March 4, 2003	Tuesday	Zul Hijjah 30, 1423

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BULAWAYO (Zimbabwe), March 3: Pakistan’s honeymoon with the World Cup is almost over as it will require a superhuman effort to overcome Zimbabwe on Tuesday which looks unlikely, given the team’s dismal current form.

According to permutations worked out by computer wizards the only chance of Pakistan making second round is to bat first, score 350 runs and then restrict Zimbabwe to a total of under 161, virtually an impossible task.

Other calculations are not possible to achieve. In cricket nothing is impossible. To achieve the feat a couple of Pakistan batsmen will have to score whirlwind big knocks and a bowler producing a demonic spell like a Glenn McGrath or an Andy Bichel. Yet on the present form and the mental attitude of the Pakistan team it is like asking for the moon.

For Pakistan’s hopeless position the blame lies squarely on the players and the tour management. If a team, rated amongst the top three in the world, struggles to make 250 against non-playing Test and one-day sides it does not deserve a place in the Super Six.

However, if Pakistan beat Zimbabwe but fails to reach the required margin of success it will ensure England a passage into the second stage and it will not be travesty of justice as they would have most probably qualified for the next stage had they not forfeited four points to Zimbabwe.

A victory for Zimbabwe — quite a probability considering the low morale of the Pakistan team — will also mean the end of England’s ambitions in the competition although they could consider their early exit as an unlucky one.

Waqar Younis, shattered by the defeat against India, confessed that the margin of victory needed against Zimbabwe was not a realistic one although in cricket nothing could be taken for granted until the final ball is bowled.

“Our task is impossible. If we achieve it will not be less than a mini-miracle. But to be realistic it is a very, very big ask,” he told reporters on arrival at Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe’s skipper Heath Streak was cautious and declined to make a prediction but expressed the hope the boys would rise to the occasion and give their best shot for a win.

“It is going to be tough out there. Pakistan are a dangerous side. We have a great chance of advancing to the Super Six and it will require a collective effort on part of each player to chip in to achieve the desired result,” he said.

Pakistan have no injury problems and will only name the final eleven before the commencement of the match.

Zimbabwe’s biggest worry is the fitness of their key batsman Andy Flower but it is expected the quality left-hander will be fit for Tuesday’s all-important tie.

Teams (from):

ZIMBABWE: Heath Streak (captain), Andy Blignaut, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Douglas Hondo, Douglas Marillier, Brian Murphy, Henry Olonga, Tatenda Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart.

PAKISTAN: Waqar Younis (captain), Saeed Anwar, Taufiq Umar, Saleem Elahi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Wasim Akram, Rashid Latif, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq.

Umpires: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka) and Billy Bowden (New Zealand).

TV umpire: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa).

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).