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Tuesday, 25 september, 2012
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Pakistan aim to seal Super Eight berth PALLEKELE
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ITLE aspirants Pakistan would look to ensure a Super Eight berth by topping their pool when they take on minnows Bangladesh in their final Group D clash of the ICC World Twenty20 cricket tournament on Tuesday. Pakistan and Bangladesh have clashed five times since the inception of the format and the former has always emerged victorious in the slam-bang battles. Pakistan, the 2009 World T20 champions, are among the favourites to clinch a second title and led inspiringly by opener Mohammad Hafeez, the team looked every bit a genuine contender in its 14-run triumph over New Zealand in the opening group clash on Sunday. Bangladesh, on the other hand, were blown away by the Kiwis in their lungopener and it would be tough for them to regroup easily against another tough opponent. It was a rare clinical performance by the infamously temperamental Pakistan with the entire top half of batting making decent contributions. The bowlers were also disciplined with their miserly spells, stifling the Kiwi
line-up -- Saeed Ajmal being the star with a four-wicket haul. Led by Hafeez, all the top order batsmen, be it Nasir Jamshed or Imran Nazir, made good contributions. Umar Akmal too was in his element during his cameo but all-rounder Shoaib Malik remains a worry. Sending him ahead of the aggressive Shahid Afridi against New Zealand didn't work as Pakistan's scoring rate suffered and it would be interesting to see how the line-up shapes up on Tuesday. The bowling attack looks just perfect for the conditions with Ajmal, against whom most of international batsmen have so far struggled to get going, being Pakistan's trump card. Bangladesh, on the other hand, are out of Super Eight contention but would try to ensure that they go out with heads held high after a disappointing loss to New Zealand. Most of their batsmen, including the reliable ones like Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, failed to fire in the opening game. The bowlers were also taken to the cleaners by the same Kiwis who just could not take off against Pakistan. But if Bangladesh manage to produce the surprise act that has disturbed set equations in the past, it would turn out to be an interesting battle between the two sub-continental rivals.
Pakistan have a perfect record against Bangladesh S.PERVEz QAISER After beating New Zealand in the first match by 13 runs, Pakistan will play their second match in the fourth Twenty-20 World Cup against Bangladesh at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (September 25). This group D match will start at 19.30 hours (IST). It will be the sixth Twenty-20 match between the two teams and third in Twenty-20 World Cup. Pakistan have a perfect record against Bangladesh in Twenty-20 cricket as well as in Twenty-20 World Cup. They have won all five Twenty-20 matches against Bangladesh. Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by four wickets when two teams met first time in Twenty-20 World Cup at Cape Town on September 20,2007. They recorded a 21-run victory in the second match against Bangladesh at Gros Islet on May 1, 2010. Bangladesh, ranked ninth in Twenty-20 cricket, have won eight , lost 17 in 25 Twenty-20 matches played sofar. Pakistan have won 35, lost 22 and tied two in 59 matches played sofar. They are ranked fifth in lastest ICC rankings. HIGHESt InnInGS totALS: Bangladesh scoerd 161 for seven in 20 overs at Nairobi on September 2,2007 which is their highest total against Pakistan in Twenty-20
cricket. Pakistan's highest against Bangladesh is 203 for five in 20 overs at Karachi on April 20,2008. LoWESt InnInGS totALS: Bangladesh scored 85 for nine in 20 overs at Dhaka on November 29,2011 which is their lowest ever total against Pakistan. In the same match, Pakistan scored 135 for seven in 20 overs which is their lowest against Bangladesh. HIGHESt InDIvIDUAL ScorES: Misbah-ul-Haq who made an unbeaten 87 off 53 balls with three fours and five sixes at Karachi on April 20,2008 holds the record of highest individual score on either side. The record of highest individual score for Bangladesh is held by Nazimuddin who made 81 off 50 balls with eight fours and five sixes at Nairobi on September 2, 2007. BESt BoWLInG In An InnInGS: Mansoor Amjad's three for three at Karachi on April 20,2008. is the best bowling performance for Pakistan against Bangladesh. Mohammed Ashraful's three for 42 at at Nairobi on September 2,2007 is the best bowling for Bangladesh against Pakistan. peRfoRMance in TwenTy-20 cRicKeT: Type P w l T Success% Pakistan 59 35 22 2 61.01 bangladesh 25 8 17 32.00 Pak v bang 5 5 100.00
Bangladesh seek Saqlain help to tackle Ajmal
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Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said feedback from former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will help counter Saeed Ajmal in their do-or-die clash against Pakistan on Tuesday. Bangladesh need a big win over the 2009 champions in their final group D match to advance to the Super Eights round but Ajmal's danger looms large after the offspinner took 4-30 in Pakistan's 13-run win over New Zealand on Sunday. New Zealand, who have already qualified for Super Eights, beat Bangladesh by 59 runs in the opening group match. The top two teams from the group qualify for the Super Eights. Saqlain regarded as the inventor of "doosra" -- off-spinner's stock delivery which turns the other way and is mastered by Ajmal -- is currently serving as Bangladesh's bowling coach.
world T20 gets new water to stop stomach bug coLoMBo: World Twenty20 organisers have changed the bottled water supplier and called in food inspectors to check the spread of suspected gastro virus at the tournament, officials said on Monday. Several players from New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa and Australia have reportedly been treated for stomach bugs since their arrival in Sri Lanka, with Kiwi Tim Southee even requiring hospital treatment for dehydration. An International Cricket Council (ICC) spokesman said the brand of bottled water used by players and officials so far in the tournament had been replaced. "Although there is no evidence to suggest that water was the cause of any illness, the product supplied for use in the tournament has been replaced," the spokesman told AFP. A Sri Lankan source connected with the tournament said public health inspectors had checked the food given to the players and found nothing untoward. "If an entire team, or at least a majority, go down, we can understand that there is something wrong with the food and beverages department," the source told AFP. "Just a few players have been affected." No official complaints had been lodged by any of the teams, he added. Among players who went down with gastro trouble over the past two weeks included New Zealand's Daniel Vettori, Mitchell Starc and Brad Hogg of Australia, and Paul Stirling and George Dockrell of Ireland. afp
"Ajmal is a world class bowler but we have taken help from Saqlain who is very experienced but we have to execute our plans on the field and it's a do-or-die match for us but Pakistan is not unbeatable if we play well," said Rahim. Ajmal is the leading wicket taker in Twenty20 internationals with 64 and his wicket taking ability poses a real challenge for Bangladesh, who have lost all their five
matches in this shortest format against Pakistan. "Playing Pakistan is a big challenge because their bowling is good but we want to put up our best to qualify for the next round," said Rahim, whose team only reached the second round in the inaugural World Twenty20 held in South Africa in 2007. Since then Bangladesh have lost nine consecutive matches in World Twenty20 editions. Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez said he feels blessed with a varied bowling attack, led by Ajmal. "What else can you want when you have such a variety in your bowling attack," said Hafeez, who along with Ajmal and Shahid Afridi holds spin responsibilities, with rookie left-armer Raza Hasan in reserves. "As a captain it is a blessing for me. This is something I am very pleased to have that I have so many options in bowling and whenever I throw the ball to any of my bowlers he is ready to bowl," said Hafeez.
india's Dhoni happy with 'problem of plenty' COLOMBO afp
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni heads into the Super Eights stage of the World Twenty20 this week delighted to have the enviable problem of which player to leave out. A revamped India condemned England to their heaviest T20 defeat -- by 90 runs -- in Colombo on Sunday after bowling the defending champions out for their lowest T20 total of 80. India rested three regulars -- seamer Zaheer Khan, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and opener Virender Sehwag -- for the group A match because both teams had already qualified for the Super Eights. Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh marked his return to the Indian team after a year with 4-12, including a wicket maiden in his first over, and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla took 2-13. With Ashwin, Harbhajan and Chawla fighting for the spinners' spots in the Super Eights and a settled batting order to choose from, Dhoni said his team was well prepared for the next battle. "We do have a problem of plenty," Dhoni said. "But I can assure you, a problem of plenty is better than not having that one extra guy. "But bigger teams await us and we need to be consistent. In every match, we have to be at our best. Hopefully, we will do that in the next three matches." India face Australia, South Africa and either
Pakistan or Bangladesh in what is being touted as the "group of death", from which the top two will advance to the semi-finals. India, who recorded successive wins against Afghanistan and England in the first round, will remain in Colombo for the next stage and play in the familiar surroundings of the Premadasa Stadium. Dhoni praised the 32-year-old Harbhajan, who was recalled for the World Twenty20 after being sidelined due to injury and poor form since August last year. "Harbhajan bowled well," Dhoni said after the off-spinner recorded the best T20 figures by an Indian bowler and was named the man of the match. "He did not bowl short. He invited the batsmen to drive by pitching the ball up. He made good use of variations, plus his mindset was very aggressive. "He was very focused and he really wanted to do well. It's a very big positive for us because if we are playing one batsman short, he is someone who can slog down the order. He is a very good option for us." The Indian skipper refused to speculate which spinners he will pick in future. "Frankly, I don't know who will play," Dhoni said. "But I am quite happy with the problem of plenty. The selection will depend on the wicket. If it's a fresh and hardrolled wicket, spinners may not be that effective.