Men in Green need to win the game by a big margin to qualify for the semi-finals
04 July, 2019
PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan team is looking to end their World Cup campaign on a high, as they take on Bangladesh in their final league match of the ongoing 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in England and Wales.
While talking to Cricket Pakistan in London, skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed spoke about the turnaround in team’s performance after defeat against arch-rivals India.
“After the India defeat we sat down and discussed things in a meeting, which helped us a great deal. We wanted to ensure that we don’t repeat mistakes, we had made in the past, in the upcoming matches and that is precisely what we did,” said Sarfaraz.
He also spoke about Pakistan’s plans against Bangladesh’s batting unit.
“Bangladesh has been doing well as a batting unit but we also have quality bowlers to keep their batsmen under check,” he said.
Sarfaraz also thanked the fans for supporting the team through thick and thin.
“I’m thankful to the fans, who came to watch our games and also back home, for supporting us. I’m hopeful that they will continue doing the same in the future as well,” he said.
Meanwhile young pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi also eyes another good performance, with the ball, against The Tigers.
“I want to contribute in Pakistan’s victory and hopefully I will be able to do in match against Bangladesh as well,” said Shaheen. “I have played against Bangladesh before and would be looking to get the wickets of Tamim Iqbal and Shakibal Hasan.”
On the other hand, left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz was also optimistic about team’s chances against Bangladesh.
“We will try our best to qualify for the semi-finals,” said Riaz. “We have played well in the last few games and will look to end our campaign on a high, for ourselves and more importantly our country.”
Pakistan is currently on 9 points with a match left against Bangladesh at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday.
Teams receive two points for a win and one point for a tie or no-result washout.
If two sides are level on points at the end of the group stage, the one that has won more games goes through.
If they remain level, the side with the superior net run-rate advances. In the unlikely event they still cannot be separated, then the result of their match against each other will be a tie-breaker.
The Men in Green will have to either make 400 runs and dismiss Bangladesh for 84 runs or make 350 runs and dismiss The Tigers for 38 runs to go ahead of New Zealand in the net run rate and qualify for the semi-finals.
If Bangladesh bats first, Pakistan stands no chance of qualifying for the semi-final.
