Pakistan need to rethink their strategy for today’s World Twenty20 Super Eight game against undaunted Sri Lankans after being lucky to move to the semi-final of the World T20. Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore without elaborating expressed his belief: “We need to rethink a few things, that’s for sure, and that will be done,”. “We have had some reasonable performances just recently. But they have played very well in the last three weeks or so, in the warm up games and also in this tournament. So there is no room for mistakes now.
Imran congratulates team: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has congratulated national cricket team for qualifying for semi final of T20 World Cup as well as victory against Australia.
In a message on Wednesday, he said that Pakistan’s victory has brought a message of happiness for the nation. He said that Pakistani players showed their best performance, adding, by following the same spirit our national team could bring the world cup to Pakistan.
Greetings to team from PM: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has congratulated the Pakistan Cricket Team for qualifying into the semi final of the T20 World Cup match and defeating Australia in a crucial match in Colombo on Tuesday. In his message of greetings to the Manager and Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team, the Prime Minister praised the out standing performance of the players.The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that Pakistan Cricket Team would continue its present performance and bring laurels to the country.
Pakistan outplayed us: Bailey: Australia captain George Bailey could not explain his team’s batting collapse, but merely admitted: “Pakistan outplayed us. The ball turned more, they used spin against us well. I wanted my top-order batsmen to do the majority of the scoring, but they didn’t.”
Though Australia qualified for the semi-finals from Group 2 despite losing to Pakistan by 32 runs in their final Super Eight match, Bailey conceded his team’s weakness against spin remains a concern.
“We worked hard on it but it did not show today. Tactically Pakistan played a shrewd game. We have good players of spin. We managed to beat them in Dubai too. However, we have to overcome this shortcoming,” he added.
Bailey said getting off to a good start was vital in T20 cricket. He said: “Twenty20 is all about momentum. We did not play well in the first six overs and hence could not reach the target. They took the catches well and fought hard.”
Moment of joy: The moment South Africa reached 121 runs against India, the streets in Pakistan echoed with life-threatening gunshots fired, apparently by jubilant cricket lovers.
Tuesday was no exception when the green shirts defeated the apparently confident Australians by 32 runs in a make-or-break tie in Colombo and later when South Africa opened up doors of semi-finals for the Pakistan team.
As soon as the Pakistani side appeared victorious, various city neighborhoods started echoing with ear-splitting aerial firing that sometimes have been lethal for the bystanders or passersby or in some cases the shooter himself.
