The long waited ICC World Cup 2019 would witness a high voltage match of two champions of the past. West Indies won the first two editions named Prudential World cup at that time in 1975 and 1979 at Lords. They also finished runners up behind India in 1979.
Imran Khan’s cornered tigers won it at MCG in 1992 and finished runners up to Australia in 1996 at Lords. True the teams are not as formidable as they used to be. Nevertheless they have many entertainers, flamboyant batsmen, tear away fast bowlers to make it eye pleasing contest.
Universe boss Chris Henry Gayle would appear for the last time in the world scene. Once he gets in and displays his brand of Tsunami cricket, no cricket ground is big enough for him, no bowler fancy bowling at him in full cry.
There is some one named Andre Russel fond of blasting anything thrown at him all over and across the park. Add to this silent killer Shai Hope (in the form of his life), power hitting ability of Simron Hetmeyer, Elvin Lewis, Jason Holder and Puran. West Indies would take heavy toll of any team on their day. Only the other day they blasted high quality New Zealand attack scoring 421.
Wonder whether they would be the first team scoring 500 in ODI. West Indies had scored 389, 381, 360 and 331 in their past 10 ODIs. It seems that the team is getting back to its golden old days after their disastrous cycle post 2015 world cup. They stand 8th in ICC ranking and had to qualify for this world cup.
The bowling is not of the same standard that once they had with Holding, Roberts, Marshal and Garner. But Gabriel, Roach, Cotrell, Osan Thomas on song can create few issues. Andre Russel is also a great death over bowler. However, they may be missing someone like Sunil Narine.
Pakistan on the other hand has great records playing in England. They had reasonably good memories of World Cup each time played in England. They won Champions trophy played in England. True the team do not have likes of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Yunis, Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Saqlain Mustaq.
But their combination of experienced professionals like -- Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafis with bubbling youth Imam Ul Huq, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam-- have plenty of depth and diversity. Mohammad Amir, Wahab Raiz, Hasnain and Shadab Khan can surprise many. They had great learning curb against mighty England in them getting white washed despite scoring plenty in each match.
Wahab Riaz, despite not playing an ODI since the Champions Trophy group stage defeat to India in 2017, is back and so is Mohammad Amir, a bowler who has taken just three ODI wickets in the last 12 months. Hasan Ali, the star of Pakistan's successful Champions Trophy. On their day three of these bowlers can be match-winners.
To take their opponents down, Pakistan's batsmen will approach things differently to their West Indian counterparts. While Gayle and Russell focus on hitting the ball hard, far and often, Pakistan's batsmen play a different, more measured game. Aside from Fakhar Zaman, the top order, held together by the classy Babar Azam, won't flash from the word go. Instead they will accumulate and then try and increase their scoring rate as the innings progresses with Asif Ali and Imad Wasim expected to give the innings a flourish at the end.
Babar, Fakhar and Imam-ul-Haq all average more than 50 in the past year while Pakistan have scored fifteen hundreds in that time, the joint most of all ODI teams alongside England and India. They found their form against England too, posting three consecutive 340-plus scores to prove they can kick on to the sort of totals which will be needed in this tournament. Time will tell if they can keep that aggressive approach up.
Two very different batting approaches then, both effective in their own ways when they come off, both capable of putting bowling attacks under serious pressure. But only one approach has the capacity to intimidate and frighten, to bludgeon opposition teams with aggression and power. In modern ODI cricket, that is a vital ingredient. West Indies now seems to have it. Pakistan needs to find it quickly.
WI Probable XI: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmeyer, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Kemar Roach
PAK Probable XI: FakharZaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Shahdab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi/ Wahab Riaz .
Wait for a mouth watering contest toady between two explosive but unpredictable teams of World Cricket .None are tipped as favourites in World Cup 2019 yet both can surprise pundits.
BDST: 1038 HRS, MAY 31, 2019
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