Preview of the Super Six

Here I sit heartbroken. A fine performance by
Moin Khan wasted. South Africa continues to show
a great late batting lineup.

With India and Zimbabwe next I hope that Pakistan
can hang on to the semis.

Pakistan could have won this match but South Africa proved to be slightly better.

Ras

Re: India the hottest team

Scoring really high against Sri Lanka and Kenya, two teams without much of a bowling attack, was inconsequential, as it turns out.

Re: Ras

The real match will be between Pakistan and South Africa tomorrow. The June 8th match will probably be quite as boring as today`s.

The Indian once again proved that first rate cricketers can consistently play like a third rate team.

Re: Ras

its a pity that even you have to see everything only as Pakistan vs India. Don`t degrade yourself to the point where you need to compete with someone else on even the color of your * * * *

iconoclast

Looks like India is set to lose against Australia.
And it cannot really afford to lose, entering the
super six with no points.
For us now the real world cup will be the India
Vs Pakistan game coming up. It is only after that
that South Asians will relax. Forget Kargil, this is the real war.

GO PAKISTAN !!!!

Ras

Ref: Ali Minai

I dont think the Afridi`s failure has anything to do with anything -one- his batting is quite independent of conditions -two- by now all ``pinchers`` must be better acclimatized and I expect some fireworks to take place. I think Pakistan is playing without a strategy and the results are more due to some miracle performances by the middle and late order. Statistically, Afridi will score in every 4th or 5th innings - if he is left in the team :=) It is lunacy to drop him and it is pretty useless to bring him 4 ot 5 down. Afridi should be left to open and encouraged to go for ``hail mary`s.`` Razzaq should not open but he should be in the team. I agree on Azhar. Waqas, poor Waqar must sit out.

I disagree that India is the hottest team in the sixes. Even if Imran Khan also thinks that to be the case.

For India to win their batting has to score 280+ against the likes of Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand. I dont think that is likely. Against the 2 teams that have made it to the sixes their batting has managed:

Ind vs SA 253/5 (50) batting first

Ind vs Z 249/9 (50) batting second

Moreover, the Indian batting does not perform well under pressure, which is equivalent to playing outside India! Look at their record outside India and in crunch situations - abysmal!

It is highly unlikely that Ganguly, SRT and co. will come through with big scores against Australia. They rarely have outside India. This match is for Australia to win and I expect them to accomplish that easily.

The only match where India may actually win will be against Pakistan. For all practical purposes that may very well be an inconsequential result because India must win at least 2 games, if not 3 to make it to the semis.

With Pakistan and Zimbabwe almost assured of a semi-final place the battle is for 2 positions - between Australia, South Africa, India and NZ, I would bet on SA to make it by winning 2 out of 3. And a toss up between Australia and NZ.

Hmm.

Mofeez,

Good analysis, but I must disagree about dropping Azhar to play Waqar. Azhar one of the key players in this team. He always gets wickets --- well, except against Bangladesh:-) --- and provides depth to the batting. He was crucial to the victory against WI. I would say that the presence of Razzaq and Azhar is the most important factor in this team`s success. The presence of genuine all-rounders --- rather than genuine all-round mediocrities (c.f. Robin Singh, Adam Hollioke, et al.) --- allows Pakistan to bat till no. 9 and have 5 front line bowlers. No other team except South Africa can do that.

As we saw in the match against BD, Pakistan need all the batting they can get. They played one fewer batsman against BD (well, two fewer, since Malik is now legally blind), and look what happened. Pakistan is fine as long as they bat first, but chasing anything more than 120 is an adventure. To quote a memorable phrase from Saad Shafqat, Pakistan could not chase a kitten. But they will have to chase occasionally, whenever a team is brave enough to opt for btting first after winning a toss against Pakistan. I think Pakistan should play the following lineup:

Anwar

Razzaq

Ijaz

Inzimam

Youhana

Afridi

Azhar

Moin

Akram

Saqlain

Shoaib

Razzaq has pretty much opend in every game anyway, and seems to have the technique. He can also play shots --- unlike Wasti. Afridi will do much better coming in later. Pinch-hitting openers have failed dismally in this World Cup (c.f. Gilchrist, Jayasuria, Afridi). If he continues to fail, he can be replaced by Wasti as opener with Razzaq coming in at 3.

I too hope India win against Australia tomorrow, and that Warne get a good thrashing. But the Aussies play hard and can never be counted out. And McGrath really is the best bowler on either side. India need to bat first to have any chance.

Ali Minai

Your article was marred by the last paragraph. Britain has moved on - it is concerned a lot more with Europe and the USA. For you to seek redemption vis-a-vis the British in an India-Pak final shows you still care for British approval or British defeat. That last paragraph was not the words of a free man - they were the words of somebody with a chip on his soldier, of somebody chained to the past. Break free.

Yes, it would be fun to have an India-Pak final. But England is not relevant to that statement. Let the games begin. And let India win. OK may the best team win.