COLOMBO: Pakistan, suddenly cast among the serious contenders for their second World Cup title after beating Sri Lanka, have the chance to fine-tune their fielding and bowling on Thursday in preparation for tougher tests ahead.The 1992 winners take on Canada here with the full expectation of adding to a perfect record in Group A after beating the co-hosts by 11 runs on Saturday and Kenya by 205 runs last week.
Almost as important as collecting maximum points and building on their positive net run-rate will be the opportunity to work on some of the departments of their game which could still do with plenty of work – almost all in the field.
Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam is delighted that, after being plagued with off-field problems for so long including a corruption scandal involving three players, they can play at the World Cup without the pressure of being among the favourites.
At least until now.
“It’s good that we were not the favourites to win this World Cup and that has enabled the team to play without any pressure,” he told reporters at a training session on Tuesday.
“The team has peaked at the right time,” he said. “Pakistan is blessed with talents. If you take each of our spin bowlers they bowl in a different manner and our fast bowlers have a lot of variation.”
Canada have yet to win a game in a World Cup since their only victory against Bangladesh in Durban 2003. They were bowled out for 36 by Sri Lanka in the same World Cup to record the lowest ever score by a team in the tournament.
The North Americans have started the tournament with a 210-run defeat by Sri Lanka and on Monday they suffered a 175-run beating by Zimbabwe.
Pakistan, however, know only too well that taking any opponent lightly at a World Cup is a mug’s game after premature exits in both 2003 and 2007, the latter after a shock defeat to Ireland.
Both Alam and captain Shahid Afridi have admitted concerns about their poor fielding seen here so far and Reuters witnessed a tough training session dedicated to this vital aspect of the game led by coach Waqar Younis on Tuesday.
“We are concentrating more on fitness and fielding,” all rounder Abdul Razzak said.
“This team has got two to three youngsters. We have got a good combination. That’s why we look united and unity makes the difference. This is just starting and our main matches are coming.”
Meanwhile coach Waqar Younis has also urged his players to sharpen their fielding skills.
“We’ve got to bring that culture that fielding is also the most important part in the game,” Younis said Wednesday. “We’re getting there but (there’s) still a long way to go.”
Pakistan defeated co-host Sri Lanka by 11 runs last week but dropped at least three clear catches, wasted a number of run out opportunities and watched wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal twice fumble stumpings of captain Kumar Sangakkara.
“There’s still a long way to go,” Younis said. “If you look at other sides they are still far ahead of us like South Africa, Australia and the English team, they are definitely ahead of us.”
However, Younis believes that young fielders like Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad are gradually helping to improve matters on the field with their athleticism.
“If you go back 10 or 20 years, we have come a long way and I think youngsters have started making a difference,” he said.
Despite the shortcomings in the field, Pakistan has a maximum four points from its two matches. In every likelihood, it will field another strong playing XI against Canada – which has suffered two heavy defeats against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Leftarm spinner Abdur Rehman sprained a muscle in his right leg during the narrow win over Sri Lanka and offspinner Saeed Ajmal will probably get his first game in the tournament.
Pakistan batsmen have so far scored freely on typical sub-continental pitches, with experienced Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan scoring back to back half-centuries against Kenya and Sri Lanka.
Captain Shahid Afridi is top of the wicket-takers’ list with nine scalps and his 5-16 against Kenya is Pakistan’s best ever bowling figures at a World Cup.
Younis knows full well, though, that weaker teams have previously sprung surprises in the World Cup.
Pakistan lost to Ireland and made an early exit from the 2007 World Cup, while India was stunned by Bangladesh and also failed to advance in the same edition.
“In the past, World Cup teams have taken it easy and it costs you, so every team has to be taken seriously,” he said. “The importance of the tournament makes everyone play to the best of their potential and that is what we are going to do.”
Pakistan’s players have meanwhile watched video footage of Canada’s previous games, when Sri Lanka defeated the North Americans by 210 runs and Zimbabwe routed them by 175.
The team has not yet decided whether to give 35-year-old fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who played against Kenya and Sri Lanka, another outing.
“At this age, sometimes rest is not good because you want to get that rhythm and momentum going,” Younis said.
“You don’t want to take too long a rest because it is too hot and you need to be used to that, so I’m not sure at the moment.”
If Akhtar is rested, Pakistan has an option of including either of the two left-arm fast bowlers – Wahab Riaz or uncapped Junaid Khan.
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