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Tinashe Panyangara

BRISBANE. — Former Zimbabwe skipper Alistair Campbell feels that Zimbabwe possesses the potential to beat strong Pakistan and India teams on their way to secure a World Cup quarter-final berth.

“The match against Ireland is crucial to our chances of progressing, but we will have to beat Pakistan or India too,” said the former left hand batsman.

He said it was not impossible, however, Zimbabwe bowlers will have to limit the number of runs in the final overs.

“The best way of course is to take more early wickets,” said Campbell in his exclusive column for ICC.

“Our batting has been a problem area for a number of years so it has been a pleasure and relief to see it functioning well enough to register scores of 280 in all three matches against South Africa, the UAE and the West Indies,” he added.

Zimbabwe put resistance before going down against South Africa and West Indies while beating an adamant UAE.

The Zimbabweans will have a daunting task to beat defending champions India, which have an immaculate campaign as of yet beating Pakistan and one of the tournament favourites South Africa.

However, they will face an under-performing Pakistan when the two sides meet on Sunday.

If they pull victories against Ireland, which are performing well, and beat lacklustre Pakistan, then there will be a chance for the side to make it to the quarters from Pool B.

Pakistan cricket chiefs launched an investigation on Monday into reports that chief selector Moin Khan visited a casino shortly before the team’s calamitous World Cup defeat to the West Indies.

Fans, already in despair at Pakistan’s dismal start to the tournament, have reacted furiously over claims Khan was seen in a casino in the New Zealand city of Christchurch ahead of Saturday’s crushing 150-run defeat to the Windies.

“We have launched an investigation over the reports that Moin Khan visited a casino, action will be taken if the reports prove true,” Shehryar Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), told reporters.

“As per initial reports, Moin Khan went there to have a meal two days before the match against West Indies and a Pakistani couple photographed him and made a video,” Khan said. — ICC.