Trivandrum: Pakistan will be keen to get off to a strong start in Group A, having seen Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand do just that over the last three days.
Day 5 of the World Cup pits the mighty subcontinent giants Pakistan against minnows Kenya, who, having already suffered a pasting from New Zealand, will be keen to avoid a repeat performance. But Pakistan may well have other ideas.
The pressure is definitely on Shahid Afridi and his men to hit back from all the multitude of allegations, scandals and bad press that has hit the team of late, and showcase to the world that they are here to play serious cricket. Considered by many pundits of the game as the real dark horses for the title simply because of the individual talent that the team possesses, the 1992 Cup champions will need to pull together as one if they are to entertain hopes of a second success.
They definitely have the arsenal to go all the way. The capabilities of Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Akthar are well known to most cricket viewers but the emergence of Ahmed Shehzad at the top of the order is what gives the team renewed hope. With former Test skipper Salman Butt serving his 10 year suspension for match-fixing, it opened up an opener slot in the side, one which Shehzad has grabbed with full aplomb.
The 19-year-old right hander, who made his debut in 2009, has been in sensational form, scoring his maiden ODI century during the Tour of New Zealand that immediately preceded Pakistan’s return to the subcontinent for the World Cup. With strong, consistent performances at the top of the order, Shehzad could finally be the top order dynamo that Pakistan have been looking out for ever since the retirements of Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar.
The middle order is packed with volatile stars who on their day can win a game single-handedly. Mohammad Hafeez has been consistent of late whether as an opener or No.3, while Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq are class acts. Umar Akmal has the potential to play aggressive knocks while Afridi, Razzaq and wicketkeeper-bat Kamran Akmal, make for an explosive trio in the lower-middle order.
The bowling attack picks itself. Akthar and Umar Gul will spearhead the pace department along with the wily all-rounder Razzaq. Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman are the two spinners, both of whom will be a handful on decks they are quite familiar with. Afridi will be lethal with his spin bowling as well.
Overall, Pakistan should have too much of class and talent to be much bothered by a deflated Kenyan side. At Hambantota, where the Sri Lankans proved in the earlier game that application is required to start off an innings, the onus will probably be more on the likes of grafters Younis and Misbah, rather than the explosive hitters later in the order.
Prediction: Another lopsided encounter in Group A. Pakistan, the easy winners.
Prediction: Another lopsided encounter in Group A. Pakistan, the easy winners.
