MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015 SPORTS Afghanistan look to repeat Ireland shock factor

KARACHI: Afghanistan hope to follow the World Cup giant-killing blueprint drawn up by fellow out- siders Ireland when they make their debut at the game’s showpiece tournament. Ireland defeated mighty to reach the Super Eights stage at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean before defeating in a high-scor- ing match in the 2011 tournament in India. “My wish would be to emulate what Ireland have done in the last couple of World Cups. They have caused shocks by playing positive, entertaining ,” said , who replaced former Pakistan paceman as Afghanistan coach in September last year. It was Kabir who lifted the nascent cricket nation from division five in 2008 to narrowly missing out on a berth in the 2011 World Cup. Another former Pakistani international, , then helped Afghanistan reach the the 2010 World and take the silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games in China. Latif believes Afghanistan should not worry about results in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand where they will face both co-hosts as well as , England, Bangladesh and Scotland in the group stages. “I have faith in them. The way they are investing money, the Afghanistan team will beat top teams in the next five years,” said Latif. But he also cautioned: “I don’t want them to go down like Kenya.” The African nation reached the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup but their fall from grace led them to losing their one-day international credentials. “For me they should gain more and more experi- ence and with that learn to play better after the World Cup. “I want them to play in a manner that if the kids are watching on television back home they will feel proud of them.” With two channels pledging live coverage, Afghanistan will begin their maiden World Cup campaign against Bangladesh in Canberra on February 18. Afghanistan will take heart from their shock win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in Dhaka last year. It was their first win in 10 one-day internationals against a Test-playing nation. But like most of the Asian and Associates teams, on bouncy Australian pitches and coping with swing in New Zealand will be the main chal- lenge. SRI LANKA: In this file photo taken Monday, March 3, 2014, Afghanistan’s Afghanistan’s batsmen know one way of batting- plays a shot during the Asia Cup one-day international cricket to attack. “The biggest challenge is going to be how tournament. — AP the batsmen handle the quicker bowlers. Playing in Australia is going to be quite brutal for some of these guys who aren’t used to those conditions,” Warner, Maxwell tons said Moles. “I will work hard to get them as much confi- expose India’s dence as possible, to play without fear of failure and, if they see an opportunity at any stage in a ADELAIDE: and Glenn had a scare when Mohammad Shami (3- game, to take it. Maxwell struck blistering centuries as 83) left the field with a split webbing but “I’d like them to enjoy the challenge that lies Australia flexed their batting muscles to returned soon after to resume bowling. ahead of them.” With experienced players like expose defending champion India’s Their batting on a good track could Nowroz Mangal, , , , and bowling limitations in a World Cup not offer much relief, however, with only Hamid Hasan, Afghanistan will hope they can show ADELAIDE: India’s (right) plays a shot from the Australian bowling warmup match in Adelaide yesterday. (59), their talent in the big league. — AFP during the one-day international warm-up cricket match. — AFP Opting to bat first, Australia piled up (66) and (53) managing 371 in 48.2 overs and bowled out India to impress. for 265 in a dominant display to explain Batting mainstay dragged a Ireland target more shocks, Test status why they are considered favourites for Mitchell Starc onto his stumps the World Cup beginning on Saturday. and the Australian nonchalantly took a LONDON: It is a measure of Ireland’s success their quest for Test status, with the West ruled out through injury. They dominated India in all three one-handed blinder on the edge of the at the last two World Cups that it will no Indies, , Zimbabwe, India, “We’ve produced some wonderful per- departments even though the tourna- boundary to dismiss India longer count as a stunning shock if they Pakistan and the in their formances over the years in World Cups, and ment co-hosts did not last a full 50 overs Mahendra Singh Dhoni for a golden defeat a Test nation in Australia and New sights. Experienced campaigners William there’s no reason why we can’t claim further in what was possibly the only blemish in duck. Zealand. Porterfield and brothers Kevin and Niall successes in Australia and New Zealand,” said their 106-run win. Left-handed Warner “It was a very good performance,” said Whether it was knocking Pakistan out of O’Brien are at the heart of an experienced captain Porterfield, one of several players in (104) played his natural game, racing to Australia stand-in skipper George Bailey the 2007 edition in the Caribbean or seeing squad coached by former West Indies bats- the squad who earns his living in the English his century in 80 balls. Maxwell (122) did before pointing out areas his team could Kevin O’Brien produce the fastest-ever World man . . even better, needing 53 balls to reach still improve. Cup century in a memorable victory over The trio, along with and John “While we may have lost the surprise factor the 100-mark, his second 50 coming in “Early tonight would have England in Bangalore four years ago, the Mooney, will be playing at their third World over the years, we’ve certainly gained a lot of just 19 balls. There was momentary dis- been nice, just to blow the game out of game’s elite have learnt to respect the men in Cup while the 15-man squad also includes respect for our brand of cricket which has comfort for Maxwell, whose attempted the water. As great as our batting was, green. “The Irish have got a good structure several tournament debutants in Andrew been pretty pleasing.” hook off resulted in an we were probably one down too and good facilities,” former England all- Balbirnie, , Andrew McBrine, Ireland have also recruited retired inside edge that crashed onto his helmet many and you’d like to see Mitchell Starc rounder Paul Collingwood, now a member of , and , although Australian pace ace Brett Lee to work as a and he also needed medical attention on catch with both hands,” he quipped. Scotland’s backroom staff, told the ICC web- Middlesex paceman has been bowling consultant at the World Cup. — AFP his lower back after reaching 50. Maxwell Dhoni said he was still looking for the site. “They’re always a well-drilled unit and a retired to allow his team mates to get final 11 players for next Sunday’s tourna- lot of their players have got county experi- some batting practice but not before ment opener against Pakistan. “It’s a very ence so you know they’re going to cause plundering 27 runs from a Yadav over long tournament and what we have seen teams problems. and hitting three sixes in a row. is the team that does well is the one that “The win against England in 2011 was India, having lost paceman Ishant comes from the bottom and slowly picks huge. It will be their goal to have an Irish Test Sharma to a knee injury earlier in the day, up momentum,” he added. — Reuters team to keep hold of the players that have come over to England to do that,” he added. And therein lies the problem for Ireland. India paceman Ishant Their plight is summed-up by the fact the best Irish batsman of his generation, , won’t be playing for his native country at the ruled out of World Cup World Cup but will, in fact, be captaining England instead. SYDNEY: India fast bowler ing England. He has played 12 ODIs and So long as Ireland don’t have Test status, was ruled out of the World Cup with a taken 10 wickets at an average of 40.50 there is always the chance the very best Irish knee injury yesterday and will be with his right-arm medium pace since his players will follow in Morgan’s footsteps. replaced by Mohit Sharma in the defend- debut against Zimbabwe in 2013. Ireland have done everything that could ing champions’ inexperienced pace India’s lack of a strong pace attack to reasonably be asked of them in making a case attack. Ishant missed the final test in the make the most of the Australasian wick- to become a Test nation and former Australia series against Australia in early January ets is expected to be a major hindrance fast bowler turned Yorkshire coach Jason because of the knee injury he had sus- to their quest to retain the title they won Gillespie was in no doubt, saying the ICC tained during the Boxing Day test and in spin-friendly conditions on home soil “should be making it a priority”. has not played since. in 2011. There was better news for India’s Unfortunately for Ireland, they lack the “The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 has other injury concerns with batsman political clout that saw Bangladesh become a approved Mohit Sharma as a replacement (hamstring), seamer Test country and the rest of the world game, player for Ishant Sharma in India’s squad (ankle) and all having seen how the Tigers have struggled for the tournament,” the International rounder (shoulder) all since, are in no hurry to make the Irish a per- Cricket Council said in a statement yester- passing fitness tests. India open their manent member of the elite. day. Mohit, also 26, had arrived in defence of the trophy against Pakistan in Meanwhile the Irish players soldier on in Australia only for the tri-series also involv- Adelaide next Sunday. — Reuters the hope another World Cup scalp will aid Kevin O’Brien of Ireland celebrates in this file photo. Pakistan hard pressed to repeat 1992 triumph KARACHI: If there is one team among the top eight Australia some 23 years ago. pended in November last year also over an illegal be important too as a batsman in the slog overs as at the World Cup which could either crash out “Desite the problems this team has the spirit of bowling action-needs to clear a reassessment test will be , Misbah and . embarrassingly in the first round or romp to the cornered tigers,” said chief selector and former cap- to allow the right combination to Misbah. Pakistan’s top-order problem persists as Hafeez title, it’s Pakistan. tain Moin Khan, a key member of 1992 winning “It will be important that Hafeez clears the test opening the innings with doesn’t The talented yet unpredictable side are haunted team. “If they play to their potential this team can because he is two-in-one and his bowling gives us always guarantee a trouble-free start. by injuries to their fast bowlers, the suspension of surprise the world.” Captain Misbah, who has recov- the right combination,” said the captain. They will hope experienced the and match-winning spinner and a tussle for ered from a hamstring injury, is also confident of Lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan-the tallest Misbah provide stability to the batting, for which the captaincy between Misbah-ul Haq and Shahid the best results. “The format of this World Cup is man to ever play international cricket at 7 feet, one the main problem lies in playing too many dot balls. . Frontline paceman Umar Gul was not sel- such that teams have a lot of opportunities,” said inch-is expected to be the X-factor in an otherwise Pakistan has the worst run-rate among the top ceted in the 15-man squad after failing to recover Misbah, who will retire from one-day cricket after inexperienced pace attack. ten teams in playing dot balls from over 11 to 40. from a knee injury while another new-ball bowler the World Cup. “It would be the icing on the cake if I “To me the X-factor in our team is Irfan. With his Pakistan must win one of their first two matches- had to withdraw. end my one-day career with the trophy.” But Misbah height I think he can be dangerous,” said coach against arch-rivals India and the West Indies-in Twin defeats in the warm-up matches to sec- knows his bowling will miss Ajmal, who has single- , who missed Pakistan’s World Cup win order to have an easier passage into the last eight.If ond string sides followed by two one-day interna- handedly won matches for Pakistan before being in 1992 with a back problem. In Ajmal’s absence, not, their qualification will rely on their last group B tionals routs by New Zealand multiplied the enor- suspended for an illegal bowling action last leg-spinner , along with all-rounder Afridi, match against a dangerous Ireland team, the same mity of the task for Misbah’s men to match Imran September. will handle the spin department. Afridi, who will opponents who ousted them in the first round of Khan’s World Cup triumph-Pakistan’s only win in Spinning all-rounder -sus- also quit one-day cricket after the World Cup, will the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. —AFP