Zimpapers Logo

BRISBANE. — Pakistan and Zimbabwe both need to win their match at the Gabba tomorrow to revive fading hopes of scrambling a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Zimbabwe can only be chastened after running into a rampant Chris Gayle in their most recent defeat against West Indies on Tuesday.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have had as much trouble off the pitch as on it and are pointless after losing to India and then the Windies. A succession of controversies has beset their campaign to date, most recently chief selector Moin Khan’s untimely visit to a casino. The former Test wicketkeeper was subsequently sent home, to be met by an angry throng at Karachi airport, and is having to lie low as more protests take place outside his house.

A senior police official said: “We have deployed some police at Moin’s residence for security reasons because people were causing disturbances.”

Moin admitted his mistake, saying: “I went to the casino to have dinner with some friends.

“But in hindsight it was an inappropriate judgement on my part, given the disappointment in the team’s performance at the World Cup.”

There has been little for Zimbabwe to smile about either, save a four-wicket win over UAE.

They have since been blitzed for the first double-century in World Cup history by Gayle — an experience which resulted in an International Cricket Council reprimand for seamer Tendai Chatara for bowling two successive high full-tosses in the final over.

Zimbabwe’s former World Cup captain Alistair Campbell acknowledges the team are in a tough spot going into Sunday’s match in Brisbane, but still has not given up hope.

“We have plenty to be encouraged by in three-quarters of all three games so far,” he said. “Unfortunately, the final quarter has been horrendous. Every team in the tournament is struggling to contain batsmen in the ‘death’ overs, but none more than Zimbabwe. The match against Ireland [on March 7] is crucial to our chances of progressing, but we will have to beat Pakistan or India, too.

“It is not impossible — far from it. But we will have to find a way of limiting the damage in the final overs. The best way, of course, is to take more early wickets.”

The two sides are led by captains who have a contrasting approach to the game. Misbah-ul-Haq brings a monk like tranquillity to a generally volatile team environment.

The ICC World Cup 2015 will be his final hurrah in ODI cricket.

Elton Chigumbura offers dynamism to the inexperienced Zimbabwe unit.

Zimbabwe’s fortunes in the World Cup will depend heavily on Chigumbura, Brendon Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza’s performances.

Pakistan go into the tournament with their share of problems.

They are handicapped in the spin department, going into the World Cup without the services of arguably the best spinner in the World; Saeed Ajmal.

But their pace attack is formidable as ever, led by the towering Mohammad Irfan and they have also included a young leg spinner in Yasir Shah.

Pakistan and Zimbabwe have met four times in World Cup history.

Three of those matches have been won by Pakistan comprehensively in the years 1992, 1999 and 2011. The 2003 World Cup match was washed out due to rain. — Eurosport/Cricketcountry.