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Has Pakistan already exceeded expectations in the Champions Trophy?

Savak

Savak

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We are going to be facing England which is the gun ODI side in world cricket right now with all basis covered. Let's be realistic, our chances are really low vs them as much as i would love to see a Pakistan-India final.

But considering where we were not even expecting the team to qualify for the Semi-finals, i would say the team has over achieved.
 
We limped our way to the SF's as our bowling saved us. Our batting was terrible in both matches and has to improve.
 
We beat South Africa so I suppose the answer is yes. The win over Sri Lanka was two poor sides desperately fighting to lose the game so no over achievement there, pretty much usual rubbish with the bat. But we bowled well so that was a positive.
 
Fantastic bowling by Pakistan

Bowlers exceeded expectations and batsmen performed poorly as was expected
 
Definitely and as usual, it was all thanks to the bowlers.

Next game, I'm certain it is going to be a flat track and a score of 320 will be par.

Oh well, at least Pak got to the semi's.
 
For me yes!

Ind-Pak ---> Expected we'd receive a phainta which we did.
SA-Pak ---> Expected we'd receive another phainta but we clicked.
SL-Pak ---> This one I thought we'd be competitive. Which we were.

In SF ---> Eng should thrash us but this is Pakistan so you never know.
 
I just made a post on this moments ago. yes, the have gone well past any expectations I had. They should not be in the SFs - this is an achievement already.
 
Let's be honest, Sri Lanka were abysmal and should have won this. But their ineptitude is our gain.

That being said - yes the low expectations we had of a group stage exit has been defied. Credit for that goes to the bowlers and the team management as the tactics vs SA and SL have been spot on.

The batting is a disgrace however and I hope our progression to the SF does NOT pull the wool over anyone's eyes.
 
Without a doubt exceeded all expectations. Our pacers have been very impressive and Fakhar has been a revelation. Loving the play of most of the youngsters.
 
We need to improve our batting much if we're going to move any further.
 
Exceeded all expectations like the batting collapse..Now they ahould treat the semi like a warm up game & gove chances to those batsman who were benched. Sure thing should be to drop Azhar Ali & Hafeez and get in Shadab Khan and Haris Sohail. But even with that squad a batting collapse is imminent so its just that we need to give chances to a fresh set of players
 
We have nothing to lose. Are on bonus time. I think England will be nervous of us.
 
Yes. There has been a slight improvement from the performance in the last Champions Trophy. I would've been fine with a win just against Sri Lanka, but we beat South Africa too so that's a plus. Great to see Pakistan qualify for the semifinals.
 
Position in the tournament yes

HOWEVER

Brutal reality (and I'm not a pessimist or being over critical here) this doesn't paper over the cracks. Pakistan's batting is the worst and is way off what SL and Bangladesh have, where one managed to chase 322 against India and the other at least scored 300 against England - neither of these can be achieved by Pakistan on most days even on the flattest of decks.
 
Before the CT tournament who felt that Pakistan would reach the Semi finals

Before the CT tournament who felt that Pakistan would reach the Semi finals

I certainly did not feel Pakistan would make it to the Semi Finals
 
I didn't give them a chance at all, especially after the manner in which they lost to India. But the wins goes on to show what young blood can do for you. We need to move past these TTF. As soon as Wahab was dropped, we settled into our best bowling ODI combination. After that we had Fahim Ashraf step up. Shadab performed well as well. Hasan Ali has been brilliant. Amir and Junaid have been bowling brilliantly. Fakhar Zaman gave us two really good starts. As soon as we get rid of Hafeez and bring in Haris Sohail, we will have an ideal ODI team. Yes, Azhar Ali doesn't belong in this setup, but for now, I'm good with him. He at least tries to bat out of comfort zone, unlike the professor.
 
South Africa win was a nice surprise

But man our batting is weak
 
I predicted a Pak v Eng SF (but I had no idea Bangladesh would be playing India!). I place the new England in the South Africa bracket. They pack match-winners as batsmen, but it's at the cost of consistency. Though England is more consistent than South Africa, their weakness is that they can implode all the same because of their aggressive style.
 
yes we achieved more than enough. I was hoping only 1 win against SL. However, we beat south Africa and qualify for the Semi Final. I am happy.

We now have nothing to loss against England. if we win that is a bonus for us.
 
bowling yes, batting no and l also would say yes to captaincy, sarfraz captaincy has been brilliant after WI tour which put a dent on his captaincy

inzi should be fired whether pak exceeded expectaions or not, played azhar as opener knowing he isnt just good enough and after dropping him WI tour
 
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Definitely after the match vs India. Looked like we weren't even going to win a game.
 
Enigma_ said:
Definitely after the match vs India. Looked like we weren't even going to win a game.
Click to expand...

Even today's game SL were 160-3, but we fought. Sri Lanka must be proud of their performance as they beat India.
 
idrizzy said:
Even today's game SL were 160-3, but we fought. Sri Lanka must be proud of their performance as they beat India.
Click to expand...

I don't think Sri Lanka would be proud of their performance at all. They should be in the semis if not for 2 dropped catches and run out chances missed.
 
SA make all teams good about themselves in ICC games. Pal beating SL is not big surprise. Only surprising result was SL beating India. SA choking is getting old now. On paper SA is better than any Asian team. But just on paper.
 
#8 Team reaching semis,defn exceeded expectations.Hopefully they don't get complacent that this was not expected and all that self sympathy stuff and try to go all the way.
 
I didn't think they would be semi-finalists, and after the Indian match, those fears were only confirmed.

Two very good bowling/patchy batting performances later we are in the semis.

If we can finally see the light and get rid of the 90's style of play deadwood, then it would be a real result and we can really make some progress.
 
Pakistan always depends on their bowling teams out for below par total and chasing it conventionally. Said it after first match. It has been the reality for a while.
 
Get ready for an India vs Pakistan final. This time we will smash them for sure.
 
So far it's been pretty similar to wc 2015. If we beat England then we seriously exceed expectations but otherwise it's just like 2015 wc where we got thrashed by india but beat south africa and other weaker teams which really isn't much of an achievement
 
We have had our fair share of luck, so I won't say we exceeded expectations based on our on-field performance.
 
Pakistan has the best bowling attack. Both Sri Lanka and S.A (the no. 1 team in the world) failed to score even 250. We are hot favorites now! England will struggle to be competitive against Sarfraz's cornered tigers.
 
easily, this tourment was a right off for me before we even played match. I just hope that going beyong expectations doesnt hide the fact this team needs serious work. We need another opener, professor needs to be gone, sarfraz needs to bat in the top 5 and decision has to be made on Malik. As good as he has been in recent months this is where it counts.
 
Never thought we'd make it out of the group.

We were expectedly atrocious versus India. Still, I didn't expect the bowlers to show such resolve against SA or keep the score as low as they did today.

The batting has been predictably awful and I'm quite sure they'll lose to England, but I guess getting to this next round is an achievement too!
 
greatest said:
Pakistan has the best bowling attack. Both Sri Lanka and S.A (the no. 1 team in the world) failed to score even 250. We are hot favorites now! England will struggle to be competitive against Sarfraz's cornered tigers.
Click to expand...

Both SA(the no 1 team in the world) and Pakistan failed to score 200 against India.
 
Mamoon said:
We have had our fair share of luck, so I won't say we exceeded expectations based on our on-field performance.
Click to expand...

History won't remember 'luck' but performances

Than again history won't remember being in the Semi's, but winning the CT 2017
 
jnaveen1980 said:
BD made 84 in the warmup. NZ made 180 odd in the warm up.
Click to expand...

A warm-up is just a practice match. Look how easily Sri Lanka chased 300 against them.
Pakistan has just peaked at the right time. Waiting eagerly for the final against India.
 
I think they played better than expected already... I am extremly happy with Pakistan making up to semi finals it is already bonus for fans.

If they qualify for Final I must say kudos to the them it is a massive massive upset it would be like Bangladesh of 90s and 2000s making to final of champions trophy. We are deservingly lowest rank team and playing out of our skin.
 
We have to be lucky against England to win the match. Similar bowling and much better batting can win us the game so you never know. For now they have exceeded our expectations.
 
Yes, take a look at the PP poll - expectations were to crash out in group stages.

Worst fears included - not winning a single match.
 
Because it was a patta not the fast bowler friendly caridff? Besides had India fielded first would have thrashed them as well.
 
Not really got quite lucky tbh. Not a single batsmen looks like an international batsmen, even Bangladesh has a much better batting unit than Pakistan atm. SL match was won due to poor fielding by SL and SA got saved by the rain.
 
Before the tournament - I predicted we would reach the SF's and we have done just that.

Anything more now is a bonus.
 
Savak said:
We are going to be facing England which is the gun ODI side in world cricket right now with all basis covered. Let's be realistic, our chances are really low vs them as much as i would love to see a Pakistan-India final.

But considering where we were not even expecting the team to qualify for the Semi-finals, i would say the team has over achieved.
Click to expand...

Bowling yes, batting has actually managed to be even worse than expected, as has management. Some of the most horrid selection thinking imaginable.
 
Pakistan is still playing old style cricket that is why it is ranked no. 8.Pakistan should get rid of Azhar,Hafeez and Malik and select youngsters who can play more aggressive cricket.I was not expecting Pakistan to go beyond the group stage but they have done well to get into semis.If Pakistan lose to England I will not be upset.England is a very strong team.As long as Pakistan put a good fight that is good enough for me.
 
Yes they have exceeded expectations, this England side is a great one, we will be up against it but at least I hope it's a good match, our batting needs to be up to scratch, some providing players there though.
 
One of Hafeez or Malik should bat at 3. Babar should bat at 4. Safraz with the tail is fine. For Amir, you need to have more slips. I have a feeling Pakistan will beat England. 270 will be enough for Pakistan to defend should they bat first due to the bowling. England are bound to have an off-day. I can't see England openers surviving against Amir and Khan, so that will mean England will have to rely on their middle order which is probably the best in the world – this is where the battle will be won or lost. Moeen, Rashid, Plunkett...are walking wickets for Pakistan bowlers.
 
I thought we could get to semis with a bit of luck and we have had that so this is in line with my expectations.
It's time for our batting to click in 1 game and go beyond the expectation.
We need to treat the game like a free hit and play brave cricket
 
We are the number 8 side in the world reaching the semi is an over achievement.

Sent from the mobile client - Forum Talker
 
greatest said:
A warm-up is just a practice match. Look how easily Sri Lanka chased 300 against them.
Pakistan has just peaked at the right time. Waiting eagerly for the final against India.
Click to expand...

Given your abundant confidence that Pakistan will beat India, you and [MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION] should write a post "Pakistan's Thrashing of it Doormat - the Sequel"
 
Yes we have exceeded expectations. Need to get rid of Azhar and Hafeez after the CT still.
 
Definitely they've exceeded my expectations, thought they were only going to win 1/3 group games but they won 2 and made it to the semis. Now all they've got left is to just have fun and play the next game and hopefully win it.
 
Yea we have exceeded expectations but there are too many positives

Sarfraz' captaincy has been good about 75% of time

Sarfraz as captain has delivered under pressure a rarity since the days of Great Wasim Akram

Young guns have performed well and there is competition for places

TTF brigade has been brutally exposed for the umpteenth time
 
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