Pakistan set to retain winning combination for India game

KOLKATA: The mercury is rising. The high-voltage World Twenty20 clash between Pakistan and India on Saturday (tomorrow) is already the talk of the cricketing world.

Both teams are aware of the fact that the stakes are high and not just because each and every game of this tournament is almost a must-win match. They know that it’s the one game that they can’t lose.

The Indians might be in a tight spot having lost to New Zealand in their opening game in Nagpur but there is a lot of pressure on the Pakistanis as well.

They have never beaten India in a World Cup match and know how important it is for their compatriots to end this losing spree.

But if the Pakistanis are feeling the pressure they are not showing it.

Nine of the 15 players turned up at the optional training session at Eden Gardens on Thursday. The players went about their business like any other day.

Six of the players who are expected to retain their places in the playing eleven for the marquee clash against India skipped Thursday’s training session.

With the entire support staff in attendance, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed Mohammad Sami, Sharjeel Khan, Imad Wasim, Umar Akmal, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Nawaz and Khalid Latif opted to come over to brush up their skills ahead of Saturday’s game against India.

A team official told ‘The News’ that Pakistan are expected to retain the same side that hammered Bangladesh in their opening match of the tournament on Wednesday.

“The line-up will only be decided just before Saturday match (against India) but expectations are there will be no changes in the playing eleven.

“Yesterday’s win has really lifted the team’s morale,” the official said. “The boys are now looking forward to the big game against India.”

Meanwhile, fast bowler Mohammad Sami is yet to recover from his foot injury and is unlikely to be available for the match against India.

Recovering from an injury that he suffered at the fag-end of day one’s training when a net bowler’s delivery hit him flush on his left big toe, Sami for the first time put on his training shoes and under the direct supervision of team doctor and physiotherapist Dr Sohail Saleem and trainer Grant Luden did running and sprints and also shadow bowling for a couple of overs.

He still has not been put on full training regimen, and in Saleem’s assessment, “Swelling in Sami’s toe has almost subsided and his complaint with regard to pain is said to be minimal. He is recovering fast; and his fitness would be assessed again Friday.”