Fast bowlers hold the key

The year 1992 will always remain a special one for Pakistan - we fought our way to the World Cup final and conquered the summit in great style. Incidentally, in that World Cup, the then reigning champions Australia were stunned by New Zealand in their opening encounter at Eden Park in Auckland. I am mentioning that because Pakistan would be hoping to pull off a similar result when they take on Ricky Ponting's men at The Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

Waqar Younis' men have a great opportunity to give the highly fancied reigning champions a big shock. The Pakistan team has been practicing in Johannesburg for a little over two weeks - a good move by the Pakistan Cricket Board - and might have drawn out plans on how to topple the mighty Aussies.

They would well know that there is nothing like winning, and a winning start to a championship by itself will be a great morale booster. I am sure Waqar Younis and the boys will have the resolve and the hunger in them to prove to the world that they have gotten over the reverses they suffered at the hands of Aussies in the ?home? series played in Sri Lanka and Sharjah recently.

The track at The Wanderers usually helps the fast bowlers. Both the teams have quality in that department, and neither lacks firepower or experience. Wasim Akram, who is making his last hurrah, along with skipper Waqar Younis should be able to bring back some of the old magic that made the due one of the most feared in world cricket. It is their experience that will help Pakistan match the nagging accuracy of the dangerous Glenn McGrath.

This game will also, in all likelihood, witness the highly anticipated clash between Shoaib Akthar and Brett Lee. Trust them to set a scorching pace. Truly, their high-octane clash will be a sight to behold.

We all know what the 'Rawalpindi Express' can do when he finds his rhythm, and I hope that he fires on all cylinders against Australia. However, the key man surely has to be Wasim Akram, who will have to quietly take wickets as Akthar softens the batsmen with his fiery bursts.

It's never easy to predict a winner in any game involving two top teams. Just look at the 2003 World Cup opener where South Africa lost after a thrilling match that swung from one side to the other.

Australia's fielding is simply supreme and that will definitely help their cause. Having said that, I am sure the fast bowlers hold the key in this crucial encounter. A few top-order batsmen will fail against the new ball, and the pressure will mount on the middle-order to do the scoring.

A closer look would show most people that Australia's middle-order looks a bit brittle without the services of either Michael Bevan or Darren Lehmann. It will also be never easy to fill the void left by a class act like Steve Waugh, whose departure from the ODI scene is a sad development. Waqar's men will certainly have to zoom in on this area of Australian weakness.

Pakistan, meanwhile, will rely heavily on Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana, their best two batsmen. The experience of Rashid Latif down the order will also be of immense value to the Pakistan team as will be his keeping.

With Shane Warne unlikely to take any further part in the tournament, Australia should not take the Pakistan batting lightly. Even though Brett Lee is in top form, both McGrath and Jason Gillespie are coming back from recent injuries.

The danger is that all this could make some of the Pakistan players feel a bit complacent. But they do not have to look too far to know the pitfalls behind such thinking. Last Thursday, they lost to the South African provincial team - Easterns - in a warm-up game. I can only hope that it is a lesson they take to heart.

If Pakistan can play as a team, with each player supporting the other, and perform to their potential, there is no team in this world that they have to fear. I sincerely hope and wish that they get their act together in time, and begin their campaign on a winning note.