Adil Najam
Pakistan plays its second group match in the 2007 World Cup Cricket against Ireland today.
Having already lost the first match to hosts West Indies, if the troubled Pakistani team also loses this game, it would have effectively eliminated itself from the tournament even before the ‘Super 8’ begin. On the other hand, if Ireland wins, it will be a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day windfall for the Irish.
Even though Ireland had pulled in a remarkable effort by tieing against Zimbabwe, the odds say that Pakistan will not lose today (and if they do, would there be any hope at all left for Pakistan cricket?). But around 20 per cent of our readers seem to think that Pakistan will fail to make it to the Super 8 – if not by losing today’s game, then by losing the last Group game against Zimbabwe. This according to the results of our ATP Poll on Pakistan’s prospects for the Cricket World Cup 2007.
(Click above for larger image)
The overall prognosis from the Poll seems to be rather bleak.
- A total of 398 votes were cast in the Poll.
- Some 20 per cent (79 votes) believe that Pakistan will not even make it past the group stage into the ‘Super 8.’
- This means that 80 per cent feel that the team will get into the Super 8. However, just about half (47 per cent; 188 votes) believe that Pakistan will not get beyond the Super 8 stage.
- A total of 34 per cent (131 votes) believes that Pakistan will, in fact, get to the Semi-Finals. But 20 per cent (78 votes) are of the view that the team will get no further than the Semi-Finals.
- 53 people (14 per cent) are of the view that the green caps will get to the Finals; and of these 43 (11 per cent of total) feel that we will win.
Personally, in this case I would hope that the majority is wrong and the 43 people who think that Pakistan will actually win the World Cup turn out to be correct. I hope so, but, frankly, I am not holding my breath.
There is no doubt that ICC has taken revenge from PCB or Pakistani Cricket Team to invite them playing them on Unusual grassy pitches which are different from traditional WI pitches. The famous[and one of my favorites] WI bowler Andy Roberts who is official pitch cureator now made an exceptional bouncy wicket for Pakistani. This is also very first time that a former cricket is serving as a pitch cureator now. The 2nd match is also being played on a green wicket. The fact of the matter is that these technical things can’t be excuses of scoring under 150 against newbie like IRL. If Sami and Rao can play well then why our top order keep getting failed to perform reasonably? Today’s match is the last hope and if Pakistan is defeated today or points are distributed equally b/w PAK and IRL then Pakistan would be out from the worldcup because NRR[Net Runrate] of pakistan is negative unlike other teams.
I wouldn;t blame the team because these guys are being tested again and again by the new PCH chairman Ashraf who rather prefered to make things controversial by bringing things like religion,speaking in Urdu,dope tests etc and kept the team under useless pressure.
I must praise both BD and IRL who are playing professional cricket against World class teams like India and Pakistan. Anyways I never had any hope from Pakistan and I am looking forward to see SAF,NZ,ENG and WI in Semis.
Today is a good day to be Irish.
Today’s performance is a real shame, Inzamam and his team of losers should apologize to the nation and to Pakistanis all over the world.
As I mentioned before in one of my posts that since there is no kind of accountability in Pakistan so no one cares about the performance anymore. The know for shore that they will not be asked anything or no inquiry will be made or even if there is any nothing will come out!!!
Just imagine this team of losers have nothing else to do except to play and they are paid very handsomely as according to Pakistan’s standards, and this is they performance that they are showing in the a big event like world cup.
What a shame!!! what a shame!!!
This guy Nasim Ashraf (chairman PCB) is also imported from abroad just like Shaukat Aziz, and was not in touch with cricket for a long time. What can you expect him to do??? these are some of those examples which is constantly being done in Pakistan. Even if you hire the world’s best coach, what can he do??? he cant go inside in the middle of a match and tell them what to do now. All these losers are supposed to be professional. When this jerk Imran Nazir got out cheaply today (for the third time in a row), wasn’t there any thoughts to take care of the remaining innings? 4 batsmen got out in a similar fashion.
What a shame, what a shame!!!
Great performance by the bowlers and fielders so far!
Guys give them a break. They are upset on the events back home and for the fact that no one is watching them.