Pakistan on guard against Bangladesh: ODI series begins in Lahore today
Though Pakistan, fifth in ICC ODI rankings, up against the 9th-placed Bangladesh and a 17-1 overall ODI record in hosts’ favour, clearly put the home team as firm favourites, Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik avoided to predict a claim of whitewash, adding he did not consider any team weak.
“My first priority is to concentrate on tomorrow’s game and to win, for a good start is my first priority,” Shoaib told at pre-match press conference on Monday.
“I will not compare Australia with Bangladesh as both are international teams. And so I will treat them equally and we are going to play with our full strength,” he said.
“Every international team have their own strength and we will not take Bangladesh as easy rivals and all the boys will have to give their cent per cent performance to win matches,” Shoaib stated.
Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful, while leading a team, which still have to prove themselves as a force to be reckoned, pledged his boys would play good competitive cricket in the series.
“Though our team is young as only two players are included in it which had toured Pakistan last time in 2003 but Pakistan will face a tough competition by us,” said Ashraful.
“We are very confident after beating Ireland 3-0 (in the ODI series) at home. Batsmen and bowlers are in good form but we have to fare well in all departments of the game,” he said.
They players are very talented. However, to perform against Pakistan they have to stick to the game-plan,” he said.
“We are here to improve and playing against a better team like Pakistan is a good opportunity for us to move ahead.
Malik said though his team was without Shoaib and Mohammad Asif (recovering from elbow problem) he was not thinking on it at this time.
“My top priority is again to win matches and this is not the time to think about such matters,” he said.
The preparations, meanwhile, for the series opener are going on.
Though the match will start at 3pm, groundsmen are hoping the dew factor will not emerge during the second half of the match.
“Though there is dew in the night but it is not that heavy to cause a major difference in the playing conditions,” a groundsman said.
The pitch seems fairly batting-friendly and so the team batting first can build a formidable total to defend.
Pakistan have a slogging opening pair in Salman Butt and Nasir Jamshed. Moreover, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi all have the potential to play big knocks. Kamran Akmal, who has enjoyed a fine batting form in the ongoing National One-day Cricket Cup, is also available to help Pakistan pile up a good total.
In the bowling line, Umar Gul, recently recovered from his back problem, is likely to make a comeback. But with Rao Iftikhar and Sohail Tanvir, the two other fast bowlers in the ranks, the pace attack will have to give a consistent performance to keep Bangladesh under check.
In the spin department Shahid Afridi’s leg-spin, backed by Malik’s occasional off-spin, is expected to be quite enough for Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Pakistan manager Talat Ali Malik said all the players were fit and available for the match.
Teams (likely):
PAKISTAN: Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Tanvir.
BANGLADESH: Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmed, Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Saqibul Hasan, Raqibul Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mashrafe Mortaza, Farhad Reza, Dhiman Ghosh (wicket-keeper), Abdur Razzak.
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Steve Bucknor (West Indies).
TV umpire: Zameer Haider (Pakistan).
Match referee: Mike Procter (South Africa).