ICC World Cup 2012 - Pakistan vs England HIghlight8097337

Pakistan are set to satisfy India, on Wednesday, March 30, in a a lot-awaited semi-final sport of ICC World Cup 2011. India are overwhelming favourites to win the match. Pakistan had been in disarray in the months leading as a lot as the world cup; the spot-fixing rip-off that broke out during the group's England tour demoralised them at the identical time as they have been seeking to re-build their squad. Crucially, they misplaced three extraordinarily proficient gamers, in Asif, Amir and Butt.

A successful tour of New Zealand united the men, under Afridi. Captaincy was expected to be a bone of contention, particularly as prior to now, the group had often been divided into rival factions below completely different captaincy aspirants. On this event, Misbah, the one other contender for the captaincy, stepped apart within the Pathan's favour, even as the Pakistan Cricket Board dithered on naming the skipper for the cup.

There is a rare unity, among the many Pakistani players, not seen since the days Imran Khan was at the helm. Famously, Imran answered Basic Zia's name and got here again from retirement to lead the workforce to the 1992 world cup. A half-fit Imran played as a pure batsman, coming in at quantity three, and his 72 within the last contributed substantially to the title that the workforce finally won. This time around, Pakistan's continued fortunes will rely on the following six males:

1. Shahid Afridi:

If there's an analogy with Imran Khan on the 1992 event, Afridi, higher known for his batting exploits, has shone with the ball, at this world cup, and he's at the moment the leading wicket taker, with 21 scalps in seven games. Like Imran, Afridi has impressed along with his man-administration skills; the players swear by their captain, and this unity, greater than anything else, has helped Pakistan to the semi-finals. Afridi has been leading from the entrance, albeit not with the bat, but his bat might have a big function to play against India, especially if Pakistan bat second and should chase a stiff target. Afridi has gone on report as saying that his dream was to beat India in India on the world cup.

2. Younis Khan:

Younis Khan is one other senior participant whose presence lends stability to the group, particularly to its fragile batting line up. Younis skippered Pakistan to the T20 World Cup title in 2009, and stepped apart while claiming publicly that he wasn't the best man for the job. Along with his genial self-effacing nature and his many accountable knocks for his team, Younis exudes the air of a senior statesman, and the staff will look to him for a big innings against India.

3. Misbah-Ul-Haq:

In the absence of Mohd Yousuf, Misbah-Ul-Haq is technically the most achieved batsman of the team. His composure on the crease is in sharp distinction with the mercurial picture of the quintessential Pakistani cricketer. Misbah came near pulling off an improbable win against India in the 2007 T20 world cup last, in the company of Sohail Tanvir, after Pakistan had lost 7 wickets. The group will want lots more of that resoluteness towards India, on March 30.

4. Umar Gul:

Umar Gul has at all times had a penchant for taking wickets, whereas not wanting threatening, in phrases of pace. Gul has been a low-profile participant, having played within the shadow of more accomplished bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar and Mohd Asif. Given the model new ball for the first time, Gul has revelled in his new found function because the staff's strike bowler, and Pakistan will look to him for an early breakthrough in opposition to India.

5. Umar Akmal:

Umar Akmal is arguably the most thrilling young batsman to have emerged in the earlier few years. The extreme expertise that Akmal brings to bear on the crease has typically proved his undoing, accompanied as it's by an excessive sense of adventure. Afridi has named the young man as a robust contender for Man-of-the-Tournament; Akmal's innings below strain in the league match against Australia did not belie that hope.

6. Abdul Razzaq:

On his day, outdated battle horse Abdul Razzaq is capable of absolutely anything, with bat and ball alike, accomplishing all of it with a poker face. The semi-ultimate in opposition to India could hinge on which Razzaq appears on the sector, on March 30 -- the sensible or the indifferent. highlight Pakistan vs England live