Shahid Afridi aiming to prove a point in the Caribbean
Pakistan’s One Day International (ODI) skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, aims to prove a point by winning the fifth and final match of the ongoing One Day series against the West Indies, scheduled for Thursday, May 5, 2011, at Providence.
Pakistan has already nailed the series, winning the first three encounters.
However, the hosts did manage to save some grace by beating the tourists in the rain affected fourth match of the series, thanks to the Duckworth- http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lewis-c72807 method.
The last over was bowled by the Pakistani skipper and had he known that he needed to prevent a boundary, he might have bowled a better delivery.
Pakistan was aiming for a clean sweep in the Caribbean, however, now a victory in the last match is what the Pakistani skipper would desire before he departs back home since Afridi no longer plays in the five-day version of the game.
The Test series between the two teams starts on May 12, 2011. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972, the Pakistani Test skipper will be eyeing a series win against the Windies as well.
Afridi, the flamboyant all-rounder, has been struggling with his batting form since before the recent World Cup, however, his captaincy record is much better.
Winning the series though has not improved Pakistan’s position in the ICC’s (International Cricket Council) ODI rankings. Currently Pakistan is placed at sixth place while the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 are at the ninth position.
Before the series, Afridi was hoping to improve Pakistan’s ranking by winning all the matches.
Much to his disappointment, he was informed later that a win will not gain his side anything. He expressed dismay at ICC’s ranking system, according to which, playing against low ranking teams doesn’t earn the stronger side any points.
After the fourth match, Afridi urged his batsmen to do well in the last match. The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 batting lineup failed to capitalize on a perfect start given to them by opener Mohammad Hafeez and middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq.
“The way Mohammad Hafeez played on a difficult pitch, and Asad Shafiq, I think we should have got 270-275. We missed that chance, didn't bat that well in the end. The new guys didn't get a proper chance, didn't get long enough to bat. Pretty happy with the bowlers," he said.
On the other hand, Darren Sammy, the West Indian skipper, would be hoping for another win to get some much needed confidence before going into the Test series.
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