Misbah biggest threat, says Smith

WELLINGTON: Graeme Smith believes that if South Africa can dismiss Misbah-ul-Haq early then they will scalp Pakistan without much fuss in their World Cup Pool B encounter in Auckland on Sunday.
The former South Africa captain also stressed that Pakistan’s unpredictability makes them difficult opponents.
“Pakistan always presents a different prospect. They are difficult to prepare for due to their unpredictability often rendering tactics and strategies obsolete on the day. They have looked underwhelming thus far in the tournament but it isn’t their style to look anything but that in the early parts of any tournament,” Smith wrote in his column for the official ICC website.
“Misbah-ul-Haq represents the biggest threat and I will go as far to say that if the Proteas can nullify him half the battle is won such is his influence. He is the only one of the top and middle-order who has shown any form thus far this tournament.
“One area in which the Pakistanis represent real danger is their lower-middle order. Suhaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi and Wahab Riaz are all potentially explosive players who have each given an indication that they are finding some respective form with the bat. They have rallied thus far in each of Pakistan’s games giving the scorecard some impetus and respectability.”
Smith underlined the fact that Pakistan’s pace attack is raw but was quick to add that the the left-arm trio of Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali can cause problems for any opposition.
“The Pakistani pace attack is fairly raw for a tournament of this stature. I faced one of the quickest spells in my career from Mohammad Irfan in 2013 and he will again lead the attack. Rahat Ali and Wahab Riaz will provide the variation with their left-arm swing. Afridi and Haris Sohail will complement them with their left-arm slow and legbreaks respectively.”
Smith said that a win against Pakistan will come as a confidence-booster for South Africa, who are still reeling from a stunning defeat against India at the MCG.
“I feel that they planned to adopt a horses for courses approach based on the opposition and the conditions. This was evident by the selection of Wayne Parnell ahead of Farhan Berhardien against India. The number-seven batsman and makeup of the fifth bowler will continue to dominate selection conversations leading up to the game and I believe the panel will revert to Berhardien in that role for this fixture.
“The Proteas will know that victory in this fixture will provide them with the confidence, momentum and belief that they will so desperately want going into the knock-out stages. Defeat is something that they won’t even be contemplating,” he concluded.