Start giving us good starts, Afridi tells his openers

 Shahid Afridi is urging his openers to get their acts together ahead of the ‘important’ World Cup game against New Zealand at Pallekele on March 8.

The Pakistanis have recorded three wins in a row but so far their opening batsmen — Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad — have failed to click and for the Pakistan captain that’s a big cause for concern.

“We need a good start, our starts are not good considering the kind of players we have,” said Afridi, who almost single-handedly won Thursday’s match against underdogs Canada with 5-23 after Pakistan were bowled out for just 184.

In their first three World Cup matches here, the Hafeez-Shehzad partnership has just contributed a total 78 runs which is quite alarming considering the fact that two of Pakistan’s matches were against minnows Kenya and Canada.

Pakistan have the option of changing the opening combination by bringing in the experienced Kamran Akmal at the top but Afridi said that the tour selection committee will look into the matter ahead of Tuesday’s match against the Black Caps.

Afridi’s Pakistan beat the Black Caps 3-2 in their One-day International series in New Zealand last month but Afridi believes that the result won’t have much impact on their World Cup clash.

“I think that was a ODI series and this is the World Cup,” said Afridi.

“That (win) is behind us. Every team has come here well-prepared. I won’t say which team is favourite because the team that plays well on the given day will win. We will go all out for a win because it’s a very important game.”

On Thursday Afridi became the first bowler to capture three successive four wicket hauls in a World Cup and is now the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 14 victims.

But the flamboyant allrounder has so far failed to impress with the bat. Is Afridi’s lack of form with the bat bothering him?

“I am doing my best in batting and bowling and hope that I will come good in batting too,” he said. “I always focus on my bowling first because that’s my strength.”

Since the tournament began, Afridi has taken up the role of a very demanding captain and is always seen running from one teammate to another with advice or instruction during the course of a match. In fact one of his senior players — Shoaib Akhtar — even decsribed him as somebody who is really ‘hyper’.

“As their captain, I can’t just stand there and wait because then the entire team will be affected,” smiled Afridi.

Afridi, 31, has picked up almost half the wickets for Pakistan in their last three games — a performnace that is beginning to raise question marks over the performance of the rest of the bowling attack.

“Personally I always try to give my my best,” he said. “The coaches too are helping the bowlers and we’ve been taking wickets whenever we’ve needed them.”

New Zealand brace for in-form Pakistan

The pressure on the Test teams in Group A, unlike those scrumming in Group B, is of a milder nature. The teams in Group B are securing quarter-final qualification first and looking after their positions in the process. Unless Zimbabwe scores an unlikely upset, however, all four Test teams in Group A are ensured of a place in the knockouts. They are merely jostling for places at present. Of the strongest, New Zealand are the weakest. Their opponents on Tuesday, Pakistan, are the only team to win everything so far.

New Zealand have beaten Kenya and Zimbabwe - by a ten-wicket margin no less - and another victory against Canada will see them through. It's that brittle performance against Australia, however, that is an indication of the difficulty they will face against formidable sides. On paper, like previous New Zealand teams, this one also has the facets of a fighting outfit.

They have explosive hitters, theoretically bat extremely deep, and have an abundance of bowling options, fast and slow. Their fielding, as ever, is among the best. Their problems are a combination of form, poor technique, and impatience that led to several batsmen chasing and edging wide deliveries against Australia. It's the batting that needs fixing first, for without runs on the subcontinent there is little hope, and they'll have to do it against one of the tournament's most in-form bowling attacks. 

The odds on Pakistan being the only team with a 100% win record halfway into the league stage would have been rather high at the start of the World Cup. They weren't being talked up in the lead-up to the tournament - the spot-fixing scandal and the uncertainty over the one-day captaincy overshadowing their performances on the field. But they put Kenya and Canada away and in between those victories toppled tournament favourites Sri Lanka.

Their middle order has largely been solid, and the one time it failed - against Canada - their bowlers raised their game to meet the challenge. They've met and beaten New Zealand in a one-day series immediately preceeding the World cup. Play to potential and Pakistan will expect to dispatch them again tomorrow. Slip, and it could be the opening New Zealand need to rediscover their efficient game. 

Bangladesh may tour Pakistan in 2012 – Mustafa Kamal

Brushing aside the security concerns in Pakistan, the President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Mustafa Kamal has made it clear that the senior team is not in a position to tour Pakistan before 2012. “Pakistan and Bangladesh should definitely play, there is nothing wrong in it. I had a fruitful meeting with Ejaz Butt in this regard but next year we will only be sending either our under 19 or academy team to Pakistan”, said the BCB Chief while talking to this correspondent for News One TV.

“May be in 2012, we shall be in a position to play in Pakistan”, the BCB chief added.

While turning down the security fears, Mustafa Kamal stated that with the tight schedule of the national team, touring Pakistan next year is highly unlikely. “No, law and order issue is not there at all. If law and order would have been the issue then how come we would be sending our under 19 team to Pakistan? Because of our tight schedule and engagements we are not in a position to send our team to Pakistan next year”, said Mustafa Kamal is also the President of the Asian Cricket Council.

Captaincy is the secret behind success – Rashid Latif

The Former Pakistan Captain, Rashid Latif is of the view that the harmony between coach and the captain is paying dividends on the field. “Afridi has been able to impart the strategy and his own enthusiasm to the other players which is indeed the secret behind our success. Sprits are high under Afridi’s leadership”, stated Latif while talking to News One TV.

“The team developed a much-needed fighting spirit which is a very heartening thing to see after months of turmoil”, maintained Latif

On a question, Rashid Latif said that primarily Afridi has been performing very well as a bowler lately, and hoped that his majestic bowling would boost his confidence which would soon reflect in his batting as well.

Latif also turned down the idea of altering the combination in haste, saying that it is not the right time to put overdue emphasis on the issue. “The problem is that we have millions of coaches and strategists at home, but this is the job of the management which I believe is consist of experienced individuals. They have the firsthand knowledge of the conditions therefore let them do their work and hope for the best”, said Latif.

Pakistan favourites against Kiwis - Bookies

KARACHI: The international sports betting website has termed Pakistan as favourites for the Tuesday’s encounter against Black Caps to be played at newly built Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy.

Pakistan is currently leading Group A with six points as they have won their all three matches played so far in the tournament while New Zealand have lost one match against Australia while they have defeated the minnows Kenya and Zimbabwe convincingly.

As per the sports betting website, the Pakistan rate for the Tuesday match is $1.590 while the rate for Black Caps victory is $2.300.

It is important to mention here that Pakistan had defeated New Zealand at their backyard in a six-match one day international series by 3-2 just before the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Pakistan’s skipper Boom Boom Afridi is in prime bowling form as he is the leading wicket taker of the tournament with 14 wickets in three matches.