The Champions Trophy 2017 Final : Five keys to victory for Pakistan

[MenInG]

No. 5: Let Mohammad Amir loose

After the semi-final, captain Sarfraz Ahmed was in no doubt. “Mohammad Amir is our main strike bowler,” he said, adding that he hoped Amir, who missed the England game with a back spasm, would be fit for the final. With reports now suggesting that he will be, Pakistan needs its main wicket-taker fit and firing. Amir, Junaid Khan and the bowler of the tournament Hasan Ali will share the new ball, going up against Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. It is a tussle that will go a long way to determining the outcome of the match.


No. 4: Field like demons

Pakistan were abject in the field in their first match against Edgbaston, and inspired thereafter. Against England they caught everything, chased everything, and gave everything, with Fakhar Zaman’s brilliant boundary catch against Moeen Ali the highlight. But they can’t afford even the slightest mishap against India: drop Kohli, Sharma, Dhawan or Yuvraj, and they may find they’ve dropped the trophy.


No. 3: Give Fakhar Zaman support

Fakhar Zaman has changed the whole dynamic of Pakistan’s batting. The left-handed opener has 138 runs in the tournament at a strike rate of 117. But for Fakhar to express himself, he needs solidity around him. His opening partner Azhar Ali is a good foil, but has a tendency to get bogged down, playing out a number of dot balls. Rotating the strike will help provide Fakhar with the foundation from which he can attack India’s new-ball bowlers.


No. 2: Babar Azam’s time is now

Pakistan’s richly gifted No. 3 already has five ODI centuries under his belt and he’s only 22; he has only flickered so far in this tournament, but it's just a matter of time before he makes a big score on English pitches. This will be his tenth ODI in England, and with a highest score of just 40, so he is due a big one. What better time... ?


No. 1: Play the match, not the occasion

Any India-Pakistan game is enormous, but a world final is gargantuan. But while India has become immune to pressure in recent years, triumphing in three ICC world finals in the last four years, Pakistan remains combustible. Coach Mickey Arthur may wish to see greater consistency. “I don’t want us to be unpredictable,” he says – but this is Pakistan, and by nature their cricketers play on the edge. Against India, the best approach will be to play vibrant yet measured cricket, and not get drawn into a hitting contest. The wheels came off at Edgbaston in the first match, and India demolished them. Play the situation, not the occasion, and they have a chance.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/champions-trophy/news/420650

 

[ExpressPacer]

The last bit of advice is gold and the players who play in accordance to it will capitalize. Everything will fall into place. This team has enough talent and ability, they just need to have control over their emotions and control of themselves.

 

[MenInG]

The last bit of advice is gold and the players who play in accordance to it will capitalize. Everything will fall into place. This team has enough talent and ability, they just need to have control over their emotions and control of themselves.

Easier said than done.

Indian players play in front of huge crowds in IPL etc - used to the sound etc - our players - closest they would have felt this would have been the PSL but then everyone was cheering for everyone.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Easier said than done.

Indian players play in front of huge crowds in IPL etc - used to the sound etc - our players - closest they would have felt this would have been the PSL but then everyone was cheering for everyone.

Agreed. This generation of Pakistani cricketers have never played in front of huge crowds. The empty stands of the UAE have become home for them and too many people in the stadium confuse them. The boxing day test in Australia was an example. However, they need to get a hold of their nerves because the other team, no matter how experienced or good will also be under pressure because of how big an Indo-Pak affair is.

 

[MenInG]

Agreed. This generation of Pakistani cricketers have never played in front of huge crowds. The empty stands of the UAE have become home for them and too many people in the stadium confuse them. The boxing day test in Australia was an example. However, they need to get a hold of their nerves because the other team, no matter how experienced or good will also be under pressure because of how big an Indo-Pak affair is.

Sad but true. This will always be a problem in high-pressure games.

 

[Major]

The one who will dictate how the game will be played, that team will end up winning the final, simple as that


India has batting strength, Pakistan has Bowling strength.

First innings will be enough to see who wins. If India crosses the 280 mark, Pakistan is doomed. If Pakistan gets India all out under 250 with tight bowling, India is doomed.

 

[Poison]

We are massive underdogs. The Oval is probably the best ground in England for us so that's a big positive - we just need to find a way to break through their top 3 early on. If we can get rid of all 3 the rest will be very under-done.

 

[JibranAnsari]

And then pray that india really have a bad bad day.

 

[JibranAnsari]

We are massive underdogs. The Oval is probably the best ground in England for us so that's a big positive - we just need to find a way to break through their top 3 early on. If we can get rid of all 3 the rest will be very under-done.

Still we have only won two games at oval out of 9. Not too good for us.

 

[Waseem]

We are massive underdogs. The Oval is probably the best ground in England for us so that's a big positive - we just need to find a way to break through their top 3 early on. If we can get rid of all 3 the rest will be very under-done.

That's the key really, hope they don't try to bowl 5-6 overs of Imad Wasim just to get through some of his overs. They should start with Aamir, Junaid followed by Hasan and only use Imad/Hafeez in the middle with Hasan Ali/Junaid.

 

[IndYeah1]

So many posts from Pakistan fans obsessively hoping to get the top 3 Indian batsmen.

You know, the guys that come after the top 3 aren't that bad either. No smilie here for Yuvraj Singh, but then again, you guys know what he looks like.

And yes - Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya - inexperienced? Definitely? But very capable. Just a real quick reminder of their ODI batting stats:

Kedar Jadhav: 19 matches, average of 61.6 with SR of 123.8 - 2 hundreds and a 50.

Hardik Pandya: 11 matches, average of 47.2, SR of 130, with one 50.

Add to that, the likes of Jadeja, Bhuvi and Ashwin may not be that great as ODI batsmen, but would comfortably out-bat the likes of Imad, Amir etc.

So let's say the top 3 end up getting dismissed before India cross 100. That doesn't necessarily mean that the game is in Pakistan's hands. It just means that the odds get evened out.

Cheer up though guys, its going to be a great game. Here's a bit of musical encouragement to keep things light:

 

[Poison]

So many posts from Pakistan fans obsessively hoping to get the top 3 Indian batsmen.

You know, the guys that come after the top 3 aren't that bad either. No smilie here for Yuvraj Singh, but then again, you guys know what he looks like.

And yes - Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya - inexperienced? Definitely? But very capable. Just a real quick reminder of their ODI batting stats:

Kedar Jadhav: 19 matches, average of 61.6 with SR of 123.8 - 2 hundreds and a 50.

Hardik Pandya: 11 matches, average of 47.2, SR of 130, with one 50.

Add to that, the likes of Jadeja, Bhuvi and Ashwin may not be that great as ODI batsmen, but would comfortably out-bat the likes of Imad, Amir etc.

If we get rid of the top three before India are 100 it means the wicket is doing something. And we all know that Yuvraj has seriously lost it if the wicket isn't flat - More worried about Dhoni and Ashwin from the top 3 onwards - everyone else is unproven outside Asia.

That's the key really, hope they don't try to bowl 5-6 overs of Imad Wasim just to get through some of his overs. They should start with Aamir, Junaid followed by Hasan and only use Imad/Hafeez in the middle with Hasan Ali/Junaid.

Waseem bhai! Oddly optimistic for this one - not sure if I'll be a viable employee come Monday but it'll be worth it haha.

 

[Napa]

India has batting strength, Pakistan has Bowling strength.

The rest of the story is: India has bowling strength, Pakistan does not have batting strength. Therefore the chances of India winning are 66% and Pakistan 34%.

First innings will be enough to see who wins. If India crosses the 280 mark, Pakistan is doomed. If Pakistan gets India all out under 250 with tight bowling, India is doomed.

Given that India got Pakistan out for 164 just a few days ago, I would say that even with a score of 200, India has reasonable chances of winning.

 

[Napa]

And yes - Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya - inexperienced? Definitely? But very capable. Just a real quick reminder of their ODI batting stats:

Kedar Jadhav: 19 matches, average of 61.6 with SR of 123.8 - 2 hundreds and a 50.

Hardik Pandya: 11 matches, average of 47.2, SR of 130, with one 50.

With these strike rates, Indian fans may actually wish that the top 5 who come before them get out early and leave them enough balls to score!

 

[Napa]

Yeh kya hai?

The jerky camera game me motion sickness!

 

[Kianig89]

Believe in yourself don't panic seize the moment

 

[SandyB]

Sad but true. This will always be a problem in high-pressure games.

Doesn't PSL give them experience in that regard ?

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Had some strange dreams !!

India were 241-4 after 41 ovs

Pakistan bowled out for 65!!!

Pakistan made 371 ....

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Doesn't PSL give them experience in that regard ?

Nope, PSL doesn't have that much big audience in UAE, only the Final in Lahore had a big crowd, Hence not much experience for these players until more PSL games are played in Pakistan.

 

[IndYeah1]

If we get rid of the top three before India are 100 it means the wicket is doing something. And we all know that Yuvraj has seriously lost it if the wicket isn't flat - More worried about Dhoni and Ashwin from the top 3 onwards - everyone else is unproven outside Asia.



Waseem bhai! Oddly optimistic for this one - not sure if I'll be a viable employee come Monday but it'll be worth it haha.

They may be unproven, but they are certainly capable. If it comes to that, I'm still extremely confident that the likes of Yuvi/Jadhav/Pandya/Dhoni can still out-bat the Pakistan top 7. Jadhav is underrated by a lot of people, even Indian fans, but he is a modern day Miandad. Excellent temperament, good at rotating strike, and one of the best in the business at instinctively hitting gaps.

 

[IndYeah1]

With these strike rates, Indian fans may actually wish that the top 5 who come before them get out early and leave them enough balls to score!

Naah, strikers like these, especially Pandya are at their best, when they have a nice platform behind them and a freedom to "express themselves".

Its pretty much a question of "pick your poison" for our brother fans.