Pakistan aim to bury Black Caps blip
by Shahid Hashmi
WORLD CUP CRICKET; PALLEKELE Sri Lanka, March 12, (AFP) - Pakistan
believe the heavy defeat to New Zealand will not derail their confidence
going into Monday's clash with Zimbabwe where a win will ensure a World
Cup quarter-final spot. After three wins in Group A, Pakistan's march
towards the last eight was halted by a demoralising 110-run defeat
against the Black Caps.
Pakistan's problems were compounded after Kamran Akmal struggled
behind the stumps, letting Ross Taylor off twice before the New Zealand
batsman went on to hit an unbeaten 131, leaving the 1992 champions in a
fix over team selection.
Playing Kamran as specialist batsman and handing the gloves to his
younger brother Umar was one of the options, but a finger injury to the
makeshift keeper might prevent Pakistan from making the change. Pakistan
also still have a problem with their openers whose inability to put on a
healthy partnership is straining the middle-order. But despite the
headaches, captain Shahid Afridi insists his team will not repeat the
first round exits of the 2003 and 2007 World Cups.
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