Amidst some dramas and not foreseeable results in round robin league encounters the rain impacted ICC Champions trophy 2017 has advanced to business session.
Four of the top eight ICC ranked team qualified for semi-finals with pre-tournament favorites Australia and South Africa getting exit from group stage. 6th ranked Bangladesh and 8th ranked Pakistan playing good cricket deservedly advanced to semi-finals alongside two other pretournament favorites reigning champion India and host England. Pakistan will play England at Cardiff on 14 June and Bangladesh takes on India the following day at Edgabaston, Birmingham.
It is a bit of a surprise that three out of the four teams qualifying for the semi-finals are from South Asia. There is a belief in cricket world that teams from South Asian countries struggle to come to terms with English condition in early summer. The swinging and seaming conditions suit English, Australian, Kiwis and Protean. But that myth has been changed as three of the four South Asian nations have turned the table on other opponents.
Off course this time unlike earlier wicket did not have much seam movement; neither the ball swung much in the air. Mostly the batsmen dominated. Uncertain weather especially rain set the fate of some matches. None of the three matches that Australia played could go to distance. Believe it or not Australia failed to win any match. Rain saved them against New Zealand but deprived them against Bangladesh. They were genuinely beaten by England. South Africa appeared clueless in matches against Pakistan and India. With one win against Sri Lanka they had to leave early.
New Zealand played one good match against Australia and looked like winning till rain washed out the match. They lost matches against Bangladesh and England. Sri Lanka after losing the first match against South Africa beat strong India in spectacular run chase. But they failed to win against Pakistan in a very tense contest.
With three South Asian teams left to fight it out there won’t any dearth of crowd support. India, Bangladesh and Pakistan have many people living in England and Western Europe. All three matches are expected to be sold out. With the semi-finals line up, drawn fans of different countries have started trolling their opponents in different ways in social media. Some senior ex cricketers are also seen twitting. Cricket is a mere game not a war by any means.
Pakistan Vs England
One of the pre-tournament favorite hosts England was the most consistent team in the tournament so far. They are the only side winning all three matches comfortably. However, of all teams Bangladesh played their bowling well mastering 305 which England chased against a Bangladesh attack still adjusting to conditions. English win against New Zealand and Australia were comprehensive.
No one expected Pakistan to reach where they are after their crushing defeat against traditional rivals India. But their very strong bowling attack well suited to English conditions earned them back to back wins against South Africa and Sri Lanka despite of their fragile batting strength. This semi-final will be duel between Pakistan bowling against English batting. Having played against South African and Indian attack Pakistani batsmen may find English bowling a bit easier to negotiate.
Though England is runaway favorite one always hesitate predicting a match involving unpredictable Pakistan. If their batsman can set a 275 -280 runs target the bowling attack can defend. But we have to bear in mind that England have scored and chased 300 plus scores almost regularly after 2015 world cup. Other than Jason Roy all top order batsmen Alex Hales, Joy Root, Eoin Morgan, and Ben Stokes are in prolific form.
England has quality pace attack and two good spinners Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid. Pakistan has only two experienced batsmen in their line up-- Mohammad Hafiz and Shoaib Malik. Others including Azhar Ali and Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed are pretty young. Rookie opener Fakhar Zaman played two good innings, talented Babar Azam has to fire. But in the crunch match Azhar Ali, Hafiz and Malik have to shoulder greater responsibility. Pace attack of Mohammad Amir, Junaid and Hasan Ali brought back memories of Wasim, Waqar and Imran Khan.
Hope rain stays off and a full 50+50 = 100 overs cricket is possible. England had easy sailing in all three matches but Pakistan has weapons to test them. My money would go to England for their greater experience and home advantage.
Bangladesh Vs Pakistan
The clash of two friendly neighbours these days have started creating heat and excitements like ashes between Australia and England. India is reigning champions and they have won many global tournaments. But at the same time over the last few years they either lost matches or struggled against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has done wonderfully well in recent times in limited over format of the game. A young Bangladesh team in 2007 knocked out a formidable Indian team from ICC world cup. Four of the tiger heroes of that match Mashrafe, Tamim, Shakib and Mushfiq are still active. Bangladesh beat the team which had all their superstars of the golden era Virender Sehwag, SR Tendukar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Gangully and VVS Laxman and Zaheer Khan.
Bangladesh later won match against India in Asia Cup, won bilateral series 2-1. They all but won the T20 match in T20 world cup. Though India is well balanced and in great form now Bangladesh is no longer a push over. Young prodigy Mustafiz can be a headache for India is Mashrafe can use him smartly. Taskin in the past had successes against India. Captain Mashrafe can also recall many successful spells against India also. Star all-rounder Shakib has to settle few scores against India also. Indian batsmen may not have much liberty against quality Bangladesh attack.
In batting also Tamim, Mushfiq, Shakib and Mahmudullah are in great touch. Blockbuster innings are also due from Soumya and Sabbir. We are sure after that batting debacle against India in practice match Bangladesh would come with proper homework’s against Indian attack. Kumar and Bumrah appear to have adjusted well to English wickets and conditions. India has quality depth in pace bowling. Yadab and Sami are also very useful. But Bangladesh have to deal with Jadeja well. We are sure with four left handers in Bangladesh team Ravi Ashwin would also play.
This Indian batting line up with Rohit, Shikhar, Kohli, Yuvraj and Dhoni is very strong but not better than what Bangladesh overcame in 2007. The same line up lost series in 2015 in Bangladesh. Tigers are more matured now and eager to win. It will be any boy’s game.
Any combination in the final whether it is England-India, England-Bangladesh, India-Pakistan or Bangladesh-Pakistan are possibilities. Let us hope rain stays away. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday would witness fascinating contest of top quality cricket in ICC Champions trophy. The team that soaks pressure well would win. It can be Bangladesh as well.
How fitting it would be that great Mashrafe holding the trophy high above his head. Did you see how Tiger Mashrafe roared after winning the match against New Zealand?
BDST: 1554 HRS, JUN 13, 2017
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