India to face Pakistan in Do or Die Match

Humiliated by Australia in their first match of Super Eights, a nervous India will have to pick up the pieces of their utter failure and reach an inspired performance against arch-rivals Pakistan in their do-or-die game in the World Twenty20 here Sunday.

The Indian team looked completely out of his mind against Australia and now have to respond quickly to their problems in all departments of the game when they take on an upbeat Pakistan, who had defeated South Africa in a thriller, if they want to stay afloat in tournament .

Five Indian bowler strategy was a great success against England in the group match, but in favorable conditions against Australia, in front of Mahendra Singh Dhoni spinners were beaten by Shane Watson, David Warner duo in last night's game .

Dhoni blamed the short period of rain before the start of Australia's innings as a reason for the failure of his players. But the fact that the whole bowling unit did not put a semblance of a fight was a surprise..

From Ravichandran Ashwin to Piyush Chawla to everybody gaping half-trackers and long throws that proved to be cannon fodder for the two gallant 'Ws' of Australian cricket.Although Dhoni may persist with its strategy bowler five, it will be very surprising if leggie Chawla has another chance in the tournament.Pakistan are far superior players of spin bowling and consistency has never been so strong Chawla as he is primarily a pace bowler. In its day, the likes of Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez can take to the cleaners Chawla Dhoni --- something you can not afford right now the tournament.Dhoni has suggested that "slower deliveries will be effective the Premadasa strip", which means that a bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji will be as effective. The Indian team also has its share of concerns batting and it will be interesting to see if Dhoni Irfan Pathan persist as opener Virender Sehwag improvised and keep out of the equation.Try this. The Indian batsmen in the three matches so far in the tournament have been able to hit sixes only seven (four Afghans vs, vs England vs Australia one two), while Watson has hit only seven sixes against India yesterday.Incidentally Dhoni said at the post match press conference, "It was very difficult to justify why Sehwag was dropped."However, there are serious questions that need to be asked about Yuvraj Singh's inclusion in the team.Largely an emotional decision by the selectors after his remarkable recovery from a rare germ cell cancer, each passing game has been a proof of the fact that the talented southpaw needed some serious match practice nationally before International recurrence.He looked totally out of it while batting though has somehow made his bowling. Yuvraj has been quiet with the bat and India has affected the chances of getting a great blow against Afghanistan and Australia.The choice between Sehwag and Yuvraj is difficult at the moment as both are not contributing with the bat. But there is still an outside chance of playing Sehwag impact shifts at the top of the order, but getting a 40-ball-70, Yuvraj will be asking too much at this time.

Pakistan, meanwhile, would you support an improved batting performance, since it was due to the brilliance of Umar Gul who Were Able to beat South Africa after being 76 for seven at one stage.

The talent has never been to Pakistan Problem with cricket, as They have had that in abundance, but consistency has been a problem.

While employed four spinners against South Africa, could not use the rookie left-arm orthodox slow player Hasan Raza against India.

While Captain Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal are automatic options, there is a Possibility That Pakistan can play Mohammad Sami, Which over oil, can be a bit of a bully.

The only problem has been strong for Pakistan as Afridi That Fall With the willow hampers Sometimes the prospects of Pakistan batting.

Afridi propensity to play high-risk-no-win kind of blows That always put his side under pressure and it was an exception against South Africa.

Much will depend Also Most Talented young Pakistani batsman Umar Akmal, who can dismantle any bowling eleven attack in the world.

Skipper consistency Hafeez, Ajmal tricks and calming Presence Shoaib Malik some positives for the team.

India Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt; wk), Gautam Gambhir, Ravichandran Ashwin, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Piyush Chawla, Ashok Dinda, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Yuvraj Singh.

Pakistan Squad: Mohammad Hafeez (capt.), Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Nasir Jamshed, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Asad Shafiq, Raza Hasan.

Match begins at 7.30 pm (IST).

Posted in: cricket news, india, Pakistan, T20 World Cup 2012