Pakistan’s fate in the ICC World Twenty20 Cup hangs in balance as they meet The Netherlands in their do or die Group B final game at the Lord’s on Tuesday, a match they must win by at least 25 runs to qualify for the Super 8 second round.
The Dutch side which got better of England on Friday on the last ball of the match are equal on points table with the home side that comprehensively defeated Pakistan by 48 runs at The Oval on Sunday.
Pakistan’s destiny is to be decided through a permutation and calculation of the scoring rate which is lower than their two group counterparts.
Pakistan, finalists at the 2007 inaugural tournament in South Africa, will have to significantly improve their performance in the outfield given their sloppy display against England.
The side dropped four catches at various points during the England innings with Saeed Ajmal (twice) and Yasir Arafat and Salman Butt (one apiece) being the main culprits.
Butt was the comfortably the worst fielder and captain Younis Khan did not hide his anger and disappointment. “Even if Butt scored 28 as an opener we’ll have to think about him for the next game because of his fielding.”
Pakistan were playing only their second Twenty20 in seven months and the rustiness was quite patent. They lost both their warm-ups and seem to be grappling with the cold conditions in the UK.
None of the Pakistan bowlers, apart from the inexperienced off spinner Ajmal, came to their team’s rescue, against England as they built on the platform laid by Kevin Pietersen early on.
In the Tuesday’s game Pakistan need to win with about three overs to spare to qualify for the second round. Younis has put the onus on his senior batsmen like Shahid Afridi, Misbah ul Haq, Shoaib Malik and himself.
The Netherlands experience of international T20 competitions in restricted to the matches played at the qualifier in Belfast last year when it shared top honours with Ireland.
However, regarded as minnows the way they upstaged England show that the Dutch side is equally capable of pulling off surprises and Pakistan can ill afford to lower their guard.
Dirk Nannes, who will spearhead Dutch bowling has been described by Indian opener Virender Sehwag as the fastest bowler he had ever faced.
He was born and brought up in Australia but when he was omitted from Australia’s 30-man squad he accepted Holland’s invitation, qualifying on the back of his parent’s Dutch heritage.
Nannes has played with Middlesex in the UK, Victoria in Australia and Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League. In addition to Nannes, Netherlands will be looking to their best player Ryan ten Doeschate of Essex to do some damage with the bat and ball with support from young Worcestershire batsman Alex Kervezee and the Man of the Match against England Tom de Grooth.
Captain Jeroen Smits will direct proceedings from behind the stumps while Peter Borren and Darren Reekers will provide valuable support to keep Dutch hopes alive.
The teams (From)
Pakistan-Younis Khan (captain), Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Ahmed Shahzad, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Aamer, Iftikhar Anjum,Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, Misbahul Haq.
The Netherlands- Joeren Smits (captain), Peter Borren, Mudassar Bokhari, Tom De Grooth, Maurits Jonkman, Alexei Kervezee, Dirk Nannes, Ruud Nijam, Darron Reekers, Edgar Schiferli, Pieter Seelar, Eric Szwarczynski, Daan Van Bunge, Bas Zuiderent.
The Dutch side which got better of England on Friday on the last ball of the match are equal on points table with the home side that comprehensively defeated Pakistan by 48 runs at The Oval on Sunday.
Pakistan’s destiny is to be decided through a permutation and calculation of the scoring rate which is lower than their two group counterparts.
Pakistan, finalists at the 2007 inaugural tournament in South Africa, will have to significantly improve their performance in the outfield given their sloppy display against England.
The side dropped four catches at various points during the England innings with Saeed Ajmal (twice) and Yasir Arafat and Salman Butt (one apiece) being the main culprits.
Butt was the comfortably the worst fielder and captain Younis Khan did not hide his anger and disappointment. “Even if Butt scored 28 as an opener we’ll have to think about him for the next game because of his fielding.”
Pakistan were playing only their second Twenty20 in seven months and the rustiness was quite patent. They lost both their warm-ups and seem to be grappling with the cold conditions in the UK.
None of the Pakistan bowlers, apart from the inexperienced off spinner Ajmal, came to their team’s rescue, against England as they built on the platform laid by Kevin Pietersen early on.
In the Tuesday’s game Pakistan need to win with about three overs to spare to qualify for the second round. Younis has put the onus on his senior batsmen like Shahid Afridi, Misbah ul Haq, Shoaib Malik and himself.
The Netherlands experience of international T20 competitions in restricted to the matches played at the qualifier in Belfast last year when it shared top honours with Ireland.
However, regarded as minnows the way they upstaged England show that the Dutch side is equally capable of pulling off surprises and Pakistan can ill afford to lower their guard.
Dirk Nannes, who will spearhead Dutch bowling has been described by Indian opener Virender Sehwag as the fastest bowler he had ever faced.
He was born and brought up in Australia but when he was omitted from Australia’s 30-man squad he accepted Holland’s invitation, qualifying on the back of his parent’s Dutch heritage.
Nannes has played with Middlesex in the UK, Victoria in Australia and Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League. In addition to Nannes, Netherlands will be looking to their best player Ryan ten Doeschate of Essex to do some damage with the bat and ball with support from young Worcestershire batsman Alex Kervezee and the Man of the Match against England Tom de Grooth.
Captain Jeroen Smits will direct proceedings from behind the stumps while Peter Borren and Darren Reekers will provide valuable support to keep Dutch hopes alive.
The teams (From)
Pakistan-Younis Khan (captain), Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Ahmed Shahzad, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Aamer, Iftikhar Anjum,Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, Misbahul Haq.
The Netherlands- Joeren Smits (captain), Peter Borren, Mudassar Bokhari, Tom De Grooth, Maurits Jonkman, Alexei Kervezee, Dirk Nannes, Ruud Nijam, Darron Reekers, Edgar Schiferli, Pieter Seelar, Eric Szwarczynski, Daan Van Bunge, Bas Zuiderent.
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