Pakistan take on England in must-win encounter

CAPE TOWN, Feb 21: Prediction of the outcome of a one-dayer especially when there is not much difference between two teams is risky business. Taking this factor into account, no one here is sticking out his neck to foretell the result of Saturday's crucial Group 'A' clash between Pakistan and England at the Newlands.

The match is equally important for the survival of both Pakistan and England if they harbour aspirations to make it to the Super Six stage.

It is more vital for England who can not afford to lose any points, after having forfeited four against Zimbabwe by refusing to play in Harare citing security fear in the politically unstable co-hosts. And above all, their next two matches are against all-conquering Australia, already assured of a place in Super Six with the added satisfaction of taking points into the next stage, and India who revived their challenge for the next stage with a comprehensive victory over Zimbabwe in midweek.

A loss for Pakistan will be a disaster but not catastrophic as they could still squeeze into the next round by winning all the remaining three matches. However, their position could become precarious if the weather plays tricks in their remaining matches.

Yet instant version of the game is not all that teams likely to win should succeed as things could go wrong as the unfancied New Zealand and West Indies proved against the hosts and second favourites South Africa that had left Shaun Pollock and his colleagues at the mercy of their opponents and the real possibility of an early ouster from the tournament.

The Pakistanis for the past two days have been taking nets very seriously and every player seems to mean business and Waqar Younis's boys were determined not to repeat the mistakes made again Australia.

There are no injury problems and the Asian giants are in a happy position to field their strongest lineup unlike England, who are troubled by niggling injuries to skipper Nasser Hussain - who missed the Namibia match - Ashley Giles and Ian Blackwell.

But England coach Duncan Fletcher, hopes that the trio were getting better and expected to be considered for the vital encounter.

"We have had few injury problems but I am confident the players will be fit" he told a press briefing on Friday.

Well aware of the potential of Pakistan team the Zimbabwean-born coach admitted that they were a side to fear and capable of beating the best when on song. "Pakistan are a real threat to any team. They have class players but we are not overawed by the occasion" he added.

Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis appeared more confident that the boys had learned from the past mistakes and were keen not to repeat them against England as a slip could prove fatal.

"We did not do well against Australia especially in the middle overs and threw the early advantage. We have to bowl better besides the batting has not clicked. I am hoping our premier batsmen Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana to strike form tomorrow which will definitely put them on right track in the competition," Waqar hoped.

Waqar said England were always a competitive side as they have some good all-rounders and warned that opener Marcus Trescothick was a dangerous batsman who could turn a match on its head.

Teams (from):

ENGLAND: Nasser Hussain (captain), James Anderson, Ian Blackwell, Andrew Caddick, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Ronnie Irani, Nick Knight, Alec Stewart, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Craig White

PAKISTAN: Waqar Younis (captain), Saeed Anwar, Taufiq Umar, Saleem Elahi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Wasim Akram, Rashid Latif, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq.

Umpires: Rudi Koertzen and Brian Jerling (both South Africa).

TV umpire: Steve Bucknor (West Indies).

Match referee: Mike Procter (South Africa).