Pakistan look to ‘win it for Lala’ today

Green-shirts hope to stay alive by beating Australia in last group match

MOHALI, India: At around 7pm on Wednesday, Pakistan’s players were summoned by Waqar Younis for a team meeting, writes Khalid Hussain.

Whatever the purpose of the meeting, it turned into one big showing-the-mirror session. Waqar minced no words when he criticised several players for their below-par showing in the tournament. They were told how they have let down their country.

Many of those players know that when they take the field against Australia here on Friday (today) it could be their last chance.

One of those players is Ahmed Shehzad.

But the opener told ‘The News’ on Thursday that instead of playing to save their own skin, he and fellow team members will go all out in the game against Australia “to win it for Lala.”

Ahmed’s captain Shahid Afridi, fondly known among friends and team-mates as Lala (elder brother), will most likely be playing his last international game today.

That is unless Pakistan beat Australia and the Aussies go on to beat India on Sunday. In that case, Pakistan could progress to the semi-finals.

“All of us wanted to give Lala a memorable send-off and so far we have failed,” said Ahmed, who was singled out as one of the culprits of Pakistan’s failed run-chase against New Zealand.

“Tomorrow could be our last chance and we will go all out win it for Lala.”

The Mohali wicket is similar to the one on which Pakistan were unable to reach a victory target of 181 despite getting an explosive start from opener Sharjeel Khan.

Pacer Wahab Riaz is available after recovering from an injury but is unlikely to play.

Senior batsman Mohammad Hafeez remains a doubtful starter and will undergo a fitness test ahead of the match.

On a dry wicket that is expected to be a batting paradise, Pakistan can fancy their chances against an Australian which their captain conceded wasn’t playing at its hundred percent.

“We have to play a bit better than we have been in our first two games. We have not been at our 100 per cent yet and that could work for us. You don’t want to be playing your best cricket at the start of the tournament. We are next playing two quality opposition in India and Pakistan and we have to beat both of them to qualify. As simple as that,” Smith told reporters on Thursday.

Australia have to beat Asian giants Pakistan and India to confirm a place in the last four and Smith said that his team was relishing the challenge.

“It will be tough beat two top sides like Pakistan and India. The conditions here (Mohali) are as closer as you can get in India and hopefully we can make use of that.”

Australia will be banking on Adam Zampa after the rookie leg-spinner’s three-wicket haul against Bangladesh.

“I think they (leg-spinners) have a bit of variation. If you miss the middle of the bat, you quite often end up getting a wicket. You see a lot of batsmen getting caught on the fence (off leg-spinner). The variation a leg spinner brings creates those chances. They have done well traditionally in T20 cricket and I am very proud of the way Adam Zampa has bowled for us. Hopefully we can see more of that.

“I certainly think he can be a threat for tomorrow. He has got good skills, reads the batsmen really well. We will just wait and see what the wicket has to offer. I certainly feel he can play a big part,” said Smith.

Smith also compared the Mohali ground to the massive MCG in Melbourne, saying the conditions will suit the Australians.

He has also picked Shane Watson’s brain on some of the Pakistani players as the all-rounder was part of the Pakistan Super League.

“We had a meeting yesterday. We got a fair bit of inside intel on some of their players. It was nice to get some of his (Watson’s) thoughts. As I said, they (Pakistan and India) are both very tough sides. We saw India scrape their way out of a difficult situation which they do so well in these conditions. Pakistan is a quality outfit as well,” Smith said.

Australia have been the most successful team in the 50-over World Cup but are yet to win the T20 showpiece event. Smith tried his best to analyse that record.

“Twenty20 is a very tough game. It is a fickle format. One player can win you the game. It is a tough one and I believe the squad we got here, we are going to play our best cricket in the next two games and anything can happen in semis and final. We are excited,” he said.

This will be the sixth time these teams have met in World Twenty20 history; Pakistan winning three of the previous five encounters (L2).

Pakistan also hold a head to head advantage against Australia when you look at all meetings between the sides, having won seven of 13 clashes (L5, T1).

Afridi is one of just five players to bat in 20+ innings and have a strike rate over 150 in T20I history; Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch are two of the others.

Shane Watson needs four more wickets to become the Australian to 50 T20I wickets; he has taken four wickets in a match once before (v England in 2011).

Afridi, however, is just three shy of becoming the first player from any nation to reach 100 T20I scalps.