A virtual semi-final

Match facts

November 27, 2008
Start time 7.30pm (1400 GMT)

The Big Picture

	Will Naved-ul-Hasan star with the bat again? © ICL

The Pakistan XI stepped up to the task in their must-win game against the World XI. All teams now have two points each, making the final two league games of the tournament virtual semi-finals.

Both Pakistan and Bangladesh have bounced back strongly after losses in their first games, and if they carry that momentum on Thursday, it will surely make for a thrilling contest. Shahriar Nafees' unbeaten 70 carried Bangladesh to a win over India on Tuesday, while for Pakistan two outrageous half-centuries from Naved-ul-Hasan and Abdul Razzaq helped chase down a daunting 189 with 2.1 overs to spare. It was a comfortable win, considering the target and the fact that Inzamam-ul-Haq wasn't required to bat.

Chasing seems the way to go in this tournament. Sides batting second have won the last three games, and in the inaugural game, it was an all-round effort from Lance Klusener that thwarted Bangladesh's chances after they chose to field.

Players to watch

Habibul Bashar will be a man under pressure. He captained the Dhaka Warriors in the ICL 20-20 Indian Championship, but failed to take them to the semi-finals. The same Dhaka side forms the Bangladesh XI, and Bashar would be eager to see him team through. Bashar's personal form with the bat also remains a worry - against India he did not bat at all, and it was surprising that a specialist batsman dropped out of the top seven.

Razzaq is one of the few members in the Pakistan squad who did not play for the Lahore Badshahs. The Hyderabad Heroes allrounder starred on Wednesday, with his unbeaten 73 helping Pakistan win a do-or-die clash.

Read in App

Elevate your reading experience on ESPNcricinfo App.

Download App Now