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ABU DHABI: This is perhaps how the schedule makers of the Asia Cup intended it to be. The final Super Four stage match with all to play for and the potential of the mouthwatering India-Pakistan finale. But there’s nothing foregone about the virtual semi-final here on Wednesday.
Bangladesh after all, pulled off something similar just two years ago — beating Pakistan to make the final of the 20-over Asia Cup 2016, where they eventually lost to India in Dhaka. But the scenario at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium is totally different as Pakistan search to find the formula that won them the ICC Champions Trophy.
The campaigns of both Pakistan and Bangladesh can best be described as severely [and similarly] inconsistent, with both winning and losing games by equally-massive margins, and are both still alive thanks to their final-over wins over Afghanistan. Both sides have had encouraging individual performances but have fallen flat in the face of pressure — particularly from India, who the winners of this game will meet in the final.
The scheduling of the tournament afforded Bangladesh four off days after their opening game on Sept 15, but have then had to play three games in four days while also shuttling between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. They have cooled their heels over the past couple of days though.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s itinerary has been slightly less taxing, but two outings against India have been morale-sapping.
Both teams have dragged their feet all the way to this juncture, where Wednesday’s knockout fixture provides another opportunity to curb their imperfections.
The main worry for Pakistan is the lack of big runs from Fakhar Zaman, who has mustered 0, 0 and 31 in three matches, leaving his side with a wobbly start in each of those fixtures. The left-hander has been sensational since the 2017 Champions Trophy, and even became Pakistan’s ODI double centurion in Bulawayo recently, but leaves the team management in a bit of a fix.
Pakistan have Shan Masood in their squad — who is yet to make his ODI debut, but has scored three 100s and five half-centuries including a score of 90 in his last 10 List A games for Islamabad. It’d be a brave call to throw him into the deep end in a knockout game.
Mohammad Amir’s continued failures to pick a wicket in the tournament might tempt Pakistan to bench him again, and give Usman Khan Shinwari another go.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza made it very clear in the press conference that he was in the dark about the mid-tournament reinforcements that were flown in to Dubai a few days ago in the form of Imrul Kayes and Soumya Sarkar. He still played Kayes in the do-or-die Afghanistan fixture and benefitted from it.
Both Liton Das [0, 6, 7 and 41] and Nazmul Hossain [7, 7 and 6] have struggled at the top of the order. The latter might just make room for Soumya Sarkar for the must-win clash.
Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes remained optimistic of team’s chances of reaching Friday’s title-decider against India in Dubai.
“The reason I say is Pakistan are the favourites and that puts us in a nice position because they know we are a dangerous side. And being the underdogs might work in our favour.”
Meanwhile, the in-form Shoaib Malik said the under-firing Pakistan bowlers will come good in a crunch situation.
“We may have lost matches to a world-class side like India but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have variety in our bowling. It is just about the execution of the bowlers,” Malik stressed.
Teams (from):
PAKISTAN: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan Shinwari, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood.
BANGLADESH: Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mehedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Nazmul Islam, Nazmul Hossain.
Umpires: Shaun George (South Africa) and Chettithody Shamshuddin (India).
TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (South Africa).
Match referee: David Boon (Australia).
Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2018
