Sialkot Stallions vs Auckland Aces – Match Preview – Champions League T20 2012
Sialkot Stallions and Auckland Aces will be up against each other today in the first Pool A qualifying fixture of the Champions League T20 2012 at Johannesburg.
Heavy rain is expected in the city today, which makes it extremely unlikely that the cricket fans will witness a complete 20-overs a side match. In case of a rain interruption, both the teams will consider them unlucky, which will leave them with just one more match each to qualify for the event.
Sialkot Stallions, Pakistan’s domestic T20 champions, are going to take part in the tournament for the very first time, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 terror attacks in 2008.
The Stallions, led by the former Pakistan captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Qaiser-Abbas-c82812 and Mohammad Ayub.
However, Malik and company have been hampered by the 12-week ban imposed on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Somerset-c843.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Naved-Anjum-c78890, the Stallions’ coach, has admitted that the seasoned cricketer’s absence is going to hurt his side’s chances in the illustrious competition, because of his vast experience at the sport’s all levels.
“Not being able to select (Abdur) Rehman for the Champions League is a very big loss to us. He is an experienced cricketer and we all know what talents he possesses when bowling in all formats,” said the Sialkot mentor. “He would have been a certainty to bowl four good overs for us in each match and is a useful late order batsman also.”
Usually, Pakistani cricketers are not associated with good fielding but quite pleasantly, Sialkot are a very good fielding team in the presence of Malik, Nazir, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Haris-Sohail-c61503 and Rana Naved.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Raza-Hasan-c84407.
Malik also believes that the unorthodox bowling attack is going to be his secret weapon in the competition.
"There is an advantage for us because the other teams haven't seen some of our youngsters who have not played international cricket," the former Pakistan captain added.
On the other side of the coin, Auckland also have a number of quality cricketers in their ranks, having immense experience of the game’s shortest version.
Captained by the Test wicketkeeper/batsman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CS-Martin-c1295.
However, discarded http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Azhar-Mahmood-c1116, is going to be the key for the Aces in this tournament, taking into account the quality and experience he brings to the Kiwi side.
If the match is not hampered by rain, the cricket fans should be in for a good contest, especially because both the teams are not familiar with each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
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