Mumbai: The equation in Group 2 of ICC World Twenty20 is simple for Pakistan as they face New Zealand in Mohali on Tuesday; win the game to keep alive the hopes of making it to the semifinal and/or expect mathematical calculations favour them with India and Australia having two games, a game more than Pakistan, to play.
The Shahid Afridi-led Pakistani side began their World T20 campaign on a bang with the skipper living up to his nickname Boom Boom, Ahmad Shehzad, who was drafted in the team at the last moment, scoring a fifty. Mohammad Amir and co. had put up their hand as the team defeated Bangladesh - the side which trumped Pakistan in the recently concluded Asia Cup- by 55 runs in a lop-sided encounter.
Pakistan cricket team, as it always does, hijacked all the attention even before it landed in India for the mega event. The political dangling had overtaken cricket talks with Pakistan Cricket Board seeking safety assurances from Indian government, BCCI Honourary secretary Anurag Thakur having a go at PCB and Pakistani team following orders to delay the departure to India. Shahid Afridi’s “love for India" remark did not help the matters back home either.
While off the field tension chased them, Pakistan, as it is part of their DNA, found a way to get out of the jail and gave a solid performance. But then the India game happened.
India, pre-tournament favourites to win the ICC World Twenty20 trophy for the second time, fumbled in Nagpur spin fest. The onus, as Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said, was for the first time on India in ICC events whenever the two sides faced eachother.
However, what transpired at the Eden Gardens was what the cricket world had seen it before; skipper Dhoni thriving in spinner friendly conditions, Pakistan messing around with their team selection and batting order, Ahmad Shehzad resuming his ‘play it cute over play it effective’ ways at the top and then the Virat Kohli phenomena took over the iconic Kolkata venue.
Pakistan will take field for the first time since India made it 11-0. But they are facing New Zealand who are all but certain to reach semifinals following their two wins in as many games. Although Pakistan are second in the Group 2, ahead of Australia and India on NRR (+0.999) and Bangladesh, the pressure is on Pakistan.
Pakistan are currently ahead of India and Australia in points table. (Photo: Screengrab)
If they lose in Mohali against Kiwis and if India secure a win against Bangladesh in Bengaluru, Shahid Afridi’s already bleak future as an international cricketer and Pakistan’s T20 captain, would see a pre-mature end as his team would slip in the team standings in their group.
The loss in tonight’s game would also make the March 25 game against Australia a win-at-all-cost for Pakistan. Even if they win then, they would have to hope that (a) India, if they had won against Bangladesh, lose against Australia (b) Pakistan have better NRR than India and Australia in case the three sides have four points against their name.
"In cricket, generally the team that makes fewer mistakes wins. India made fewer mistakes than us. We have to cut down on our mistakes," said Shahid Afridi during the pre-match conference on Monday.
While Afridi is spot on in his observations, Pakistan’s future in ICC World Twenty20 will depend on which Pakistan turn up in Mohali on Tuesday against New Zealand.
