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.
I am not watching the match but why are you guys saying stupid to a commentrator?
Wow. Bangladesh defeats India. This IS a day of upsets (but I think the real UPSET now will be if Pakistan defeats Ireland!!!!!!)
However, that Bangladesh v India match was much less important to either team than this one is to Pakistan and Ireland. If Pakistan loses we are nearly certain to be out of the tournament. If Ireland wins (with already one point in hand from a tie) they are very likely to make it to Super 8.
So Bangladesh defeated India and this defeat will make pakistanis to think like:
Dil Ko kush rakhney ko Ghalib ye khyal acha hay
:-)
So, even if Pakistan ends up wnning thsi game because of our bowlers. And I am not sure if we could. Even then, is there any real hope for Pakistan. Bad pitch and silly commentators or not, its the Pakistan team that folded like a house of cards against a team playing its first WC.
Okay, so they got a freak wicket…but what the hell is with this stupid South African commentator…Pakistana did not get 2 LBWs