With barely a fortnight to go before Pakistan play their first and perhaps the most important pool game of the World Cup things are not looking good for Misbah-ul-Haq and his men. Following back-to-back defeats against a New Zealand Board President’s XI in Lincoln in two tour matches, the Pakistanis succumbed to a tame seven-wicket loss in the first of two One-day Internationals against the Blackcaps in Wellington on Saturday (yesterday).

In the two practice games, Pakistan fell after reaching substantial totals and the results prompted critics to ask whether the 1992 champions have a bowling attack capable of taking them all the way in the World Cup. In Saturday’s ODI against New Zealand, Pakistan were unable to post a challenging total as they were restricted to 210 despite a 29-ball 67 by Shahid Afridi and a resolute 58 by skipper Misbah.

Having played three games in their pre-World Cup tour of New Zealand and Australia, Pakistan are now at halfway mark of what is the final leg of their preparations for the mega event. There is going to be another one-dayer against New Zealand in Napier on February 3 before Pakistan fly out to Australia to play two World Cup warm-ups against Bangladesh and England before taking on old foes India in a mouth-watering tournament clash in Adelaide on February 15.

Till now Waqar Younis and his fellow coaches have been trying to find the right ODI combination and till now they’ve failed. They have to, somehow, succeed in the coming games because the team needs a much-needed morale-booster and the easiest way to achieve that is by conquering the Indians in the opening game.

In the lead up to the big game neither team is looking good. While the Pakistanis have tried and failed in their attempts to bring some respectability to their ODI form the Indians are reeling from a disastrous showing in the ODI tri-series that also involves hosts Australia and England.

On paper, the Indians still come across as the favourites because of a better, more reliable batting line-up. Pakistan were supposed to be equipped with a more potent bowling arsenal but so far the likes of Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Khan, Ehsan Adil and Bilawal Bhatti have shown little signs of justifying that assessment. Unless Waqar Younis has some surprises up his sleeves, prospects are not looking good for Pakistan in the bowling department. Waqar believes Irfan will be the x-factor for his team but so far the gentle giant hasn’t shown any signs that he will prove his coach right. Junaid Khan, the other left-armer is still struggling to regain match fitness while the likes of Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan and Ehsan Adil have also failed to impress much.

However, with a bit of luck things can change. All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez will undergo a test on his bowling action in Brisbane on February 6 and it will be great news for Pakistan if he is cleared to bowl in the World Cup by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Hafeez, the off-spinner, should add a little more balance to the line-up.

But Pakistan’s concerns are not confined to their below-par bowling attack. Their top-order hasn’t proved to be any stronger than a sandcastle in testing New Zealand conditions. The trio of Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad and Younis Khan have struggled even against second string attacks and that’s something that has to change if Pakistan are to do well in the World Cup.

There are also a few positives. In the lead up to the World Cup questions were raised about the form and fitness of the Pakistan captain but Misbah has wasted little time in silencing his critics with a series of fine knocks. Similarly, Afridi’s batting credentials has been a talking point with many rejecting the former Pakistan skipper as spent force. Afridi might not have silenced his critics with a whirlwind fifty at Westpac Stadium but the senior all-rounder has underlined the fact that he remains a dangerous customer.

How the duo fare in the World Cup will have a huge impact on the final World Cup outcome for Pakistan. Remember the Imran-Miandad dynamic and how it clicked back in 1992? A similar equation featuring Misbah and Afridi can work as a catalyst for Pakistan and their World Cup campaign.

Just like Imran and Miandad, Misbah and Afridi are intelligent cricketers who are well aware that their team is in a desperate need for good, solid leadership. Their team is devoid of stars or match-winners which is why it is all the more important for both Misbah and Afridi to shrug aside any insecurities or personal ambitions and work together just like Imran and Miandad did almost a quarter of a century ago.

Both have started well by lifting their personal form. They need to capitalise on it and carry it into the World Cup, especially in the crunch game against the Indians.

Much has been said about Pakistan’s mediocre bowling attack and unreliable batting. But it is also a fact that in the lead up to the World Cup, Pakistani batters have accumulated 22 centuries in a season. That means their batters aren’t incapable of playing big knocks. All they need is to fully apply themselves and show hunger for runs. Cricket’s biggest battle is about to begin and the Pakistanis need to roar like lions. Otherwise there is a big possibility that they will get slaughtered like lambs.