ICC World Cup 2001 warm-ups: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 vs. England - Match Preview
Pakistan and England will go head-to-head for the first time since the summer of 2010 when both outfits face each other in the last warm-up game before the ICC World Cup 2011 starts in Dhaka.
This preparatory match is going to be very crucial for both teams as both the sides will enter the Naravangani Osmani Stadium at Fatullahthey to get some confidence before the mega event gets underway.
Both England and Pakistan will showcase their fighting skills on the eve of the mega event, which is expected to grab at least 1.7 billion television viewers.
The Afridi-led side will be on a high note after winning the recently concluded six-match One Day series in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 by 3-2 and then defeating the Bengali Tigers by 89 runs in the first preparatory game as well.
Pakistan will be eager to get another victory under their belt in the lead up to the ICC show piece event.
England, on the other hand, reached the Subcontinent after a 1-6 One Day International (ODI) drubbing at the hands of Ashes rivals, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canada-c748 in their first warm-up game, thanks to fast bowler
Stuart Broad’s five for 37.
Pakistan’s batting, bowling and fielding, was superb against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747, with younger and experienced payers both performing side by side.
The 19-year-old Ahmed Shehzad, who has played only nine ODIs, scored a level-headed century.The teenager’s efforts were well complimented by the vice-captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972, with a three-digit innings.
Though the rest of the batting line-up failed to click, the bowling attack of Pakistan did its job magnificently as they bundled the Tigers out for just 196, while they were chasing a daunting 286 run target.
England’s batting, especially the middle-order, would be their cause of concern, after it failed against the Canadian attack, as none of the English batsman except for Jonathan Trott and Matt Prior could get past the 25-run mark with five of the batsmen
falling for single digit figures.
Medium pacer, James Anderson, who is still battling with a back spasm, is most likely to take the new ball in today’s fixture.
Chris Tremlett, who was called up to England’s World Cup squad as a travelling reserve following a spate of injuries in the bowling attack, has been disallowed to participate in the warm-up game by the ICC.
The Men in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752 on 23 February on a triumphant note.
While England must be keen to use this chance to put their World Cup preparations back on track ahead of the tournament.
Pakistan Squad
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319, Asad Shafiq, Kamran Akmal (wk), Umar Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Abdur Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan
England Squad
Andrew Strauss (capt), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Suart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior (wk), http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajmal-Shahzad-c42489, Jonathan Trott, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy
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