Pakistan to Face West Indies in Cricket World Cup Opener   
'Pakistan Times' Sports Desk

KINGSTON (Jamaica): Pakistan launches their campaign in the Cricket World Cup on Tuesday when they take on West Indies in their opening group “D” match at Sabina Park.

The 1992 winners Pakistan, which failed to make into the super six round with West Indies, England and host South Africa in 2003 edition, would be banking on their batsmen and spinners to do the trick for them.

Leg spinner Danish Kaneria, who led Pakistan to test series squaring victory with eight wickets haul against the host here two years ago along with Muhammad Hafeez could prove the trump card.

Despite missing fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Muhammad Asif because of injuries before the event, Pakistan notched-up two handsome victories against Canada and South Africa in the warm up matches as a prelude to the competition.

Pakistan Captain Inzamamul Haq is looking to carry the winning run into the World Cup in which he is looking to emulate his former skipper Imran Khan by leading the side to lift the world trophy.

Inzamam was one of the biggest heroes of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup triumph and is now the key player in the team featuring in the event without three of its key players Shoaib, Asif and experienced all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.

Inzamam would certainly be playing his last World Cup and needs to produce something extra-ordinary to lead Pakistan to World Cup glory.

Similarly, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer is also unlikely to continue with the job after the World Cup and would want to finish his stint on a successful note.

Woolmer is pleased with the performance of his players in the two warm-up games but has been urging them to deliver again when the real games begin. He is expecting all the eleven players, who take the field for tomorrow’s match against the West Indies at Sabina Park, to click, but would be happy even if most of them do well in the important tie.

The team’s solid batting order would be the key for Pakistan with vice-captain Younis Khan in the top order, followed by Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam. Then there are Mohammad Hafeez and wicket keeper Kamran Akmal who have done well in the warm-up games.

Hafeez has been in good touch for Pakistan since they arrived in the Caribbean doing well with both bat and ball. Pakistan would also be expecting from players like Imran Nazir, Shoaib Malik and others to rise to the occasion.

Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi would be missing the match because of an ICC ban.

Pakistan were knocked out of 2003 World Cup first round in South Africa and they are aware that a win against the hosts would make it certain that they qualify for the Super eight round.

The Pakistanis have a good one-day record against West Indies in recent times having beaten them both at home and abroad in 2005 and 2006.

It would be important for their 2007 World Cup campaign if they continue to have the upper hand against Brian Lara’s men because a win at Sabina Park would help Pakistan regain much-needed confidence before the Super Eight stage gets underway.

Teams:

Pakistan:

Muhammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, (Captain) Muhammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Muhammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Yasir Arafat and Azhar Mahmood.

Coach: Bob Woolmer

West Indies:

Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara (Captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wcket-keeper), Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor, Corey Collymore, Ian Bradshaw and Daren Powell.

Coach: Bennett King.

Umpires: Simon Taufel (Australia) & Billy Bowden (New Zealand).

TV umpires: Brian Jerling (South Africa)

Match Referee: Chris Broad(England)●