Arch-rivals set for the biggest clash
Setting the sights on semi-final berth after registering nail-biting two-wicket victory over South Africa, Pakistan will meet arch-rivals India in the crucial match of ICC World Twenty20 in Colombo.
India, who lost to Australia by eight wickets, will battle for their survival in the showpiece event. Loss in today’s game means they will have to pack their luggage to return to home. A victory will make Pakistan’s way easy for the knock-out stage.
Though the statistics are evident that Pakistan has never beaten India in World Cups or World T20s, but Mohammad Hafeez-led party is eager to break the tradition this time.
Keeping the proficiency of Indian batsmen to cope with spinners, Pakistan could play an extra seamer, most probably Abdul Razzaq. However the Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Sami would be the other contenders for the slot which is likely to fell vacant by spinner Raza Hasan.
Pacers department looked lackluster in the trio games Pakistan have played so far. Contrarily the spinners have done their job outstandingly. Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi all bamboozle the opponent batsmen with their magical variations.
In batting department, the weapons of mass destruction Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal, Nasir Jamshed failed to explode against Proteas but indeed will be impatient to atone it failure by delivering their best against the arch-rivals.
On the other hand, the India are depleted due to the alleged controversy between skipper MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag. The explosive opener was dropped from the crucial matches against England and Australia.
If India again opts for five-bowler strategy, Irfan Pathan is expected to continue his role at opening position with Gautam Gambhir. Down the order they have power hitters like Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and indeed Dhoni himself.
Indian bowlers failed to put up a semblance of a fight against Australia and were mauled ruthlessly by David Warner and Shane Watson.
If we come to statistics, India hasn’t won a super eight game in World T20s since 2007, losing all 3 matches in 2009 and 2010 during the second phase of the tournament.
Pakistan:
Mohammad Hafeez (capt.), Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Nasir Jamshed, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Asad Shafiq, Raza Hasan.
India:
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt; wk), Gautam Gambhir, Ravichandran Ashwin, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Piyush Chawla, Ashok Dinda, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Yuvraj Singh.
