 Pakistan will play Zimbabwe in the 33rd game of the ICC Cricket World Cup at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium in Kandy on March 14. Pakistan have won three out of their four games so far, whereas the Zimbabweans have won one out of their four matches.
Pakistan come into the game with their confidence seriously dented when they
lost to the New Zealand side in the previous game. however, they will take confidence
from the fact that they have won three games before that, including two against
the Associates, Kenya and Canada and before after they had also beaten the Sri
Lankans in a shocking result.
Click for Live Score Card of Pakistan Vs Zimbabwe
On the other hand, Zimbabwe started off with a reasonable performance
against the Aussies despite losing the game but then went down to New Zealand
by ten wickets which meant that they were also down for the count. Then, in
their next game, Zimbabwe ran away easy winners over Canada but were routed
by Sri Lanka. It must be said that in the Sri Lanka game, the Zimbabweans had
their chances but they were not good enough to overcome the opponents.
Now, moving to this game, Pakistan have had a problem or two with their fitness
and form. The biggest talking point leading up to this game was the wicket-keeping
of Kamran Akmal. It was been said that Akmal was going to be dropped
from the playing eleven on account of his keeping and Umar Akmal was
going to be given the gloves. However, the issue with that was that Umar has
now proclaimed that he is now injured his finger and will not be able to play
in the game, which means that the gloves will go back to Kamran.
There is also another issue and that is to do with the openers' form. Both
Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shahzad have had issues in the tournament with the
runs and it will not be a surprise if one of them is dropped. What could work
in their favour is the injury to Umar. If he does not play in the game, then
it will probably make no sense to go into the game with two new players and
that will mean that the side could retain the opening combination.
The bowling of Shahid Afridi was handled well by the side and that will
mean that if the Zimbabweans can do that as well, things could look interesting
for the team.
|
