CHANDIGARH, India — Pakistan’s World T20 campaign comes to a critical conclusion in Mohali on Friday as they aim to cling on to evaporating hopes of reaching the semi-finals in their last match of the Super 10s against Australia.
Pakistan can still mathematically qualify for the last four with a win, followed by an Australian victory over India, but would be reliant on a superior net run-rate than both sides which looks beyond them.
For Pakistan, the manner in which their side fell to defeat against New Zealand was worrying.
Before the match, quotes attributed to the PCB chairman claimed Shahid Afridi’s international career was over and that the whole coaching staff were under scrutiny.
It cannot have helped things and the way they capitulated in the middle overs, and the manner in which Waqar Younis openly criticised his players, showed a team tearing itself apart – in keeping with the long traditions of self-implosion in Pakistan cricket.
As for the Aussies, they do not seem to know their best side and will be hoping that something clicks in Mohali on a pitch that should be gleefully greeted by their big-hitting middle order.
Having seen the mastery of Ish Sodhi’s leggies on an unresponsive deck in that Kiwi win over Pakistan, Adam Zampa will be hoping to bowl with as much control as the Pakistan batsmen aim to target the youngster.
The Australians’ destiny is in their own hands, and victory over Pakistan will essentially setup a quarter-final match with India at the same ground on March 27.
STEVE SMITH:
“Yesterday [the pitch] looked pretty good. It had a bit of grass on it so it could go through pretty nicely. It’s probably as close to Australian conditions as we’ll get so we’re pretty excited about that. We’re playing in a World Cup on the world stage so there’s always pressure there. It’s made the equation pretty simple for us, we need to win our next two games and it’s as simple as that.”
SHOAIB MALIK:
“If you compare the 2009 team [that won the World T20] with this team then, skill-wise, this team is a much better team. The 2009 team was more professional. I’ve played against [Zampa] two years ago in the Big Bash. He’s a very good bowler but I would say this track is not really for spinners. [Wahab Riaz] is fit and available for selection for tomorrow’s game.”
PREDICTION
Both teams have been wildly inconsistent, not finding the rhythm or composure needed to see themselves over the line in tight affairs. A near impossible one to call but never one to sit on the fence it’s going to be an Australia win, and time for Pakistan to say goodbye to the tournament.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Australia: Khawaja, Watson, Smith (c), Warner, Maxwell, Marsh, Faulkner, Hastings, Nevill (wk), Coulter-Nile, Zampa
Pakistan: Sharjeel, Shehzad, Akmal, Malik, Afridi (c), Sarfraz (wk), Hafeez, Sami, Riaz, Amir, Irfan
