Pakistan Relaxed to face Canada on Mar 03 in WC 2011

Tags: World Cup 2011, Canada v Pakistan 17th Match at Colombo - Mar 3, 2011, Pakistan, Canada

Published on: Mar 02, 2011

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Pakistan have emerged as one of the title contenders after defeating Sri Lanka at their backyard on Saturday and will now take on cricket minnows Canada in their third Group A match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at R Premadasa Stadium.

Pakistan have emerged as one of the title contenders after defeating Sri Lanka at their backyard on Saturday and will now take on cricket minnows Canada in their third Group A match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at R Premadasa Stadium.

With a couple of injuries, skipper Shahid Khan Afridi may like to test his bench-strength against a team that has proved a soft target for the test teams in the competition so far.

Abdur Rehman and Misbah-ul-Haq are not fit enough to play the match while Shoaib Akhtar was also likely to be rested but the world’s fastest bowler has declined to take rest and is looking forward to have a full go at the minnows to regain his wicket-taking form.

Shoaib Akhtar has been decent in the tournament so far not going for over six an over and has also taken some wickets but his four or five wickets hauls are still a far cry.

On the other hand, Misbah has also showed his intent to be part of the team as he is running in the top batsmen of the tournament.

Shahid Afridi has got a serious dilemma of selection as he will have to make call on either of Saeed Ajmal (orthodox off-spinner), Wahab Riaz (left-arm fast bowler), or Junaid Khan (left-arm fast bowler).

Any of these players, if selected would make their Limited Overs World Cup debut.

As far as facts and figures are concerned, Pakistan and Canada have only met once in the world cup competitions and that was way back in 1979 when Pakistan easily defeated the minnows by eight wickets.

Pakistan’s recent form has been quite brilliant as they not only overpowered New Zealand at their backyard but also have started the World Cup campaign in style by defeating Kenya and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan’s bowling attack is still one of the best in the competition despite losing the world’s best new ball bowlers, i.e. Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. Shoaib Akhtar is leading the bowling attack with Umar Gul while Abdul Razzaq is not an easy bowler to hit out. Pakistan’s spin force is also well supported by good variety of off-spinners, both right and left armers, and leg spinners. Shahid Khan Afridi leads the spin department with his bamboozling leg-spinners while Mohammad Hafeez (orthodox off-spinner), Abdur Rehman (left-arm off-spinner) and Saeed Ajmal (orthodox off-spinner) are quite difficult to handle especially when the ball gets older and softer and doesn’t come on to the bat easily.

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