Sep12

Champions trophy-2009 Group A preview

by wasim on September 12th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Posted In: Cricket, Cricket Pakistan

The 6th Champions trophy tournament will`commence on Sept 22nd with a match between defending champs Australia and last edition’s runner up West Indies. Both teams are in group A alongwith India and Pakistan.

Historically West Indies are the most successful team in this event they have won the tournament only once but have reached the finals on three occasions. It’s a shame that this time due to a recent contract dispute with WIPA, WICB is sending a second string team to South Africa.

The contest in Group A will be mainly between India, Pakistan and Australia.

All three teams are quite evenly poised and can beat each other on their day, I would have given India a clear advantage but the absence of Zaheer Khan and Sehwag is going to hurt them, their batting looks good on paper but given the vulnerability of their younger batsmen against the shortpitched stuff and the fact that the tournament is going to take place in South Africa where the wickets are hard and bouncy I’m not willing to give them the favorite status especially when both Pakistan and Australia possess a good pace battery. Indian team is getting some valuable match practice in the on going tri-series in Srilanka that might help them to shed some rustiness and fine tune their combination for CT.

Australian team is looking good in the Odi’s against England, Cameroon White, Ferguson and Watson are in form, their bowling also looks good especially when Brett Lee has regained his form the Spin department is still weak but in South African conditions they might not feel this deficiency. The Australians are the defending champions in this tournamnet but I think they lost their default favorite status a year ago, although they still are a good team capable of winning but they have lost their extra punch both in batting and bowling they are no longer invincible.

Pakistan team looks quite balanced on paper, the absence of a genuine opener in the line up is a concern but I think Nazir and Akmal will do a good Job they will have their ups and downs but both players will make maximum use of the initial power plays. Most people consider Asif’s return has strengthened Pakistan’s pace attack, I have my reservations about it he is only a new ball bowler after his first four overs in Odis he becomes a liability he never had the ability to swing the old ball his slow speed and straight line makes him an easy target, I think Pakistan made a mistake by dropping Razzaq who was doing fine both with the bat and the ball. Asif can still prove to be handfull if the conditions suited his bowling.

Pakistan’s main worry is it’s batting they won the T20 WC just on the back of Afridi and Akmal, but to win in the 50 over format their experienced players like Yousaf, Younis and Misbah will have to perform consistently.

Afridi in a recent statement has said that if he couldn’t perform well in the Champion’s trophy tournament he will consider retirement seriously.”

I don’t know what to make of this statement, I think within the lines he is he trying to set a standard for his team mates that those players who do not perform well should retire, for years Afridi remained in the team just on the basis of his popularity I don’t think he seriously believes in what he stated otherwise he should have retired long ago.

Pakistan will depend a lot on Afridi and Ajmal both bowlers have this amazing wicket taking ability which chokes down the opposition in the middle of the innings, I think Pakistan has an edge over both India and Australia in the spin department. In my opinion Pakistan’s chances of reaching semi finals largely depend on how well they bat against the Australians. The Indians play spinners well but the Australians scumbed against Afridi  and Ajmal in Dubai and they might struggle again against these bowlers but to win the batsmen will have to do their part.

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