settling in and then launched into his natural game.”
While India will be missing Virendar Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh, much emphasis will be on Sachin Tendulkar who took Pakistan apart with a 75-ball 98 in 2003 and if he will be able to repeat his performance from six years ago at this ground.
The Pakistan captain, in awe of that innings and cherishing the chance to see Tendulkar in action once again, remained confident that it was the Indian batsman and not the Pakistan side that will be under pressure.
“As we know India will be without their key players and because of that, the onus will be on Sachin to perform and deliver. There’s nothing scary about him as he’s not a ghost and I’m actually happy when he scores
against us. It gives me pleasure to watch him bat and score and there’s a lot you can learn by watching him do just that. However, we’re playing against eleven men and not an individual so we need to look out for the whole team and not just a single batsman.”
While much will depend on the toss, with the lack of sunshine coming into the match likely to keep the pitch soft and difficult for batting, bowlers are still expected to be the underdogs with both teams fielding strong batting line-ups.
For India, it will be a case of carrying on from their Twenty20 win against Pakistan at The Oval in June. Pakistan, however, will be hoping for a lesson learnt, restricting the run-flow and hoping the wall crumbles against an unnerving and energetic bowling attack and an individual hoping to make amends for his actions just over twelve months ago.
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
I was given a free hand at the crease: Umar Akmal
A fine unbeaten, match-winning innings on Wednesday against the West Indies further cemented dashing Umar Akmal’s place in the Pakistan one day side as the young batsman once again showed maturity beyond his age in his team’s opening game at the ICC Champions Trophy.
Countering a seemingly-innocuous bowling attack that had threaded through Pakistan’s strong batting line-up chasing a small total, Umar, playing only his fifth ODI, blended caution and aggression aptly and even left his captain, Shahid Afridi, subdued and in admiration.
“I was delighted to be part of the team and playing my first match in an ICC tournament,” Umar, who already has a century and a half-century in ODIs to his name, said after his 51-ball 41. “Our bowlers did a very good job but we struggled slightly with the bat. However, I must thank the team management for all the support as even before coming into bat, I was given a free hand and told to play my natural game.”
Umar, with a career strike-rate of almost 100, did curb his natural ways initially with Pakistan reeling at 61 for 4, Gavin Tonge having taken a career-best four wickets. Easing into his stay onto the pitch gradually, lofted, drove and flicked Pakistan towards the target, hitting six boundaries and carrying on the scintillating start to his international career.
“It was a difficult pitch with uneven bounce and light grass and the batsmen couldn’t hit freely,” Intikhab Alam, Pakistan’s coach, said. “We created problems for ourselves. Most of our dismissals were due to reckless strokeplay as you had to wait for the ball to come onto you and play in the gaps. However, we bowled a good line after losing the toss and that ensured we were not chasing a mammoth total.
“I was impressed with the way Afridi captained the side too. It was a good decision by the board to appoint him captain following Younis Khan’s resignation after the World Twenty20 and that decision was part of future planning. Afridi showed a lot of maturity and responsibility and I’m sure he will get more chances in the future to show more of the same.”
Intikhab also reserved praise for Umar, who got hit on his finger by a beamer from Tino Best, while reminding the youngster of bigger tests that await — Pakistan’s next match at Centurion on Saturday which is against India. “Umar has done a great deal of work and performed well in a very short space of time. We expect great deal from him as he has a great future. However, we must not get complacent since we have a very important match coming up against India.”
While Younis looks all set to return from injury to play that crucial game — India’s opening match of the tournament — their opponents have injury concerns of their own. Already without the services of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, India also lost Yuvraj Singh to a finger injury thus tilting the balance slightly in favour of Pakistan.
“Yuvraj has done wonders for Indian cricket and his services will be severely missed by the team,” Intikhab said. “However, these things happen in cricket and for it to matter in the end, we must ensure we don’t have hiccups as this is a great chance to beat India in an ICC tournament.”
Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif trained with the squad for the first time on Wednesday following the completion of a twelve-month ban for doping offence. Asif, despite the competitive-cricket drought, is match-fit and in contention of a place in the starting line-up for Saturday, according to Intikhab.
“Asif is completely match-fit as he has been training with the academy and club sides in Pakistan. It’s good to have him back and it will provide us with a welcome dilemma whether to include him or not in the team since our bowlers performed really well against West Indies.”
While the initial jitters and poor-starters tag was put to place in a flimsy manner, three points ensure Pakistan go to Centurion on Saturday beaming with confidence. A win will ensure Pakistan make it to the last four of the Champions Trophy for only the first time. A loss, however, will not only need a win against Australia in their final group match but also incur the fans’ wrath, especially with the support both teams are expected to have in the stands on Saturday.
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 25, 2009.
Countering a seemingly-innocuous bowling attack that had threaded through Pakistan’s strong batting line-up chasing a small total, Umar, playing only his fifth ODI, blended caution and aggression aptly and even left his captain, Shahid Afridi, subdued and in admiration.
“I was delighted to be part of the team and playing my first match in an ICC tournament,” Umar, who already has a century and a half-century in ODIs to his name, said after his 51-ball 41. “Our bowlers did a very good job but we struggled slightly with the bat. However, I must thank the team management for all the support as even before coming into bat, I was given a free hand and told to play my natural game.”
Umar, with a career strike-rate of almost 100, did curb his natural ways initially with Pakistan reeling at 61 for 4, Gavin Tonge having taken a career-best four wickets. Easing into his stay onto the pitch gradually, lofted, drove and flicked Pakistan towards the target, hitting six boundaries and carrying on the scintillating start to his international career.
“It was a difficult pitch with uneven bounce and light grass and the batsmen couldn’t hit freely,” Intikhab Alam, Pakistan’s coach, said. “We created problems for ourselves. Most of our dismissals were due to reckless strokeplay as you had to wait for the ball to come onto you and play in the gaps. However, we bowled a good line after losing the toss and that ensured we were not chasing a mammoth total.
“I was impressed with the way Afridi captained the side too. It was a good decision by the board to appoint him captain following Younis Khan’s resignation after the World Twenty20 and that decision was part of future planning. Afridi showed a lot of maturity and responsibility and I’m sure he will get more chances in the future to show more of the same.”
Intikhab also reserved praise for Umar, who got hit on his finger by a beamer from Tino Best, while reminding the youngster of bigger tests that await — Pakistan’s next match at Centurion on Saturday which is against India. “Umar has done a great deal of work and performed well in a very short space of time. We expect great deal from him as he has a great future. However, we must not get complacent since we have a very important match coming up against India.”
While Younis looks all set to return from injury to play that crucial game — India’s opening match of the tournament — their opponents have injury concerns of their own. Already without the services of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, India also lost Yuvraj Singh to a finger injury thus tilting the balance slightly in favour of Pakistan.
“Yuvraj has done wonders for Indian cricket and his services will be severely missed by the team,” Intikhab said. “However, these things happen in cricket and for it to matter in the end, we must ensure we don’t have hiccups as this is a great chance to beat India in an ICC tournament.”
Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif trained with the squad for the first time on Wednesday following the completion of a twelve-month ban for doping offence. Asif, despite the competitive-cricket drought, is match-fit and in contention of a place in the starting line-up for Saturday, according to Intikhab.
“Asif is completely match-fit as he has been training with the academy and club sides in Pakistan. It’s good to have him back and it will provide us with a welcome dilemma whether to include him or not in the team since our bowlers performed really well against West Indies.”
While the initial jitters and poor-starters tag was put to place in a flimsy manner, three points ensure Pakistan go to Centurion on Saturday beaming with confidence. A win will ensure Pakistan make it to the last four of the Champions Trophy for only the first time. A loss, however, will not only need a win against Australia in their final group match but also incur the fans’ wrath, especially with the support both teams are expected to have in the stands on Saturday.
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 25, 2009.
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