KEY POINTS
- Opener Sahibzada Farhan pointed to England’s struggle against Sri Lanka’s spinners as a blueprint.
- With their opening match washed out, Tuesday’s game is effectively a quarter-final for Pakistan.
- Tournament’s leading run-scorer (220 runs) is unfazed by the threat of Jofra Archer.
KANDY, Sri Lanka: As the T20 World Cup Super-Eights heat up, Pakistan has sent a pointed warning to England’s batting lineup: expect a trial by spin.
Ahead of their crucial clash at the Pallekele International Stadium on Tuesday, the Men in Green have taken note of England’s visible discomfort against slow bowling and plan to exploit it mercilessly.
With Pakistan’s campaign hanging in the balance after their opening Super Eight match against New Zealand was washed out, Tuesday’s encounter is effectively a quarter-final.
A loss would send England through to the semi-finals with a game to spare, while Pakistan would be left hoping for a miracle.
‘The Ball Was Gripping’
Pakistan’s in-form opener, Sahibzada Farhan, addressed the media on Monday, pointing to England’s recent performance against Sri Lanka as a clear blueprint for success.
In that match, the English batting lineup was tied down, managing only 146-9 against the Lankan spinners.
“What we saw in the Sri Lanka-England game was that the ball was gripping and England struggled against spin,” Farhan stated.
“Sri Lanka have one or two spinners, but we have five in all. We will give England a tough time on a pitch that looks good and will grip.”
The numbers back up Farhan’s confidence. Pakistan’s spinners have been their primary weapon throughout the tournament, accounting for 26 of the team’s 33 wickets so far.
ALSO READ: Can Sri Lanka Break England’s Winning Streak?
Their pace attack, in contrast, has dismissed only seven batsmen, highlighting the stark contrast in their bowling attack’s effectiveness.
History vs. Current Form
Despite their confidence, history is not on Pakistan’s side. They have never beaten England in three previous meetings at T20 World Cups.
However, the current form of players like Farhan suggests this could be the night they break the duck.
Farhan currently tops the tournament’s run-scoring charts with 220 runs, including a blistering, unbeaten century against Namibia in the final group match.
His confidence is infectious, and he is ready for the challenge posed by England’s pace spearhead, Jofra Archer.
“Facing Archer will not be difficult because I have faced similar bowlers in Pakistan,” Farhan asserted. “So if he has plans against me, I also have plans against him.”
Team News and Group Dynamics
To maximise their spin threat, Pakistan is likely to bring in Abrar Ahmed, potentially replacing seaming all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.
This would give them a formidable spin quartet to complement their pace attack.
England, meanwhile, are expected to name an unchanged side for the fifth consecutive match, relying on the spin options of Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid, and Jacob Bethell to counter Pakistan’s batting.
The stakes could not be higher. With Sri Lanka and New Zealand facing each other in Colombo on Wednesday, the race for the top two spots in the group is wide open.
For Pakistan, the equation is simple: win to stay alive, or lose and watch the semi-finals from home.
