Pakistan takes on West Indies in the early hours of Saturday Morning against perhaps the only team in greater disorder than ours. Both teams are under massive pressure after losing their opening matches. A win in this game will prove to be a huge morale boost to the winning side. However, the losing team will find itself even further down in the deep, dark trench, with fewer and fewer chances to get their heads back above the water.
Pakistan team, who lost their opening match against arch rivals India, has not been able to send any positive messages. All rounder Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad apparently had an altercation with fielding coach Grant Luden. The three players were among the eight who were reprimanded not long ago after breaking a team curfew. Shehzad who has been in the news more for the troubles he has caused off the pitch than the runs he has scored on it was also involved in a heated exchange of words with a journalist. It is surprising that our players are behaving in such a non professional manner in a tournament so big.
Pakistan also made few critical blunders in the selection of the final eleven against India, Younis Khan opened the innings just for the third time in his entire career. If Younis has to be slotted in the playing eleven, he should be considered for the middle order when ball gets old and easy to play.
This isn’t a must-win match but it is one we need to win to boost our confidence. The tournament still has five weeks to run so while we may not look like a team with the quality to lift the trophy we have plenty of time to recover. Pakistan team has a huge responsibility on its shoulders to deliver, but question marks remain after the teams shockingly poor off field antics since the humiliating loss against India.
