The pitch in the Afghanistan versus New Zealand game

[globalcitizen]

Who is he warning lol? For Afghanistan to have won the game or NZ to have lost the game.
pakistan should just worry about their result and progress in competition

 

[MP2011]

This thread is like anticipatory bail for quite a few.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has warned that New Zealand losing to Afghanistan will raise a lot of questions.

Virat Kohli’s India have bounced back from their opening two losses to Pakistan and New Zealand to hammer Afghanistan and Scotland.

However, they still need to win their last group game against Namibia on Monday and depend on the result of Sunday’s New Zealand-Afghanistan match to have a chance of making the semi-finals.

Akhtar claimed that New Zealand’s defeat at the hands of Afghanistan will become a trending topic, especially in Pakistan.

“India’s fate is now in New Zealand’s hands. If New Zealand lose [to Afghanistan] a lot of questions will be raised, I’m warning you. I’m afraid that it will become another trending topic. I don’t want to get into any controversy but sentiments of Pakistanis are really high at the moment as far as New Zealand is concerned,” said Akhtar while speaking on his official YouTube channel.

“I think New Zealand are better than Afghanistan. If, God forbid, they don’t play well and lose, that will be a problem. Nobody will be able to stop social media if it happens and we have to take that into consideration,” he added.

New Zealand stayed on course for the semi-finals with a 52-run win over Namibia on Friday.

Meanwhile, group 2 leaders Pakistan have already made sure of a semi-final place with four wins in four games.

https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/n...n-will-raise-a-lot-of-questions-shoaib-akhtar

Shoaib changes his opinions all the time. The other day he was supporting India against New Zealand but now he wants India out?

I mean the amount of fear Pakistani fans have of India making the finals is incredible. Even after 10 wicket win Pakistan is not confident.

And to India fans I am 99% certain Afghanistan will beat NZ. The pressure will be on NZ. Afghanistan can stop Pakistan from winning by helping India to the next stage. Afghan players will do everything to win against NZ.

 

[Gilly]

Thats a lot of pressure on NZ, not only their supporters but Pakistan supporters pressure might sink them.

 

[AAli98]

NZ should have way too much for Afghans. Afghan will go out all guns blazing but will fall short; that method wins you games against minnows but not at the top (unless ur playing Pak, who crumble against pressure)…

 

[Usergame]

I haven't ever heard any former cricketer talk as much rubbish ever as akhtar does. He is an idiot wannabe shock jockey.

 

[Gilly]

I haven't ever heard any former cricketer talk as much rubbish ever as akhtar does. He is an idiot wannabe shock jockey.

To be fair to Akhtar, if Afg do win would you expect there to be any suggestion of fixing by NZ from the Pak supporters?.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Afghanistan is an over-rated cricket team, NZ will dispatch them quite easily.

 

[drubwrubnat]

Shoaib changes his opinions like the rest of us changes their underwears. The other day he was supporting India against New Zealand but now he wants India out?

I mean the amount of fear Pakistani fans have of India making the finals is incredible. Even after 10 wicket win Pakistan is not confident.

And to India fans I am 99% certain Afghanistan will beat NZ. The pressure will be on NZ. Afghanistan can stop Pakistan from winning by helping India to the next stage. Afghan players will do everything to win against NZ.

I salute your confidence and im 100 % certain NZ will blow Afg away, its amazing how us as fans view the game so differently

 

[street cricketer]

Shoaib changes his opinions all the time. . The other day he was supporting India against New Zealand but now he wants India out?

I mean the amount of fear Pakistani fans have of India making the finals is incredible. Even after 10 wicket win Pakistan is not confident.

And to India fans I am 99% certain Afghanistan will beat NZ. The pressure will be on NZ. Afghanistan can stop Pakistan from winning by helping India to the next stage. Afghan players will do everything to win against NZ.

Imo India are a very good T20 team but they don't deserve to make the knockouts after the disappointing displays in the first two games and I reckon most Indian fans agree with the opinion.

But the level of paranoia even among established ex cricketers like Akhtar is something I've never seen in the game lol. It's not like India would sneak in at the cost of Pakistan, as Pak have already secured their berth for the semifinals. Just the extent of the widespread paranoia has been quite spectacular and tbh a bit bizarre really.

 

[Ryw]

Shoaib changes his opinions all the time. The other day he was supporting India against New Zealand but now he wants India out?

I mean the amount of fear Pakistani fans have of India making the finals is incredible. Even after 10 wicket win Pakistan is not confident.

And to India fans I am 99% certain Afghanistan will beat NZ. The pressure will be on NZ. Afghanistan can stop Pakistan from winning by helping India to the next stage. Afghan players will do everything to win against NZ.

Afghanistan will be thrashed into pieces against Newzealand. Your playing XI is not united after that horror show against India in last match. Some of them are pro indians and some of them play for Afghanistan and they are not happy about last match performance

 

[DHONI183]

NZ will prevail in a low scoring game, Afghanistan can only slog their way to a decent score.

I think the reverse. I think that Afghanistan´s only chance would lie in a low-scoring game. Guptill and company are running away with if it´s a high-scoring affair.

 

[jusarrived]

Why would NZ trash india and do us a favor by playing poorly against Afg now? Would it not be simple to have just lost the game against us? Pakistanis and conspiracy theories lol

 

[YousafTheBeast]

I think you are giving Afghanistan far too much credit.

Pressure is more so on Afghanistan more so than anything:

- First time facing NZ ever in a T20
- First time in a virtual quarter final situation against NZ
- Mujeeb could be in 50/50 shape or not play at all
- Afghanistan will be under pressure to deliver for it's fans and will have Indian fans behind them as well, sometimes the weight of expectations gets to you and that to in a very big situation such as this.

Bro, there’s absolutely no pressure on Afghanistan.

Even if they win vs NZ, they will not qualify for the semis because India’s NRR is higher and it will increase even more after they beat Namibia. Afghanistan are out.,

All the pressure is on NZ, and we all know how well NZ handles pressure.

Afghanistan will be motivated even more, because they know if they beat NZ then India will go to the semis. They’ll remain in their good books.

 

[dani2k]

Whether India qualifies or not, time will tell us.

However gotta say that it is amusing to see the reactions coming from our neighbor.

Surprising that even seasoned players are not immune to the kind of banter we see in fan forums.

Curious to know if the PCB chief has any thoughts regarding this (considering that he had given a lot of sound bytes offlate)

 

[Energy]

Looking forward to this game. Lots of masala involved.

 

[Couch Cricketer]

Abu Dhabi so far have been batting friendly wickets with something in it for the fast bowlers. If today's pitch ie WI and Aus is reused tom then the I will start believing the conspiracy theory. This pitch is already getting low bounce if it is reused tom then it will be a mine field. Though I am not sure Afghan batting would be good enough to bat on it either.

 

[battler]

Abu Dhabi so far have been batting friendly wickets with something in it for the fast bowlers. If today's pitch ie WI and Aus is reused tom then the I will start believing the conspiracy theory. This pitch is already getting low bounce if it is reused tom then it will be a mine field. Though I am not sure Afghan batting would be good enough to bat on it either.

I think a lot will depend on whether Afghanistan can manage to bat first and whether Mujeeb is fit enough to play. If both these events happen at the toss I would say Afghanistan is in with a 40% chance. 8 overs off Mujeeb and Rashid would not be easy to negotiate for Nz.

 

[Gullycricket]

OP seems to be right. Too predictable from ICC.

 

[Aman]

Used pitch, batting first is a big advantage.

 

[Thanos]

Imo India are a very good T20 team but they don't deserve to make the knockouts after the disappointing displays in the first two games and I reckon most Indian fans agree with the opinion.

But the level of paranoia even among established ex cricketers like Akhtar is something I've never seen in the game lol. It's not like India would sneak in at the cost of Pakistan, as Pak have already secured their berth for the semifinals. Just the extent of the widespread paranoia has been quite spectacular and tbh a bit bizarre really.

By that logic, no team among Ind-NZ-Afg deserves to play knockouts if NZ loses to Afg today.
Ind lost to NZ, Afg lost to Ind and IF NZ loses to Afg.

There is nothing wrong if India makes to knockouts on the basis of NRR.

However I don't think it'll happen. NZ will easily beat Afg today.

 

[Saj]

Short of a length bowling, into the pitch by the NZ bowlers.

Excellent tactics so far.

 

[street cricketer]

By that logic, no team among Ind-NZ-Afg deserves to play knockouts if NZ loses to Afg today.
Ind lost to NZ, Afg lost to Ind and IF NZ loses to Afg.

There is nothing wrong if India makes to knockouts on the basis of NRR.

However I don't think it'll happen. NZ will easily beat Afg today.

It's just my personal opinion. I don't think India deserve to qualify ahead of NZ without beating either of Pak or NZ.

In fact, South Africa would feel very hard done by and rightly so after getting knocked out despite winning four games and India getting qualified (if they do) after winning just three games against minnows.

 

[Saj]

First 7 overs all pace by NZ.

Excellent tactics and basically taking the pitch out of it.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pitch helping fast bowlers not spinners. Favours NZ to be honest.

 

[Saj]

NZ have been so good today.

A different level to Afghanistan and the way they've played today, any pitch would not have made any difference at all.

 

[Ozeirk]

Excellent win by Newzeland. This will settle the Indian fans down for sure. Lol

 

[AAli98]

Heard on Geo news the Abu Dhabi groundsman committed suicide last night.

Did the BCCI bully him?

 

[as-95]

Pitch was doctored for an Afghani upset but NZ dont bend over for the BCCI. Well done to them! Funny how there were no ridiculous fielding errors today by Afghanistan like when they fixed the India game though...

 

[shamaan]

What a disastrous performance by India they should be made to walk home from UAE

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Bro, there’s absolutely no pressure on Afghanistan.

Even if they win vs NZ, they will not qualify for the semis because India’s NRR is higher and it will increase even more after they beat Namibia. Afghanistan are out.,

All the pressure is on NZ, and we all know how well NZ handles pressure.

Afghanistan will be motivated even more, because they know if they beat NZ then India will go to the semis. They’ll remain in their good books.

You were saying?

 

[Shoaibbtt]

NZ have been so good today.

A different level to Afghanistan and the way they've played today, any pitch would not have made any difference at all.

Seriously did anyone expect any less??? Not me.