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ICC CWC, 1st QF: PAK vs WI ( Mar. 23, at 14.30 local / 9.00 GMT

It will be a clash between instinctive flair versus the Caribbean Calypso when Pakistan take on West Indies in the first QF of the ICC CWC 2011 in Mirpur.

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Match Preview by Himanshu Shekhar in Mirpur

West Indies, who were at the receiving end of the stone-pelters’ wrath after their resounding win against hosts Bangladesh on March 4, are pitted against a rampaging Pakistan outfit, which is playing its best cricket in almost a decade.

Led by the mercurial Shahid Afridi, Team Pakistan has carved their way into the quarters of the quadrennial tournament in their most typical style – playing their best when pitted against all odds. It would be interesting to know how many of the cricket Pundits had predicted Pakistan to top Group A and bring the Aussie juggernaut to an abrupt halt after their 34-match winning streak in the ICC Cricket World Cup.

But, we are talking about Pakistan - for whom unpredictability is the only safe prediction. Talking about the team composition, Pakistan hold a clear edge in the bowling department. Umar Gul is in top form and coach Waqar Younis has shown confidence in this Peshawar-born “Pathan”. Gul leads Pakistan’s assembly of bowlers, which includes the likes of Wahab Riaz, Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Akhtar. Skipper Shahid Afridi leads the spin attack and is the tournament’s leading wicket-taker so far.

Pakistan have an attack capable of bowling out any side, on any pitch. They are playing with a lot of intent and purpose. However, opening is still a big concern for Pakistan, with their highest first-wicket stand in the 2011 Cricket World Cup being just 28 runs till date. Apart from Umar Akmal and Misbah-ul- Haq, the batting has looked devoid of purpose. The team think-tank will be keen to address the issue before it gets too late.

Regardless of the result on Wednesday, the circumstances amidst which Pakistan have made it to the quarters is an intriguing tale in itself. The mess surrounding the shady spot-fixing episode and the late last-hour parleys on Afridi or Misbah as captain only highlights the ever-present pandemonium in the PCB. The team has not played an international game on their home-soil courtesy the extremely volatile internal security scenario.

A title win for Pakistan in the ongoing tournament would be akin to a fairy-tale that would only find sporting parallels with the victory of Mohammad Ali in the Rome Olympics.

West Indies, on other hand, would go to Bangladesh with a lot of loose ends to fix. The Caribbean team has had to make a number of replacements for injuries in this edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup and their star batsmen Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard have been struggling to find form.

The likes of Darren Sammy, Devon Smith and Andre Russell are bits and pieces cricketers and have been effective in patches. Surprisingly, Sammy has been reluctant to play Shivanaraine Chanderpaul and the dressing-room atmosphere does not look at its healthiest best.

Looking at the pace department, one finds no dearth of talent with Kemar Roach, Andre Russell and Ravi Rampaul, all performing well in the League stages. West Indies had demolished Bangladesh for a paltry 58 runs during the League stage and Pakistan would be aware of that threat.

If the buzz in the camp is to be believed, then Chanderpaul definitely will be playing to boost up the tender middle-order.

A concerned skipper Darren Sammy also addressed the issue: "We did lose our way (in the last two games) and we can't keep collapsing like that all the time."

"We certainly can't do that in a quarter-final but I am confident we can put the past behind us and hopefully the West Indies will win. It will be an exciting game."

However, the real good news for the Windies camp is that Chris Gayle and Kemar Roach are fit and will be playing.

"I liked the way Chris was hitting balls in the nets," said Sammy. "He is very committed to the West Indies cause. I have no doubt both he and Kemar will play.”

"Chris is a committed fellow. He will do whatever it takes to put the team in a position to win.

"I have no doubts he will do the best thing that's required for the team," West Indies skipper said while posing a brave front.

Meanwhile, Pakistan won’t be feeling like playing away from home when they take to the fields at Mirpur, which was once a part of East Pakistan. And come the quarter-finals, the clash will be between two teams that bank on natural flair and display an instinctive style of cricket.

Fasten your seat belts; the real action is just about to begin.


 
West Indies vs Pakistan in ODIs

- West Indies have a better record against Pakistan in ODIs, winning 64 and losing 48 out of 114 played. West Indies' winning % is 57.01 and Pakistan's just 42.98 (Tied 2).

- Of the last-five ODIs between the two countris, Pakistan have won four and West Indies just once.

In World Cup

- West Indies have won six and lost two out of eight played - West Indies winning % 75.00 and Pakistan 25.00 %

- West Indies have won six times against Pakistan at the World Cup in 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 2007. Pakistan's two World Cup victories against West Indies in 1987 and 1999.

Overall World Cup

- West Indies have won 38 and lost 24 out of 63 played - Winning % 61.29 (NR 1).

- Pakistan have won 35 and lost 25 out of 62 played - winning % 58.33.

Approaching milestones

- In case of a West Indies win, it will be their first against a strong opponent since July 2009  - their last being against India at Kingston on June 28, 2009. Their only victories came against Ireland, Netherlands, Canada, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

- Devon Smith (974) needs 26 runs to complete 1,000 runs in ODIs.

- Chris Gayle (99) requires just one catch to complete a century of catches in ODIs.

- Shahid Afridi (17 at 11.47) needs one wicket to register the best bowling performance as captain in a single edition of the World Cup.  Imran had captured 17 wickets at 13.05 runs apiece in seven matches in 1987-88.

- Afridi, in case of two wickets, would be establishing a record for most wickets by a Pakistani bowler in a World Cup competition. Wasim Akram had captured 18 wickets at 18.77 runs apiece in ten games in 1991-02.

- Misbah-ul-Haq (1949) requires 51 runs to complete 2,000 runs in ODIs.

- Shivnarine Chanderpaul (926) needs 74 runs to become the third West Indian after Brian Lara (1225) and Vivian Richards (1013) to complete 1,000 runs at the World Cup.

 

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