For Pakistan it’s their ICC World Cup 2011 opener and for Kenya it’s the second game in the campaign. The match between a team known for controversies Pakistan Vs Kenya a minnow that started off the world cup campaign with a loss is relatively a bigger chance for Pakistan to gain in some points.
Pakistan coming from a loss to England in the warm up matches is looking for a big knock in the world cup opener where as Kenya will look forward to rattle the vulnerable Pakistan in the early rounds of big tournament in the cricketing world. The match will be a good test for Pakistan to test player’s confidence ahead of big challenges scheduled soon in the later stages. Indeed it will decide their stance against the pressure of match fixing scandals which the team is facing since the tour of England.
For Kenya, though it lost to New Zealand in the early match that too with one of the five lowest scores in the world cup history will boost the chances to stand up in the later stages at least till the quarter finals.
Pitch Report:
Pakistan Vs Kenya is scheduled at Hambantota, Sri Lanka where the home team tore the Canadian line up in a tremendous way just on the second day of WC 2011. As it showed then, more score is expected tomorrow too but wind may play a spoilsport which is dry in conditions with smattering grass. Besides it also needs bigger hitters to satisfy the vast boundary lines at Hambantota. It needs some initial application.
Pakistan:
Ahmed Shehzad who is for the first time playing his world cup match has been moved up to open the batting line up along with Mohammad Hafeez who is carrying a dry score chart since his century in Napier during January. Shehzad with two centuries this month however looked pale in warm up against England. Hope the openers may rewrite ever known Pakistan’s aggressive opening partnerships. Adding on to openers Younis Khan and Misbah ul-Haq are the players to look out as they did well during warm up matches and indeed Akmal brothers too are expected in knocking good score at middle order.
On the bowling side, Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul in combination are expected to unearth the Kenyan’s opening strength while Riaz, Younis Khan and Sohail Tanvir will shine their bowling trends during the later half of the innings. Indeed a turning point wicket taker Afridi too is expected to do some magic between the wickets.
Kenya:
Coming from an opening debacle against New Zealand, Kenya is firmly looking on to prove that it belongs to this stage of World Cup hence their openers are expected to pop up from a debacle like a refreshed score pullers though they can face Afridi and Gul with a new ball. Coming on to their bowling side none of their bowlers showed good results during the first match but they are hoping for the full match to showcase their bowling abilities against Pakistan. They are carrying less prospects from New Zealand match as they bowled only 8 over’s.
Our Predictions:
It’s obvious to guess on once a world cup winner to gain the advantage in this match too against a minnow but as the opponent Kenya too in a position to prove their chance in the tournament, the results are much awaited.
