Pakistan look to tame Kiwis
Saturday, October 03, 2009
From Abdul Mohi Shah
JOHANNESBURG: Pakistan start as favourites here in the second semifinals of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand with skipper Younis Khan declaring that it would be hard for the Kiwis to beat us if we are at our best.
Younis was so confident on the eve of the second semifinal that he said that Pakistan would want to play against England in the final. England were featuring in the first semifinal against defending champions Australia on Thursday.
As Pakistan players went through their paces during a two-hour practice session on Friday afternoon at the Wanderers, there was an amazing confidence in them.
We want victory here and if we play at our best, it would be too difficult for the Kiwis to get past us, said the captain.
It was almost three years back that Pakistan last played against New Zealand in a fifty-over match during the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. Though Pakistan lost that match by 51 runs, they looked in no mood to repeat that failure here. Talk about today. We are playing our best cricket and more than that we are on a mission here and that is to win the Trophy for our country. Since England and Pakistan are the only teams here not to have won the Champions Trophy, we want a final against them, a confident Younis said.
New Zealand is a good team and that was why they are in the semis. But at our best New Zealand would not be able to pose any strong challenge to us, Younis said.
Pakistan last played against New Zealand at The Oval during the Twenty20 World Cup and it was there when Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori blamed Pakistans ace bowler Umar Gul of ball-tampering. That controversy is not on our mind any more. We buried it there and then. We want to play good and positive cricket here and do not want to get engaged in any sort of controversy, Younis said.
Umars sensational bowling got New Zealand cheaply at that time. Two years ago, New Zealand also came face to face against Pakistan during the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup semis in Cape Town. Pakistan won that match comfortably.
Younis, however, was not sure of the final combination of his team for the match against New Zealand, saying every player deserves a chance. We would select the best combination as it is a matter of countrys pride and prestige. Every player knows that if he fails to get a chance in the playing XI that would be more because a better player has taken up his place.
Vettori on the other hand believed that the momentum was very much with his team. The momentum is with us I think. Its a much preferable way to go into semis, knowing we have won two big games here on the same ground.
He said he wanted to change the script this time. Most of the time we lose in the semis. This fall we would change the script and would play the title decider.
Though tickets for the match are still on sale, chances are that we might see a good crowd for the match. The Wanderers wicket looked as if it was full of runs as it gave a dry and barren look and is void of any grass.
Pakistan look to tame Kiwis