Miracles did happen especially when Pakistan played against a super-fit and committed side like the Netherlands, who had outplayed hosts England in World Twenty20 Cup opener on June 6. The Dutch were humbled by Pakistani spinners, as Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal steered Pakistan to victory over the Dutch, who needed just 151 runs to deny Pakistan the minimum 25-run margin of victory, collapsed at 93 all out.
Leg-spinner Afridi took four wickets for just 11 runs in his four overs - the fourth best return in all Twenty20 internationals - as 2007 finalists Pakistan won by 82 runs to book their place in the second phase - Super Eights. He was well supported by fellow spinner Saeed Ajmal (three for 20).
In the second match of the day South Africa beat New Zealand by one run off the last ball in their "dead" World Twenty20 group clash at the Lord's. However, this was a "meaningless" match with both sides already through to the second stage, Super Eights, after they had each defeated minnows Scotland.
SRI LANKA BEAT AUSSIES: In earlier matches, the reigning Test and World Cup champions, Australia were sent packing from the World Twenty20 after suffering a six-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in a crucial group "C" game at Trent Bridge. It was Australia's fifth successive Twenty20 defeat for Australia.
Now England, Sri Lanka and the West Indies took the Super Eights places in the tournament Bangladesh, who had lost their opening game against defending champions India, returned home with two defeats, while the Irish moved into the Super Eights from Group "A" along with the India.
MATCH AGAINST ENGLAND: Having a look at Pakistan-England encounter, it is generally believed that the fate of a match in limited-over game depends on the spin of coin. Younus Khan, knowing about the depth in batting and that Pakistan are not good chasers of victory target, after winning the toss, invited England to bat first. This decision had put Younus Khan on defensive.
The hosts, 48 hours after their shock four-wicket loss to the Netherlands, which was the first big upset of the tournament, bounced back to record a win which, because their net run-rate was now superior to that of the Dutch, ensured their progress in the tournament. While opener Luke Wright kept the run-rate high by striking five fours in as many balls faced on his way to a brisk 34, Kevin Pietersen led England to a total of 185 for five with 58. He was ably supported by Owais Shah (33).
Earlier, Pietersen faced 38 balls with three sixes and five fours before he was caught at short third man by Umar Gul off Saeed Ajmal. Off-spinner Ajmal had dropped a caught and bowled chance when Pietersen was on 30.
Pakistan, chasing 186 for victory, saw Stuart Broad take two wickets in as many balls to reduce them to 41 for three at the end of the six-over powerplay. Kamran Akmal holed out to Luke Wright at deep mid-wicket before opener Salman Butt exited for 28. Pace bowler Broad led England's attack with three for 17 from three overs.
Pakistan's innings petered out as they finished on 137 for seven with captain Younus Khan stranded on 46 not out. By the time the dangerous, but unpredictable Shahid Afridi reached the crease, Pakistan were struggling at 87 for four in the 13th over. Afridi could only manage five before he skied off-spinner Graeme Swann to substitute fielder and former Irish cricketing star Eoin Morgan in the deep.
Pathetic: It was pathetic to see batsmen, in their lust for big hits and playing irresponsibly, threw their wickets in the first match against host England in the World Twenty20 Cup match.
It is a pity that coach Itikhab Alam and skipper Younus Khan did not take lesson from the two consecutive defeats in the warm-up matches at the hands of South Africa and arch rivals India. After defeating Australia in one-off Twenty20 match in Dubai, it was expected that Pakistan team management will avoid making even minor mistakes in team selection, but they pinned on all-rounders. Besides openers, the team comprise two specialist batsmen in captain Younus Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, hence there was no depth in batting.
It pains one to refer to the remarks of skipper Younus Khan in his post-match press conference that he considered Twenty20 cricket a "fun game," and real cricket was Test and one-day games. True that the real cricket is Test and one-day games, but he may be reminded that Little Master Hanif Mohammad never down graded even club cricket, and treated every match as a Test match. So in the light of Younus Khan's remarks about the Twenty20 cricket, it is believed the skipper took quite lightly the hosts England.
Besides a lacklustre and inconsistent batting, fielding has always been the core problem of Problem. It is surprising that an experienced coach Intikhab Alam, who claimed the boys had undergone "gruelling sessions," and admitted, "By all means, the tournament is going to be a thrilling and tough event. But it all depends on the mental toughness, physical fitness and match temperament to face the rivals after a long time." Despite his confession about the importance of the tournament, Intikhab did not stress upon the batsmen to learn to stay on the crease for longer period. Simply blaming poor fielding for the defeats, Intikhab should admit that he failed to improve fielding.
ABDUL QADIR QUITS AS CHIEF SELECTOR: In other development, former test cricketer Abdul Qadir has resigned as Chairman of National Selection Committee after developing differences with the team management over selection of one player in the team for Twenty-20 World Cup.
The former spin king was reportedly upset and unhappy over the inclusion of Rao Iftikhar Anjum in the Pak team for Twenty20 World Cup as a replacement of pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar after the team management did not take him into confidence on the selection of Rao.
"Abdul Qadir lodged his protect to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman on this issue who did not pay any attention and supported the act of team management which provoked the chief selector to step down," said the PCB sources.
The sources confirmed that Abdul Qadir expressed his displeasure during his meeting with the PCB Chief, and termed the act of team management "interference in the process of selection and a vote of no confidence over selection committee." Abdul Qadir also criticised the performance of Pakistan team in the opening match of the Twenty20 World Cup, which Pakistan lost to England. Though bowlers played to their potentials, it was fielding lapses. In a 20-over match dropping of four catches was suicidal. Besides, irresponsible and careless batting brought humiliation to Pakistan. It seems that Pakistan, the finalists at the 2007 inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa, entered the tournament without any game plan and strategy.
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