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Arch-rivals Pakistan and India will lock horns in the first semi-final of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup at the JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom on Tuesday. The high-octane clash is set to capture the attention of millions of cricket fans in the sub-continent and the stakes, as always, are high.
The winners will clinch a spot in the 9 February final of the most prestigious age-group cricket event. The two teams have tasted glory in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in the past with the defending champions India victorious on four occasions while Pakistan are the only team to have won back-to-back titles (2004 and 2006).
Pakistan’s historic 2006 triumph was registered with one of the most astonishing results in the history of the tournament when the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side convincingly defended their paltry 109-run total by rolling over India for 71 runs at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.
For Haider Ali, the Pakistan opening batsman who Ian Bishop has called “the next Babar Azam”, a simple question about what’s been most attractive about India’s playing style so far draws a similarly guarded response: “I’ll tell you after the game. How can I tell you right now?”
The two teams have frequently clashed in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. Pakistan have won five out of the nine matches between the two sides, while India have won four contests.
The mood is completely different where the two other semi-finalists, staying at the same hotel, are concerned. The Bangladesh players are to be seen by the swimming pool, waving to the New Zealand boys who are passing by. At the table-tennis room, one group of Bangladesh boys wait patiently for the New Zealanders to finish their game before they get a go.
Pakistan have so far shown great depth in both bowling and batting departments in the ongoing tournament. They shot out Scotland for 75 runs in their opening Group C match and restricted Bangladesh to 106 for nine in the rain affected match also played at the JB Marks Oval.
The bowlers also made light work of Afghanistan by bowling them out for 189 in the quarter-final clash.
The batting line-up’s depth was visible in game against Zimbabwe when Pakistan recovered from 73 for three to post a 294-run total.
In the distance were the Indian trio of Shubhang Hegde, Siddhesh Veer and Ravi Bishnoi, carrying their laundry baskets from the lobby to their rooms. Nazir and Arish stopped talking, waiting for them to pass, before resuming the conversation. But the flow of the chat never really got back, and we went our separate paths soon.
The batsmen also held their own against the fancied Afghan spinners to overhaul the 190-run target for the loss of four wickets with 53 balls to spare.
Later, as the sun began to set, at the north end of the swimming pool stood a few Indian players talking to each other, on the south end were the Pakistan players. In between, the great divide.
Pace bowling all-rounder Abbas Afridi – with nine wickets in four games – is Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker, to date, and his fellow pacers Tahir Hussain and Amir Khan have taken seven wickets each.
The batting is led by Mohammad Haris who was the man-of-the-match against Zimbabwe with a sparkling 48-ball 81. Haris saw off the chase against Afghanistan with an unbeaten 29 off 43 balls, his tournament tally is 110 runs (two innings) with only a single dismissal earning him a 110-run average.
Qasim Akram, who scored 54 against Zimbabwe, contributed a useful 25 not out against Afghanistan in an unbroken 63-run fourth wicket stand with Haris that sealed Pakistan’s win.
Pakistan will look to opener and vice-captain Haider Ali to provide a flying start to the team like he did against Afghanistan (28 off 34 balls, five fours) before his unfortunate run out.
Haider has not yet lived up to the potential he has shown at the domestic level with a century in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2019-20 final and the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup last year with scores of four and 19 against Scotland and Zimbabwe respectively besides his quickfire knock against Afghanistan.
The right-handed stroke player who has already caught the attention of cricket pundits during his stroke filled 28 on Friday. He, however, feels that the team is ready for the big clash while he knows that he needs to turn-up in the big semi-final clash.
Haider Ali said: “I am happy with my batting form. I was playing well against Afghanistan before I got run out. But I feel confident that I will deliver against India. This is just another game for us and I don’t feel any additional pressure, I feel, I can do well in the match.
“My confidence is high after the Afghanistan innings. I know my importance to the team and I will aim to carry on the batting form and provide the team a good start against India. Former players and experts have admired my batting which makes me happy and motivates me to do well in the upcoming games.
“I scored 45 against India in the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup match recently, I feel confident heading into the game and will give my 100 per cent. I want to thank the fans who have supported us especially after the quarter-final win. I also want to thank the cricketers who have tweeted for us and encouraged us ahead of the semi-final.
“I request the fans to pray for us, we will give our 100 per cent and aim to win the World Cup.”
Pakistan ICC U19 Cricket World Cup squad:
Rohail Nazir (captain and wicketkeeper), Abbas Afridi (Peshawar), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (Quetta), Amir Ali (Larkana), Amir Khan (Peshawar), Arish Ali Khan (Karachi), Fahad Munir (Lahore), Haider Ali (vice-captain), Qasim Akram (Lahore), Mohammad Haris (Peshawar), Mohammad Huraira (Sialkot), Mohammad Irfan Khan (Lahore), Mohammad Shehzad (Multan), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (North Waziristan), Tahir Hussain (Multan)
Team management – Ijaz Ahmed (head coach-cum-manager), Rao Iftikhar Anjum (bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (assistant coach), Saboor Ahmad (trainer), Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rasul (physiotherapist), Usman Hashmi (analyst), Emmad Ahmed Hameed (media manager) and Col (retd) Usman Riffat Anwari (security manager).