CHENNAI, India: In a saga reminiscent of miracles and redemption, Pakistan’s journey in the ICC Cricket World Cup has hit a rough patch.
The once-mighty 1992 champions, who started their campaign on a promising note with victories over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, have found themselves humbled by cricket giants India and Australia, not to mention a shocking defeat to neighbouring Afghanistan.
With the odds stacked against them, Pakistan’s cricketing maestro, all-rounder Shadab Khan, has rallied the team with unwavering belief. “We’ve underperformed in all three departments,” Shadab Khan candidly admitted to reporters. “But from tomorrow, we have to start a winning streak.”
With four crucial group games left, Pakistan’s hopes for a semifinal spot still flicker. Yet, there’s little room for error. Besides victory on Friday against free-scoring South Africa, they must also address their -0.40 net run-rate, which could be the tie-breaker in the race for the coveted semifinal berths.
Shadab Khan, the deputy to skipper Babar Azam, passionately emphasizes, “If you have belief, miracles happen.” Pakistan seeks to recapture their winning form as they stand on the precipice of their Cricket World Cup journey.
South Africa, their next formidable opponent, has been a powerhouse in this tournament. Their batters have relentlessly set imposing targets, resulting in convincing wins over former champions Sri Lanka, Australia, and England. Quinton de Kock, with 407 runs in five games, has been the lynchpin of their success.
South Africa’s stand-in skipper, Aiden Markram, praises de Kock’s astute understanding of match conditions and his aggressive style of play. “You never want to clip his wings; you just want to let him fly,” Markram enthusiastically expressed.
As these cricketing titans prepare to clash, South Africa boasts a historical edge, with 50 wins in 82 ODIs against Pakistan. The Proteas have also dominated their encounters in the Cricket World Cup, securing three wins in five meetings. Nonetheless, Pakistan’s last encounter victory in 2019 at Lord’s remains a glimmer of hope.
In a tournament marked by unexpected twists and extraordinary performances, Pakistan is banking on belief, redemption, and the spirit of ’92 to rewrite their World Cup story, starting with the battle against South Africa.
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq/Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (captain), Muhammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmad, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (captain), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lizaad Williams.
