Can Shahid Afridi Help Pakistan Win the 20/20 World Cup
No team has had a change of fortunes as drastic as the defending Twenty20 World Cup champions Pakistan. Even by their own standards, the most unpredictable team has won 1 test and lost a handful since winning the Twenty20 World Cup in England less than a year back.
The investigation by Pakistan Cricket Board into the disastrous tour of Australia resulted in lifetime suspensions being handed out to former captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, while former skipper Shoaib Malik, and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan received lesser bans and the Akmal brothers - Kamran and Umer - along with the captain Shahid Afridi were fined and placed on probation.
Pakistan Players to Watch:
Shahid Afridi has won four of Pakistan’s six games as captain, and is likely to take into the tournament his amazing form in the shortest version of the game. His leg-spin provides a genuine wicket taking threat while his quick scoring is always helpful, in any condition and circumstances.
Pakistan will also benefit from the emergence of Umar Akmal, the batsmen with the golden touch and the recall of Under-19 World Cup hero Hammad Azam. Add Mohammad Hafeez who played an important part in the inaugural World Cup and you have a side capable of anything.
Pros of Pakistan Cricket:
Pakistan has played some superb cricket in the last 10 months, losing just 2 Twenty20 matches - once against Australia and once against England - to round off a spectacular record of 22 wins from 30 matches. The team has a battery of all-rounders in Abdur Razzaq, Mohammad Hafeez, Hammad Azam, Fawad Alam and Shahid Afridi, and if given the chance, those with unproven record will try to prove their mettle.
Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja has said that though some of the key players are missing from the squad, it still has got the 'firepower' to defend the ICC World T20 title in the West Indies.
Raja said the incumbent skipper Shahid Afridi has been performing brilliantly in the shortest version of the game, and expressed the hope that he would lead the team from the front during the mega event.
Cons of Pakistan Cricket:
Pakistan’s catching, more importantly fielding, has been a major weak point of the squad. It will hit the defending champions as hard as the absence of the experienced Younis Khan and Umar Gul. There is also the top-order issue that remains the case as the selectors dropped the experienced Imran Farhat and the explosive Imran Nazir. Salman Butt has been retained in the side despite never faring well in Twenty20 and he is likely to open the innings with either Kamran Akmal or Mohammad Hafeez.
Journey in the Twenty20 World Cup:
Pakistan has had enjoyable outings in both the Twenty20 World Cup events so far. Not only have they reached the final of both the editions, they have given the latest format some of its heroes including Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Aamir and Shahid Afridi. They lost to India in the final of 2007 but managed to tame the Lankan tigers last year in front of a jam packed Lord’s Cricket Stadium to take the title.
Pakistan Chances in the Third 20/20 World Cup:
Pakistan will bank on their spinners and if the late inclusion Abdur Rehman does get to play, he will trouble the batsmen due to his experience and bowling in tandem with the wily Afridi on the other end. They have been placed with Bangladesh and Australia in Group A and will fancy their chances against both the opponents. If Pakistan cricket team manages to reach the second stage of the event, they will be unstoppable since it has been the case; whenever they have been termed non favourites, they have managed to take the title with them.
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http://www.senore.com/Pakistan-Vs-Bangladesh,-Pakistan-Defending-the-World-T20-Title-a10723
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http://www.senore.com/Pakistan-need-positive-World-Twenty20-start-against-Bangladesh-a10706
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