SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2015

Opening woes continue to haunt Pakistan

ADELAIDE: A pair of comfortable wins after two losses to start his struggles with the bat, Jamshed has been extremely poor Khan had said wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed would fill the slot the World Cup have given a more settled look to Pakistan but in the outfield, his dropped catches making him the target of if required. While Pakistani media have called for the dashing the 1992 champions still seem to have no clue as to how to barracking from the crowd. Coach said Pakistan Sarfraz to be given a chance as Shehzad’s partner, Younis is solve their opener problem. would need to go back to the drawing board. “We need an not convinced the 27-year-old has the right technique for con- Pakistan’s troubles started when all-rounder and regular opener as we don’t have a third option after the return of ditions in Australia and New Zealand. opener was ruled out with a calf muscle Hafeez,” Younis told reporters after Pakistan’s 129-run win “Sarfraz is a wicketkeeper-batsman and plays at number six injury a week before the World Cup, and the team flew out over United Arab Emirates in Napier on Wednesday. “It’s a or seven,” the former Pakistan fast bowler added. “You have to Nasir Jamshed as a replacement. Senior batsman Younus problem, there’s no doubt about that. We have two days see the conditions and no doubt Sarfraz is an asset. But you Khan, desperately in need of runs, was moved up to partner before our next match and we will sit down and rework our can’t bet on his career and what if his technique is not suited at the top in Pakistan’s opening match strategy on what our best 11 is.” to the conditions here?” Sarfraz has played 36 ODIs for against arch-rivals India but the experiment failed as the 37- Pakistan and his inclusion will also be a relief for , year-old managed just six runs. Right blend who has been far from confident with the gloves. While the The out-of-form Younus lost his place in the wake of the 76- The string of failures at the top have meant Pakistan man- coach did not rule out a future role for the experienced run loss to their bitter rivals, giving Jamshed the chance to aged just 11, 0, 1 and 10 for the opening in their four Younus, Pakistan must soon find the right blend with impor- claim the spot of the second opener. However, the 25-year-old matches at the World Cup thus far. When asked about the lack tant fixtures against South Africa and Ireland coming up in has since scored just five runs in his three outings. Adding to of a third opener in the Pakistan squad, chief selector Moin their campaign. — Reuters target ‘crunch’ clash with Ireland in WCup

HOBART: Zimbabwe are convinced their clash with Ireland in Hobart today is the “crunch” game of their World Cup cam- paign. The Africans have won just one of their four games and are sixth in Pool B, but victory against William Porterfield’s side will put them back in the hunt for a quar- ter-final place. “It’s a crunch game for us, and it is for them too,” Zimbabwe wicket- keeper told reporters yes- terday. “We certainly targeted this game. We’re not taking them lightly. They’re a quality side when the game gets going.”So we need to win this and try to push for India as well. But we’re just not looking too far ahead. “We’re just focused on tomorrow, and hopefully the result will take care of itself.” An out-of-sorts Pakistan are in fourth on the table on four points, the same as Ireland, but face a fired-up South African side in Auckland also on Saturday and could be struggling if they lose that match. Pakistan face Ireland on March 15 in Adelaide, so the match at Bellerive has ram- ifications for all three sides heading into PERTH: Indian supporters cheer during the 2015 World Cup Pool B match between the West Indies and India yesterday. — AFP the final week of pool play. “Every game is pressure. If you are in a World Cup, you want to S Africa’s Steyn confident win everything. You want to be competi- tive at least,” Taylor said. “But I think there is always pressure. I think they’re going to feel a lot of pressure. They also need to win World Cup luck will turn this game.” Zimbabwe’s performances have been mostly productive, though they AUCKLAND: South African spearhead Dale don’t have anywhere to hide.” “There are only against the West Indies at Sydney last week. have not been able to get over the line Steyn said yesterday he believed a good person- ten to take, and when Imran takes five Steyn said the shorter boundaries at Eden Park when in a position of strength. They let al return in a World Cup match was just around or Abbott takes four, there is not much for the would mean little to his skipper. “I really don’t South Africa off the hook in their opening the corner. The Proteas will head into today’s other bowlers to take. “So you have to do what think it (the dimensions) matters really. It game when David Miller and JP Duminy pool clash against Pakistan in Auckland with you have to do in order for your team to win. doesn’t matter if it’s a big ground or small put on a 256-run partnership to drive them Steyn, widely regarded as the world’s best fast I’m happy with that. I feel if we make our way ground, you’ll still find a way. That is the beauti- past 300. bowler, having taken just five wickets in four all the way to the final, I’m due to have a good ful thing about really good players. They don’t Pakistan also were pushed all the way matches at the tournament. Steyn, 31, has been game somewhere in there.” rely on conditions. before Zimbabwe fell 20 runs short of the overshadowed by Morne Morkel (nine wickets), “Great fast bowlers don’t have to worry victory target. Taylor, who will replace leg-spinner Imran Tahir (nine) and ‘Phenomenal’ De Villiers about whether the track is flat or green. They’ll injured after the (six in two matches) in South Africa’s three wins Asked how will he handle bowling to South find a way to get wickets. And great batsmen all-rounder tore his quadricep muscle while fielding against Pakistan, said their failure in four Pool B games. Africa captain and dynamic batsman AB de don’t worry if the field is small or big, they’ll find to convert opportunities had been dis- South Africa will, however, still look to Steyn Villiers, Steyn jokingly said: “I’d trip him on his a way to score runs.” cussed at length this week. to exploit Pakistan’s top-order frailties at Eden way out of the hotel tomorrow morning and Steyn denied Pakistan’s struggling top order “We’ve been playing some good crick- Park. And Steyn said he was not too far off his hope that he breaks his ankle. “I don’t know,” he would make his job easier. “It’s never an easy et,” Taylor said. “Eighty percent of the best form. “I don’t think I’ve bowled too badly. I added with a laugh. job, I can promise you. I’m sure Pakistan will be games we’ve been playing winning cricket think against Zimbabwe I actually wanted to “He’s a phenomenal player and seeing the as determined to come out and win,” said Steyn and probably just letting it slip that other bowl quite quick and run in and try to knock ball like no other player has seen a cricket ball of a side who have won their last two pool 20 percent. “So if we can just sort of narrow them over,” said Steyn of a match in which he before, and he’s playing shots that I don’t think games after two defeats. “They are in a situation that gap a bit, we’re going to be a lot more had figures of one for 64 in nine overs. “I just most people have seen before. “Hopefully, he where I think they have to win a couple of consistent and get over the line more ignored that (basic) instinct, and just wanted to comes out and executes those same skills games. So we will come out guns blazing and often. “We know we need to win this game. run in and blast them where it didn’t work. tomorrow and going forward in this competi- they’ll come out looking to pull off a win. We There are no grey areas there. We need a After that I think I got better and better. “I tion. It’s like watching ‘The Matrix’ movie, really.” know that. “We just have to prepare the way we good performance.”— Reuters haven’t taken the wickets that I want to take, De Villiers smashed the fastest 150 in one-day know against a team like that, and we’ll take it but that’s the World Cup. In a World Cup you international cricket during his 66-ball 162 very seriously.”— AFP