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| November 4, 2003 | Tuesday | Ramazan 8, 1424 |
Pakistan must win against Sri Lanka
KARACHI, Nov 3: Host Pakistan will be facing a gigantic task to reach the final of inaugural Under-19 Asia Cup as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in their last league tie at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
Khalid Latif’s side must beat Sri Lanka to advance into the final.
Except for Salman Qadir, Pakistani boys put up a pathetic batting display on a seaming pitch to go down to arch-rival India by ten runs, leaving the event wide open.
As claimed by Pakistan coach Aaqib Javed recently that this was the Pakistan best under-19 side, so boys must live to their reputation by beating Sri Lanka to reach the final.
Despite enjoying the home conditions, Pakistan boys will be under tremendous pressure as they can not afford to falter again.
Like for the opening game between Pakistan and Bangladesh, the pitch prepared by chief groundsman Ahsan Arian will be tailor made for batting which suits home team.
In the meantime Chairman of the Technical Committee of the championship and former Test leg spinner Iqbal Qasim clarified the situation that Sri Lankan are yet to confirm their place in the final.
He said though Lankans have won both their matches and leading with ten points. But said as Pakistan have secured two bonus points they got seven points with one win and a defeat.
If Pakistan beat Sri Lanka even without a bonus point Tuesday in their last league outing, they will qualify for Nov 6 final at Lahore with 12 points.
Barring upset if India also beat Bangladesh without getting a bonus point they will also cruise into the final with 11 points to their credit.
He said even a losing team can get a bonus point if they bowled the opposition in required number overs or cross the target within required number of overs.
Pakistan besides getting a bonus points in victory against Bangladesh, they also collected a bonus points in defeat against India by crossing 118 run target.
Despite placed second on point’s table behind Sri Lanka, Pakistan enjoy a better net run-rate of plus 1.07 to Sri Lankan’s plus 0.82.
Nadir Shah (Bangladesh) and S.K.Sharma (India) will supervise the match. Taslim Arif (Pakistan) will be the match referee.—APP
Our Lahore Sports Correspondent adds: India play Bangladesh at Gaddafi Stadium while Pakistan take on Sri Lanka at National Stadium.
Sri Lanka have 10 points after winning both their matches and are leading the points table.
Following is the point table (teams, played, won lost, points, bonus points, total net run-rate):
Teams P W L Pts Bonus Total Net R/R
Sri Lanka 2 2 0 10 0 10 +0.62
Pakistan 2 1 1 5 2 7 +1.07
India 2 1 1 5 1 6 -0.21
Bangladesh 2 0 2 0 1 1 -1.48
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