http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755: A brief comparison of the two competitors’ top players (Part 4)
(Continuing from the discussion in http://www.senore.com/South-Africa-vs-Pakistan-A-brief-comparison-of-the-two-competitors-top-players-Part-3-a36745, regarding the difference of the two cricketing teams and the South African dominance in ODI and Test cricket over the unpredictable Pakistani cricket team)
One can surely not undermine the South Africans’ strengths and newfound talents. Their ODI team is ranked at number three by the International Cricket Council (ICC), based on their 20 matches in 2010, in which they have attained 2326 points, with a commendable rating of 116.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani ODI team is ranked by the ICC at number 6 among the 13 members of the ODI cricketing fraternity. The Asian team has played 22 ODI matches, securing 2176 points and a rating of 99.
In Test cricket, Pakistani credentials are on a downward slope. Pakistan has appeared in 23 Test matches in 2010, earning 1918 points and is rated at 83.
On the other hand, the South Africans’ Test ranking is number two. They have played 29 Test matches, and have secured 3463 points with a rating of 119.
With the inclusion of fast bowlers like young http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn and many more, the South African team looks set to dominate the tournament, and will definitely get the much-needed match practice before the 2011 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani team will rely on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 will have loads of pressure on his inexperienced captaining shoulders to lead the national side in the right direction.
Only time will be the better judge of character between the two cricketing nations. Besides the fact that the two T20 encounters are being played as charity matches for recently displaced flood victims in Pakistan, and the ODI series will be good pre-World Cup practice, this tournament is also important because the Pakistan cricket team has a lot to prove to the billions of cricket lovers around the world, and most importantly, to cricket fans in their own country.
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