After demoralising defeats to India and West Indies, Pakistani supporters will have something to cheer about when their team locks horns with a superb South Africa side in the World Cup.
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The excitement that existed before Pakistan’s clash with India has been subdued but belief is building once again on the back off two assuring performances against minnows Zimbabwe and UAE.
For Pakistan the most important factor could well be the weather as heavy rain is forecast for Auckland, the host city of their clash with the Proteas.
It was the rain which saved them in the1992 World Cup and they went onto became champions and the rain that ended South Africa’s hopes in 2003..
Honestly speaking, Pakistan have a very small chance of winning this fixture and thus the rain could turn out to be a blessing in disguise because it would cut down the amount of runs Messrs de Villiers and Amla could heap on.
A loss would give Pakistan nothing while a washout would at least earn the team a point that could sneak us quarter-finals at the expense of West Indies or Ireland.
Aside from a blip against India, South Africa have been at their destructive best as demonstrated by two 400-plus totals in their four World Cup matches.
Most teams aim to score 325-330 in their 50 overs but South Africa seem to have higher expectations of themselves.
Pakistan need to find a way of stemming the Proteas’ run-flow and I feel the best way to do it would be to select Yasir Shah as a second spinner in at the expense of a pace bowler.
Misbahul Haq and Waqar Younis have been using the formula of four seamers but this thinking needs to be revised in order to prevent playing to the Proteas’ strengths.
By taking pace off the ball, Yasir, Afridi and Haris can be a more economical bowling unit against South Africa who are not traditionally strong against spin bowling.
If sanity prevails Nasir Jamshed will be dropped, while specialist wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed drafted in to beef-up the batting line-up.
The think tank must realize that they cannot afford to give any advantage to Amla or de Villiers with a drop catch from the inconsistent incumbent Umar Akmal.
Pakistan cannot afford a repeat of Virat Kohli’s dropped catch as it could cost them a place in the tournament.
The best way to challenge South Africa’s authority is to take the attack to them and Sarfaraz would inspire others to do the same as well.
If the team management is reluctant to open with Sarfaraz, then they could use Haris Sohail or Umar Akmal in that position because both have got the technical ability to make big scores if they can navigate through Steyn’s bombs.
Team Pakistan practise before #SAvPAK #SupportPakistan #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/nqxET0WoJN
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Misbah and company have got to take a gamble by putting South Africa in to bat first as they have been fragile after losing early wickets. Even South Africa can panic if they are put under the hammer.
The South African’s prefer to chase so if Pakistan can restrict them to a first-innings score of 250, Misbah’s men will have a real chance of winning the match.
Any batsman who gets going for Pakistan has the responsibility to make a big score and not lost their wicket cheaply as has happened against associate teams.
Pakistan also need to focus on the spinning threat from one who was formerly their own in Imran Tahir.
Pakistan’s batsmen are notoriously poor against left-arm spinners and leg-spinners as they do not have right technique to play against the ball spinning away. Imran has the ability to expose that frailty.
Having played with Imran for the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) I know that he is a true fighter and will not mind playing against his former Pakistan teammates.
He is a really expressive character and is eager to leave an impact in each and every game. Imran puts in more effort than others because he wants to show that he is not an outsider but someone who loves South Africa for giving him an opportunity that Pakistan could not.
A victory against South Africa would be really massive for the team as it could instill self-belief and would ring alarm bells for teams who see Pakistan as a soft touch.
In order to win this match Pakistan will surely need some luck, be that with the bat or through more natural means in the rain.
