<p><strong>Analysis of <a title="Pakistan" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755">Pakistan</a>-11 ahead of quarter-final clash with the <a title="West Indies" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760">West Indies</a> - ICC World Cup 2011<br /> </strong></p> <p>Pakistan has grown from strength to strength in the ICC World Cup 2011, which is being played in the Subcontinent. The Men-in-Green have qualified for the knockout stage, and will meet the West Indies in the first quarter-final match of the event on Wednesday, 23<sup>rd</sup> March.</p> <p>There wasn’t much expected from Pakistan before the start of the tournament, as the team was troubled by many controversies. However, the squad has gelled nicely under captain <a title="Shahid Afridi" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482">Shahid Afridi</a> and coach Waqar Younis.</p> <p>This helped them finish at the top of Group A with five wins from six matches. The Green Shirts were victorious against the mighty Sri Lankan and Australian teams, but their batting was exposed in the group match with <a title="New Zealand" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754">New Zealand</a>.</p> <p>The strength of Pakistan has been their bowling and this has been the case for a very long time. Even when the likes of <a title="Saeed Anwar" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Anwar-c87864">Saeed Anwar</a>, <a title="Inzamam-ul-Haq" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Inzamam-ul-Haq-c64383">Inzamam-ul-Haq</a>, <a title="Javed Miandad" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Javed-Miandad-c66580">Javed Miandad</a> and Amir Sohail were present in the batting line-up, Pakistan’s bowling won them more matches compared to the batting.</p> <p>Although <a title="Wasim Akram" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292">Wasim Akram</a> and Waqar Younis are no longer in the playing-11, there are still some talented fast bowlers in the Pakistan side like <a title="Umar Gul" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Gul-c94604">Umar Gul</a>, <a title="Wahab Riaz" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wahab-Riaz-c95839">Wahab Riaz</a>, <a title="Shoaib Akhtar" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Akhtar-c90080">Shoaib Akhtar</a> and Junaid Khan. These bowlers have the ability to rip through any batting lineup in the world.</p> <p>Apart from the fast bowlers, Pakistan has also got some spin wizards in their bowling line-up. Shahid Afridi has been terrific in the tournament until now and he has got good support from <a title="Abdur Rehman" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Abdur-Rehman-c41691">Abdur Rehman</a>, who has also done a great job with the new ball. Saeed Ajmal is the other spinner in the team, who hasn’t had much of an opportunity to express his skills.</p> <p>Batting and fielding could prove to be a huge weakness for the Men-in-Green, as the team is inconsistent in both these departments. They can choke under pressure, just like they did in their match against the Kiwi team.</p> <p>However, certain changes in the playing-11 have brought some consistency in the batting. Even though the openers haven’t been able to perform too well for the team, the middle-order has performed well for them.</p> <p>The team will be expecting veteran <a title="Younis Khan" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Younis-Khan-c98325">Younis Khan</a> and <a title="Misbah-ul-Haq" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972">Misbah-ul-Haq</a> to score the bulk of the runs and take some pressure off the shoulders of youngsters <a title="Asad Shafiq" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Asad-Shafiq-c46208">Asad Shafiq</a> and <a title="Umar Akmal" href="http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595">Umar Akmal</a>.</p> <p>As Pakistan will be up-against a very unpredictable team in their quarter-final match, there will be a lot of opportunities for them to attack the opposition and win the match by exerting pressure.</p> <p>The West Indies have got runs from their top-order batsmen, but the middle-order has failed to click against tougher opponents. If Chris Gayle gets out early in the match against Pakistan, it will be hard for the Windies to attack the Pakistan bowlers.</p> <p>The Caribbean Kings have a poor record against quality spinners and that could also prove to be a negative point for them in their quarter-final match. Pakistan on the other hand, have one of the best spin attacks in the tournament, and will be looking forward to take full advantage of it.</p> <p>Apart from a couple of explosive hitters like Gayle and Kieron Pollard, Pakistan could also be troubled by the West Indian bowlers. Kemar Roach, Andre Russell and Ravi Rampaul have all proved to be lethal for their opponents in the World Cup. They have the ability to swing the new ball and can also reverse it in the death overs.</p> <p>Apart from the quickies, Sulieman Benn and Devendra Bishoo have also offered good support to their team and could prove to be a threat for Pakistan's lower middle-order.</p> <p>Both teams seem well balanced which should make for quite a competitive game tomorrow.</p>
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