MOHALI – Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi insists that the pressure and expectation will all be on India’s shoulders in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final blockbuster.
With the prize of a place in Saturday’s final at stake, a fever-pitch mood is expected with the 30,000 capacity Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium sold out days ago for the crunch clash. “We are not the most favourite team for this competition. India is the most favourite and we have played above expectations. We are very confident and we are enjoying our cricket,” said Afridi.
But India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni shrugged off the hype surrounding a match which has also taken on huge diplomatic and political significance.
“It’s an honour to lead the side,” said Dhoni. “If you take a pressure job, you will find yourself in a pressure cooker. When you talk about hype and pressure, what does not help you needs to be kept away.
“You need to top up on the skills aspect – vital areas we are focusing on.”
The match will be a clash between Pakistan’s well-balanced bowling attack and India’s star-studded top order, including opener Sachin Tendulkar who needs just one more century for a hundred international hundreds. “We believe we have the strongest bowling attack in the world,” said Pakistan opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez, who took the new ball with his off-spin in the quarter-final win over the West Indies.
“That’s the key.” Pakistan’s Umar Gul is arguably the best reverse-swing bowler at this tournament while Saaed Ajmal’s off-spin a potent weapon. And then there is the leg-spin of Pakistan captain Afridi who is the tournament’s top bowler with 21 wickets at an average of just 10.71 apiece. Meanwhile fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who will retire after the World Cup, waits in the wings.
Akhtar has played just three games at this tournament but the suspicion remains that India’s batsmen can be troubled by high-class fast bowling. “Shoaib is not 100 percent but I think he is trying his level-best and we will decide (on his selection) this evening,” Afridi said.
India did manage to overcome champions Australia’s three-pronged pace attack in a five-wicket quarter-final win in Ahmedabad but that was on a pitch favouring spin. Even then, India collapsed to 187 for five chasing 261 for victory, and it needed a composed 57 not out from the in-form Yuvraj Singh, now back on his home ground, to see the co-hosts to victory.
Traditionally, the Mohali pitch has always offered plenty of pace and bounce and that could yet see Pakistan give Akhtar one last shot at India. Pakistan’s ability to make early inroads into a top order featuring Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir could be decisive. India’s bowlers, notably left-arm quick Zaheer Khan and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, did a good containing job against Australia.
India will look for similar results in a bid to book a place in the April 2 Mumbai final against either Sri Lanka or New Zealand. This match has also witnessed “cricket diplomacy” with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani accepting an invitation from India counterpart Manmohan Singh to attend the game.
“I think it’s a great sign for both countries and sports, especially cricket always brings these two countries together,” Afridi said. Pakistan, who’ve yet to register an individual hundred at this event, have lost all four of their World Cup matches against India.
However, Hafeez said: “Pakistan has not defeated India in the World Cup but in the last 12 years, Australia also had not lost a single World Cup game. But then they lost to us (by four wickets) and to India. “There is no point thinking about the past. We think about the day; whoever the opponent is, we try to win the day.”
On the sidelines!
Blazing Akhtar – The old warhorse can still generate speed in short bursts. The ‘Rawalpindi Express’ will not be short of motivation either having announced his retirement after the current World Cup. He would want to depart in a blaze of glory. He could provide Pakistan the cutting edge with his speed, bounce and the precious ability to make an impact in a big game. His selection will be a high-stakes gamble by Pakistan. Akhtar has the X-factor in his favour, but the Pakistan team-management will think hard – cricket is not ruled by sentiments.
The case for Sreesanth – There is a debate for the second seamer’s slot in the Indian camp. Will it be Munaf Patel, who seemed to go off the boil against Australia, or left-armer Ashish Nehra who will figure in the Indian eleven. Sreesanth, a quintessential swing bowler, could prove an inspired selection. The paceman leaked runs against Bangladesh in unhelpful conditions at Mirpur in the opener. Subsequently, he has spent his time on the sidelines.
With an ideal wrist and seam position, Sreesanth can test the Pakistani batsmen with his lateral movement from an off-stump line. There might be some early freshness in the pitch for the pacemen if the Indians field first. And there are chances that the ball could dart around under the lights here. The evening moisture on the track could get the ball to skid.
If India follows the ‘horses for courses’ theory, the selection of Sreesanth might prove an aggressive ploy against the Pakistanis. In fact, there have been occasions when the Pakistani batsmen, caught at the crease or playing away from the body, have collapsed against swing and seam delivered with precision.
Intikhab knows Mohali – The Pakistan manager comprehends every blade of grass at the Punjab Cricket Association ground. After all, he was the coach of the Punjab team in the Ranji Trophy not so long ago. The former Pakistan captain’s inputs to the side on the conditions would be of immense value. Alam, former leg-spinning all-rounder and Pakistan captain, is calm, affable and adds immense value to the side. Strategically, his role will be crucial. There is so much to an India-Pakistan duel.
Duels to watch
Tendulkar vs Umar Gul – The maestro, just one short of a historic 100th century in international cricket, is running hot. Years fall away when Tendulkar conjures timeless classics in the cauldron. Tendulkar has 379 runs in seven matches at 54.14 at a strike rate of 95.94 in the competition. If the legend builds another monument in the semifinal, Pakistan could be in trouble.
In this context, talented seamer Umar Gul’s duel with Tendulkar might have a huge bearing on the eventual result. Gul is running in with rhythm, bowling with control and incision. The versatile Pakistani can seam the ball from an ideal wrist position, swings the ball both ways and can also reverse the sphere. Crucially, he has the ability to create breakthroughs, work his way past defences.
The magic delivery that castled VVS Laxman in the Lahore Test of the 2004 series is fresh in the memory. These are the moments that underline the class of a bowler. There could be a measure of assistance for Gul off the seam on the track here.
Sehwag vs Afridi – If he recovers from fitness concerns, Sehwag will be a distinct threat to the Pakistan plans. The marauder has already notched up 342 runs in six matches at 57.00. And his strike rate of 120.84 is the highest among the top 25 batsmen in this World Cup. Sehwag dents the attack psychologically, disrupts the plans of the bowlers and makes it easier for the rest.
If he survives the early phase, his tussle with Pakistan captain Afridi should prove compelling. The leading wicket-taker in the competition with 21, Afridi has relied on flight, deception and variety to prise out batsmen at critical junctures. The leg-spinner has varied his trajectory and harnessed the angles well.
Indeed, Afridi has journeyed a long way from being a spinner who was quicker through the air and operated in a mechanical sort of way. The match-up between these two cricketers with an aggressive mind-set could elevate the contest. Afridi will flight and Sehwag will use his feet. Sparks are bound to fly.
Ajmal vs Yuvraj – The in-form Yuvraj could hold the key to Indian success in this perform or perish duel. The left-hander has scripted escapes, instilled belief in the side. Yuvraj’s 341 runs have come at a staggering average of 113.66. But then, his strike-rate of 86.32 reveals his growing maturity and shot-selection. Yuvraj is reading situations better and is responding in a manner that suits the interests of the side.
Pakistan’s best chance of seeing the back of the influential Yuvraj early could come lie in employing off-spinner Saeed Ajmal against the left-hander. Ajmal can straighten the delivery or spin it away from the left-hander from round-the-wicket without a marked change in his action and Afridi could well have a slip and a silly point in place for the off-spinner.
Attacking captaincy, playing on the ego of Yuvraj, could work. India’s man of the moment might have other ideas though.
