they played even Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman really well.”
Pakistan might curb the temptation of going into the match with an unchanged line-up in order to bring back a fit-again Haris Sohail in place of either Sohaib Maqsood or Umar Akmal.
“If we are not going with two spinners then Haris gives us an extra spin option. It’s a difficult decision because Younis Khan played well in the last match. He is a senior batsman. But we will decide for the betterment of the team,” Misbah said.
Pakistan’s captain is hoping to win the toss and bat first today.
“The toss plays an important role in Australia where seamers get more assistance under lights. We will have an advantage if we bowl second,” he said.
It might not have really worked for them in this event but Misbah said that Pakistan will stick with the plan of keeping wickets in hand.
“Our plan has been to have wickets in hand because that’s the key. If you have 6 or 7 wickets in hand around the 40th over you will have a good chance to win. The top six batters should try to bat out the 50 overs because then you can get to 300 or more.”
Pakistan will attack upfront with Irfan and Sohail Khan with the duo of Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali backing them.
“It’s a good combination,” said Misbah. “Wahab is a very good bowler as a change bowler. He is skiddy and fast off the pitch. But he doesn’t swing the ball. Irfan seams and swings and generates extra bounce. Sohail swings the ball a bit late. Then we have Rahat and Wahab. Rahat swings while Wahab uses pace. They provide us with a very good balance.”
Such is the situation in Pool B that even on the last day of the group matches today, three teams — Pakistan, Ireland and West Indies are in with a chance.
Pakistan will make the cut if they beat Ireland. They will still get through with a loss in today’s game if UAE upset West Indies in Napier but that’s highly unlikely.
If Pakistan lose and West Indies win, then Ireland will get through while the other two will face a tricky run-rate countback.
World Cup history isn’t on Pakistan’s side as they fell against Ireland by three wickets back in 2007. But overall, Pakistan have won three of the four games played between the two teams since the Kingston showdown.