Despite the visa debacle, Pakistan's world cup schedule should make their fans quietly confident

[Bilal7]

Our first warm-up match is in Hyderabad against a team that our players know inside out. The fact that it takes place behind closed doors ensures that the Pakistani players will be able to fully concentrate of their game without worrying about what slogans are being chanted from the stands.

The Kiwi bowlers should not pose much problems to our batsmen and Fakhar Zaman, in particular, will relish facing the team he mercilessly nuked earlier this year. Will he finally find form and allow the Pakistani fans to find their voice again? We shall find out.

The second warm-up is also in Hyderabad and against a team that is currently fairing worse against the parosis than we did. A tough, high-scoring match should be expected and if possible, we should chase and put our batting to a test against Starc and company.

The first two games of the world cup proper are also in, believe it or not, Hyderabad and by this point, the boys should know that ground inside out. We couldn't ask for a better opening match and Sri Lanka are our bunnies in world cup contests so we should be heading into the India match with two wins and much-needed confidence.

Now I'm no expert on Indian pitches but Ahmedabad is apparently quite similar to Hyderabad and the fact that the ICC standardizes wickets during a global event should make it feel even more similar.

Should we somehow win the India game, the rest of the tournament should be a breeze. Even if we do not, a defeat like so many before shouldn't dent the jazba or junoon too much. Australia may very well be coming into our game with three losses, including a first game smacking at the hands of the host, while South Africa shouldn't pose much difficulty in Chennai. Neither should the Afghans, Bangbros or New Zealand due to our mental edge over them.

England may very well smash us but by that point, if things have gone to plan, we should be running permutations to figure out the best way to avoid India in the semis. Anyone else should be brushed aside in the penultimate game, especially because I think Australia get cooked early this time around.

To whoever created this world cup schedule, I send my warmest regards. I couldn't have planned it better myself. Pakistan playing their second ICC final in as many years is a very real possibility. Then in the final, who knows?

 

[mikeypbadana86]

It was deliberate schedule by ICC to ensure a possible ind vs pak semis or final. Why should PAK avoid india in semis ? its always 50:50 in an Indo-pak contest. An average indian team in 1996 beat pak in 1996 quarterfinal.

 

[shah9425]

Our first warm-up match is in Hyderabad against a team that our players know inside out. The fact that it takes place behind closed doors ensures that the Pakistani players will be able to fully concentrate of their game without worrying about what slogans are being chanted from the stands.

The Kiwi bowlers should not pose much problems to our batsmen and Fakhar Zaman, in particular, will relish facing the team he mercilessly nuked earlier this year. Will he finally find form and allow the Pakistani fans to find their voice again? We shall find out.

The second warm-up is also in Hyderabad and against a team that is currently fairing worse against the parosis than we did. A tough, high-scoring match should be expected and if possible, we should chase and put our batting to a test against Starc and company.

The first two games of the world cup proper are also in, believe it or not, Hyderabad and by this point, the boys should know that ground inside out. We couldn't ask for a better opening match and Sri Lanka are our bunnies in world cup contests so we should be heading into the India match with two wins and much-needed confidence.

Now I'm no expert on Indian pitches but Ahmedabad is apparently quite similar to Hyderabad and the fact that the ICC standardizes wickets during a global event should make it feel even more similar.

Should we somehow win the India game, the rest of the tournament should be a breeze. Even if we do not, a defeat like so many before shouldn't dent the jazba or junoon too much. Australia may very well be coming into our game with three losses, including a first game smacking at the hands of the host, while South Africa shouldn't pose much difficulty in Chennai. Neither should the Afghans, Bangbros or New Zealand due to our mental edge over them.

England may very well smash us but by that point, if things have gone to plan, we should be running permutations to figure out the best way to avoid India in the semis. Anyone else should be brushed aside in the penultimate game, especially because I think Australia get cooked early this time around.

To whoever created this world cup schedule, I send my warmest regards. I couldn't have planned it better myself. Pakistan playing their second ICC final in as many years is a very real possibility. Then in the final, who knows?

Very valid points
I think Pakistan is the only team which will play in 5 different venues less travelling as compared to Asia cup
Our last game of group stage is in Kolkata and our semis will also be here
So hopefully we will do well here

 

[Rana]

If Pakistan lose against India

They will have to climb out of a deep pit.

 

[Vikram1989]

It was deliberate schedule by ICC to ensure a possible ind vs pak semis or final. Why should PAK avoid india in semis ? its always 50:50 in an Indo-pak contest. An average indian team in 1996 beat pak in 1996 quarterfinal.

Can u pls explain how ind will face pak in semis as per icc deliberate plan.in semis, It's team 1 vs. Team 4, 2 vs 3.So are u saying india and pak will be top and bottom of table? Or if it's 2vs 3, how does icc will make sure of it? .

 

[Ozeirk]

If Pakistan lose against India

They will have to climb out of a deep pit.

Yes agreed, but it's true the other way around. The confidence gets shot on both sides when they lose to each other.

People are forgetting though that Pakistan had India 250 or some all out in the first game that got washed out. Pakistan are being written off too easily here which probably isn't a bad thing considering Pakistan does better when they are not the favorites.

 

[Bilal7]

Yes agreed, but it's true the other way around. The confidence gets shot on both sides when they lose to each other.

People are forgetting though that Pakistan had India 250 or some all out in the first game that got washed out. Pakistan are being written off too easily here which probably isn't a bad thing considering Pakistan does better when they are not the favorites.

Nearly everyone expects Pakistan to lose to India, at least in that group match. It will be the first time any Pakistani will be playing in that stadium and they will do so with 100,000 rabid Indian fans watching and screaming.

 

[Bilal7]

Can u pls explain how ind will face pak in semis as per icc deliberate plan.in semis, It's team 1 vs. Team 4, 2 vs 3.So are u saying india and pak will be top and bottom of table? Or if it's 2vs 3, how does icc will make sure of it? .

Not the specific placement but India facing Netherlands in the very last group match, for example, was not random.

 

[Vikram1989]

Not the specific placement but India facing Netherlands in the very last group match, for example, was not random.

Playing against Afg in delhi and nz in dharmasala is suicidal.it will offset any advantage.

 

[mikeypbadana86]

Can u pls explain how ind will face pak in semis as per icc deliberate plan.in semis, It's team 1 vs. Team 4, 2 vs 3.So are u saying india and pak will be top and bottom of table? Or if it's 2vs 3, how does icc will make sure of it? .

give best possible scedule for PAK and the venues to ensure possibility for semis qualification.

 

[Swashbuckler]

They have got a sweet schedule.

Will be limited to only 5 venues even if they play all 11 games, 9 group plus semi, final. Other teams will have to travel to 9-10 venues to win the cup.

Chennai is a fortress for Pakistan, have never lost there in any format. Place of many famous victories like Anwar's 194 and the epic 1999 test. Kolkata is another fortress where they have never lost an ODI, won the Nehru Cup 1989 final there beating West Indies, the platinum jubilee match against India as well. More recently Pakistan won both ODIs in Chennai, Kolkata in the 2012-13 tour of India. Chennai may offer generous turn but the low bounce suits Pak batsmen and pacers just fine. Also both these venues will see a lot of support for Pakistan, historically has been the case. Standing ovation in 1999 Chennai test or the 2016 WT20 where fans supported Pakistan over Bengali speaking Bangladeshis.

Hyderabad too is a good venue, lot of acclimatization and the city has a huge Muslim population who are ardent fans of Pakistan. Home venue atmosphere guaranteed in their two games there.

Bengaluru is an ok crowd, not as supportive to Pak as the other 3 but not bad like somewhere in UP, Gujarat or Mumbai.

Ahmedabad is a tough venue but what better preparation for the finals than facing India at that venue, against 130,000 screaming Indian fans? If Pak make the final, the experience of group game in the same venue will hold them in good stead, even if they get hammered there.

Overall a very nice set of venues for team Pakistan. When was the last time a WC participating team was limited to just 5 venues across potentially 11 games? And 3 out of those 5 are best venues for Pakistan, in terms of historical record as well as crowd support.

India has an ok schedule, lot of travel and who scheduled the game against NZ in Dharamsala? That will be like a home game for the Black Caps.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Also Pakistan is guaranteed to play in Kolkata in the semi final, not Mumbai, ICC has already decided. Supposed to be 1 vs 4 in Mumbai and 2 vs 3 in Kolkata but if Pak qualifies to semifinal, Pak plays in Kolkata and other semi is accordingly adjusted. So the sense of certainty is there for Pak, and they play 2 group games in Kolkata, against Bangladesh and England. And Kolkata is their second fortress in India behind Chennai.

 

[Sherazkhalid]

Wait and watch how we fumble the whole advantage and then put the blame on some ICC conspiracy and so on. The only time I be content if we manage to win a tournament with consistency, yes win and losses happen and that too in a long tournament but how you win and loss those games is the most important factor, win one game as one bowler had a performance of his life and then loss next one with record margin and then relying on prayers and combinations of other results is not how I want to get behind my team.

 

[Rana]

They have got a sweet schedule.

Will be limited to only 5 venues even if they play all 11 games, 9 group plus semi, final. Other teams will have to travel to 9-10 venues to win the cup.

Chennai is a fortress for Pakistan, have never lost there in any format. Place of many famous victories like Anwar's 194 and the epic 1999 test. Kolkata is another fortress where they have never lost an ODI, won the Nehru Cup 1989 final there beating West Indies, the platinum jubilee match against India as well. More recently Pakistan won both ODIs in Chennai, Kolkata in the 2012-13 tour of India. Chennai may offer generous turn but the low bounce suits Pak batsmen and pacers just fine. Also both these venues will see a lot of support for Pakistan, historically has been the case. Standing ovation in 1999 Chennai test or the 2016 WT20 where fans supported Pakistan over Bengali speaking Bangladeshis.

Hyderabad too is a good venue, lot of acclimatization and the city has a huge Muslim population who are ardent fans of Pakistan. Home venue atmosphere guaranteed in their two games there.

Bengaluru is an ok crowd, not as supportive to Pak as the other 3 but not bad like somewhere in UP, Gujarat or Mumbai.

Ahmedabad is a tough venue but what better preparation for the finals than facing India at that venue, against 130,000 screaming Indian fans? If Pak make the final, the experience of group game in the same venue will hold them in good stead, even if they get hammered there.

Overall a very nice set of venues for team Pakistan. When was the last time a WC participating team was limited to just 5 venues across potentially 11 games? And 3 out of those 5 are best venues for Pakistan, in terms of historical record as well as crowd support.

India has an ok schedule, lot of travel and who scheduled the game against NZ in Dharamsala? That will be like a home game for the Black Caps.

Karachi was our fortress too before Babar was captain