Akram, Waugh trade verbal blows before World Cup final (20 June 1999)

20 June 1999

Akram, Waugh trade verbal blows before World Cup final

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

LONDON, June 19 - Rival captains traded words of pre-final psychology but Wasim Akram came in front with the first major punch when he declared Pakistan would be mentally stronger than a battle-scarred Australia in the World Cup final at Lord's here tomorrow.

Wasim then gave his team a morale, a shot-in-the-arm saying his callow young side with a collection of raw but volatile talent was the best team he has ever played in.

Skipper Steve Waugh epitomises Australia's true professionalism and the '87 champions having scraped through with two narrow wins over South Africa in the Super Sixes and semi-finals, still remains the toughest team to overcome.

But Pakistan's hot-and-cold nature has had chilling effects even on battle-efficient Australians when Waugh said Pakistan loomed as a difficult finals opposition because of its unpredictability.

Pakistan has stamped itself as world beaters one day, and easybeats the next through the tournament, in which they have scored six wins to three losses.

Waugh added Pakistan is a difficult opponent to plan for because of its unpredictability, but says confidence is high in his side after stringing together five wins and a tie in six games.

While Imran Khan won the '92 Cup in the company of the luminaries like Javed Miandad and Abdul Qadir, Wasim embattled by recent allegations of ball-tampering and match rigging will turn to the likes of rookie Abdur Razzaq, Wajahatullah Wasti, Azhar Mahmood and Shoaib Akhtar to supplement the experienced hands of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Moin Khan and Ijaz Ahmed.

"Look who's brought us to the final," Wasim questioned?

"I don't think the seniors have done a great deal in this tournament. Saeed (Anwar) came good in the last two matches. It's been the younger players all the way," Akram said giving the young brigade a vote of confidence.

It is only Pakistan's second World Cup final while Australia has battled three previous ones in 1975, 1987, 1996 and won once.

"The Australians must be tired mentally and physically, because winning and winning like that, it has been a lot of stress," Wasim said.

Australia has scraped through two nerve-wrecking encounters against South Africa, a scenario similar to that of 1996 when it beat New Zealand (quarter-final) and West Indies (semifinal) but lost in the final to Sri Lanka by seven wickets in a one-sided match.

"I think we are mentally tougher than them," Wasim stressed.

"The amount the whole Pakistan side have had to go through over the last couple of years has made us tougher than any opposition in the world. We have stuck together and qualified for the final and we are now just one match away from winning the trophy," said Wasim.

"I have tried to pass all this on to the younger players - how best to prepare for big games - and hopefully they are learning from me and they have responded well," he said.

Wasim has nurtured his young side into a combination envied by most as Pakistan continue to spring surprises harnessing young talent. Razzaq, a son of a shop-keeper has been the 'find' of the tournament while Mahmood has rekindled his bowling form in the nick of time.

"I remember back in 1992 I personally wasn't that sure we were going to win it," Wasim recalled. "But I'm more confident about Sunday because the team we have now is one of the best sides I've ever played in. Everything is going in the right direction, and we are very positive about the match. We will see who the best side is on Sunday because both sides are equally equipped with bowlers and batsmen," said Wasim.

He felt his side might have a slight edge because Australia lacks a quality fifth bowler.

Pakistan has been bolstered by the return to form of Anwar, who is fresh from back-to-back centuries against Zimbabwe and New Zealand going into Sunday.

Australia is expected to make one change to the side that tied the semi-final against South Africa - batsman Damien Martyn to replace the out-of-form Darren Lehmann, who returned to the side from a finger injury.

"I know we're well prepared for a tough day. Pakistan are the sort of side that can be brilliant one moment and not so good the next. They're a tough side to play against because you never know what you're going to get," Waugh said.

According to Waugh, Shane Warne will trouble the Pakistan batsmen as the ace leg-spinner rediscovered his lost form against South Africa in two matches. Warne, partially written off for his early tournament bowling form took 2-33 and 4-29 in his last two outings.

Waugh plans to take a leaf out of South Africa's book as he seeks to outfox Pakistan. South Africa has beaten Pakistan in the last 13 meetings and Waugh plans to copy South Africa's tactics against Wasim's temperamental side.

"I'd like to think we could play similar to South Africa because they've beaten Pakistan the last 13 times," said Waugh.

"It figures that the way South Africa play Pakistan must be a good way, and, if we can put some of those plans into practice, we'll have a good chance of winning," said Waugh.

"We're playing an excellent side, and it's probably the biggest game of cricket we will ever play," Waugh, 34, probably playing his last World Cup said.

AUSTRALIA: Steve Waugh (captain), Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn, Tom Moody, Shane Warne, Damien Fleming, Paul Reiffel, Glenn McGrath.

PAKISTAN: Wasim Akram (captain), Saeed Anwar, Wajahatullah Wasti, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdur Razzaq, Shahid Afridi or Yousuf Youhana, Moin Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar.

UMPIRES: David Shepherd (England) and Steve Bucknor (West Indies).

TV umpire: Srini Venkataraghavan (India).

MATCH REFEREE: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

Source :: The Daily News