da bwin： Shahid Afridi has said that that flexibility in the batting order will be crucial in order to get the maximum out of Pakistan’s batsmen
Osman Samiuddin in Hambantota22-Feb-2011
Umar Akmal, potentially Pakistan’s best batsman in the format, has often come in with too few overs left to have an impact•Getty Images
The emergence of Ahmed Shehzad has settled down Pakistan’s openingpartnership for the near future, but it has complicated matters for therest of the batting order. Shehzad partnered Mohammad Hafeez at the top inthe ODI series win over New Zealand coming into the World Cup. Bothplayers had successful series, notching up a maiden century each butdidn’t put on a significant partnership in any of the five games theybatted together.Shehzad’s return has meant Kamran Akmal moving down one spot to No. 3 in the order. But Akmal and Hafeez formed a successful partnershipin the ODI series against England last September and would, in alllikelihood, have been the first-choice pair here had it not been forAkmal’s brief exile from the side in between. That absence allowed Shehzadto return to the side for the first time since 2009, an opportunity he hasfully utilised.Hafeez has also been a stabilising influence since his own return to theODI set-up last summer, averaging 35.73 in 16 ODIs since then, with ahundred and three fifties. He has also turned in useful spells ofoffspin, picking up 11 wickets. Hafeez and Shehzad will start as theopening pair but the pushing down of Akmal and the return of Misbah-ul-Haqin a middle order that also includes Younis Khan often resulted inPakistan not gathering enough momentum in the middle overs of an innings.Pakistan are keen on keeping both Younis and Misbah in the XI as insuranceagainst collapses. But batting them at four and five as happened in NewZealand has meant that Umar Akmal, potentially Pakistan’s best batsman inthe format, has come in with too few overs left to have an impact. It isan issue that will require flexibility, said Pakistan’s captain ShahidAfridi ahead of their tournament opener against Kenya.”If we lose the first wicket early, then Kamran, who has been an attackingbatsman and has opened, comes in so we will have advantage with him andfielders in the circle,” Afridi said. “After that it will depend on howmany overs we have so Umar can come after Younis. We don’t want Misbah andYounis batting together so that we can keep momentum and the scoreboardticking.”Pakistan also look set to include Shoaib Akhtar in the line-up forWednesday, despite concerns over his match fitness; only yesterday coachWaqar Younis said Shoaib was improving but not fully fit just yet. Thatmeans Saeed Ajmal is likely to miss out as Pakistan open up with threefast bowlers. Junaid Khan, the late call-up who impressed in a warm-upgame against England in Dhaka and has experience of Hambantota, will alsoprobably sit out. Irrespective of the opponent, Afridi said, Pakistan willbe at full strength.”I don’t think it’s an easier game for us,” he said. “The first game isalways very important for us. There are a number of examples where bigteams have lost so we want to be at full strength.”Pakistan chose not to train on Tuesday, having arrived in Hambantota onMonday and undergone a distinctly energetic and enthusiastic practicesession soon after arriving. Afridi acknowledged there was more attentionon off-field issues surrounding the side but maintained that a semi-finalplace was a realistic target. “I take that as challenge that no one isconsidering us for the semi-final. I want to see my team in thesemi-finals.”