Canada have had a torrid time so far in the ICC Cricket World Cup. The North Americans have only played two games but their confidence has been shattered. They went down to a strong Sri Lankan side by 212 runs before running out of steam against Zimbabwe, despite a stunning start in Nagpur. The 175-run defeat against the African nation, who themselves have looked far from impressive, would not have done Canadian cricket any good. Things are unlikely to get any better against the former world champions Pakistan on Thursday at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
The mercurial sub-continental side have been on a rampage, annihilating Kenya by 205 runs in their opener before breezing past favourites, Sri Lanka in their own den. The contrast could not have been starker. It may sound cliché but the duel will be one of those David vs Goliath battles. However, Pakistan have to be wary of Canada, if they are any wiser from previous experiences.
The Irish mauling will still be fresh in the minds of skipper Shahid Afridi and some of his senior lieutenants. Never take the underdogs lightly, he would be telling his team.
On the other hand, Canada do not want to be mere pushovers - they know their chances of making an impact are still not over. The squad had been scheduled to train at the Premadasa this Wednesday afternoon but the team-management decided to postpone it. They wanted their players to train under lights and get more accustomed to conditions in Sri Lanka. That of course would hardly be a threatening revelation for Pakistan, but it does say a lot about the thinking in the minnow’s camp. They want to give the players every chance to use the high-end facilities Canadian cricket is deprived of. Practicing under flood-lights is a phenomenon unheard of back home. When you face the big-boys, you train like the big-boys.
Pakistan were of course, more relaxed. After they trained early morning, the players decided to unwind at the majestic Hilton, just off a spectacular Colombo beach. Shoaib Akhtar looked dapper in a tee-shirt and jeans, ready for a meal. Some of the others appeared to take it easy too. Obviously confident, after a sound win against the Lankans, Pakistan are ready for Canada. Afridi and Waqar Younis, however, have to iron out a few flaws. The openers have to start firing at the top of the order, if Pakistan want to be more competitive against better sides and better bowlers.
A lot has been left for the batsmen following in and that cannot augur well for such a long competition. Good starts are the basic fundamentals in one-day cricket and that is where Pakistan have to look and improve. Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez, will undoubtedly eye big knocks against Canada.
The fielding has been another cause of concern- Afridi was confident his men would improve as the ICC CWC progressed but they need to get better fast. One dropped chance here and one miss-field there can be fatal, even if not against an under-powered Canada.
The middle-order has responded well, with vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq, in solid form while former skipper Younus Khan, chipped in with a fluent half-century against the Emerald Islanders. The bowling is like always, penetrative. With Akhtar back, bowling at full tilt, the attack is incredibly well-balanced. Umar Gul is capable of unnerving the best in the business while Wahab Riaz would be looking to finally get a game in the ICC CWC. The trump-card has been the skipper himself. Afridi with nine wickets from two matches in the tournament has been virtually unplayable.
Having reached the prized 300-wicket club (in ODI’s) in the last match against Sri Lanka, Afridi will now only look to add to his tally come Thursday night. Canada better watch out.
They have a lot more to watch out for. Skipper Ashish Bagai relies a lot on his own leg-spinning talent, Balaji Rao and he would want a top-notch performance from the rest of the bowlers, who in turn would hope for some top-class backing on the field. Given Pakistan’s poor record at the start of their innings, a sensational run-out or an airborne catch can just about give the heavy-weights some shivers.
Both sides will have their own agenda as they go to a mismatched battle on Thursday but neither camp would want to assume the stereotypical. Pakistan would do well to guard against complacency while Canada need to believe they can always create an upset or at least redeem lost pride with some gutsy performances in the middle.
Not much would have been made out of a contest as heavily loaded in favour of one side hours before the first ball has been bowled but history has assured the Premadasa, clash of some interest.
Pakistan’s vulnerability against weaker teams would have been taken note of by the Canadians, and they would be as nervous as they should be excited about opponents, the kind of which they do not get to play every other summer at home.
Pakistan vs Canada: Head to head
ODIs/ICC Cricket World Cup
Pakistan and Canada have played just one game in ODIs/ICC CWC
Pakistan beat Canada by 8 wickets at Leeds on June 9, 1979.
Overall World Cup
Canada have lost ten ICC CWC games in succession. As on March 2, only three teams have lost 10 or more in succession - Zimbabwe (18), Canada (10) and Netherlands (10).
Pakistan's success % is 57.14 - 32 wins, 24 losses and two no-result games out of 58 contested.
Canada's winning % is 7.14 - 1 win, 13 losses out of 14 played.
Approaching milestones
In case of a defeat, Canada would be overtaking Netherlands ' tally of 10 defeats in a row in the ICC CWC.
Shahid Afridi, in case of a four-wicket haul against Canada , would become the first bowler to bag four or more wickets in three successive ICC CWC games.
Afridi in that case would become the first captain to bag four wickets or more three times in the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Abdul Razzaq (4970) needs 30 runs to complete 5000 runs in ODIs.
Having claimed 262 wickets, Razzaq is all set to complete the double of 5000 runs and 250 wickets.
The mercurial sub-continental side have been on a rampage, annihilating Kenya by 205 runs in their opener before breezing past favourites, Sri Lanka in their own den. The contrast could not have been starker. It may sound cliché but the duel will be one of those David vs Goliath battles. However, Pakistan have to be wary of Canada, if they are any wiser from previous experiences.
The Irish mauling will still be fresh in the minds of skipper Shahid Afridi and some of his senior lieutenants. Never take the underdogs lightly, he would be telling his team.
On the other hand, Canada do not want to be mere pushovers - they know their chances of making an impact are still not over. The squad had been scheduled to train at the Premadasa this Wednesday afternoon but the team-management decided to postpone it. They wanted their players to train under lights and get more accustomed to conditions in Sri Lanka. That of course would hardly be a threatening revelation for Pakistan, but it does say a lot about the thinking in the minnow’s camp. They want to give the players every chance to use the high-end facilities Canadian cricket is deprived of. Practicing under flood-lights is a phenomenon unheard of back home. When you face the big-boys, you train like the big-boys.
Pakistan were of course, more relaxed. After they trained early morning, the players decided to unwind at the majestic Hilton, just off a spectacular Colombo beach. Shoaib Akhtar looked dapper in a tee-shirt and jeans, ready for a meal. Some of the others appeared to take it easy too. Obviously confident, after a sound win against the Lankans, Pakistan are ready for Canada. Afridi and Waqar Younis, however, have to iron out a few flaws. The openers have to start firing at the top of the order, if Pakistan want to be more competitive against better sides and better bowlers.
A lot has been left for the batsmen following in and that cannot augur well for such a long competition. Good starts are the basic fundamentals in one-day cricket and that is where Pakistan have to look and improve. Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez, will undoubtedly eye big knocks against Canada.
The fielding has been another cause of concern- Afridi was confident his men would improve as the ICC CWC progressed but they need to get better fast. One dropped chance here and one miss-field there can be fatal, even if not against an under-powered Canada.
The middle-order has responded well, with vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq, in solid form while former skipper Younus Khan, chipped in with a fluent half-century against the Emerald Islanders. The bowling is like always, penetrative. With Akhtar back, bowling at full tilt, the attack is incredibly well-balanced. Umar Gul is capable of unnerving the best in the business while Wahab Riaz would be looking to finally get a game in the ICC CWC. The trump-card has been the skipper himself. Afridi with nine wickets from two matches in the tournament has been virtually unplayable.
Having reached the prized 300-wicket club (in ODI’s) in the last match against Sri Lanka, Afridi will now only look to add to his tally come Thursday night. Canada better watch out.
They have a lot more to watch out for. Skipper Ashish Bagai relies a lot on his own leg-spinning talent, Balaji Rao and he would want a top-notch performance from the rest of the bowlers, who in turn would hope for some top-class backing on the field. Given Pakistan’s poor record at the start of their innings, a sensational run-out or an airborne catch can just about give the heavy-weights some shivers.
Both sides will have their own agenda as they go to a mismatched battle on Thursday but neither camp would want to assume the stereotypical. Pakistan would do well to guard against complacency while Canada need to believe they can always create an upset or at least redeem lost pride with some gutsy performances in the middle.
Not much would have been made out of a contest as heavily loaded in favour of one side hours before the first ball has been bowled but history has assured the Premadasa, clash of some interest.
Pakistan’s vulnerability against weaker teams would have been taken note of by the Canadians, and they would be as nervous as they should be excited about opponents, the kind of which they do not get to play every other summer at home.
Pakistan vs Canada: Head to head
ODIs/ICC Cricket World Cup
Pakistan and Canada have played just one game in ODIs/ICC CWC
Pakistan beat Canada by 8 wickets at Leeds on June 9, 1979.
Overall World Cup
Canada have lost ten ICC CWC games in succession. As on March 2, only three teams have lost 10 or more in succession - Zimbabwe (18), Canada (10) and Netherlands (10).
Pakistan's success % is 57.14 - 32 wins, 24 losses and two no-result games out of 58 contested.
Canada's winning % is 7.14 - 1 win, 13 losses out of 14 played.
Approaching milestones
In case of a defeat, Canada would be overtaking Netherlands ' tally of 10 defeats in a row in the ICC CWC.
Shahid Afridi, in case of a four-wicket haul against Canada , would become the first bowler to bag four or more wickets in three successive ICC CWC games.
Afridi in that case would become the first captain to bag four wickets or more three times in the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Abdul Razzaq (4970) needs 30 runs to complete 5000 runs in ODIs.
Having claimed 262 wickets, Razzaq is all set to complete the double of 5000 runs and 250 wickets.
