COLOMBO: Captain Salman Agha warned Friday that his Pakistan team must bring their “A-game” to the T20 World Cup to reach the knockout stages after forfeiting their group match against India.
The tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up as Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland and Pakistan refused to face co-hosts India in their Group A fixture.
Pakistan will lose two points for the forfeit and also suffer a significant blow to their net run rate, leaving little margin for error.
Even one abandoned match due to bad weather could complicate their path to the next round.
Pakistan open their campaign on Saturday in Sri Lanka against the Netherlands and will also face Namibia and the United States.
“We need to be cautious and bring our A-game,” Agha told reporters, admitting Pakistan have limited experience of the Netherlands and “don’t know many” of their players.
“We intend to unleash all our spin options because we feel they are vulnerable against quality spin,” he said.
The 2009 champions will lean heavily on their explosive opening pair Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, with Agha slated for number three.
Former skipper Babar Azam — who has struggled for form — slots in at number four.
“Babar has been working overtime on his game. He’s a key player in these conditions and can change a match in a few overs. We depend on him heavily,” Agha said.
Pakistan are on a high after a 3-0 whitewash of Australia at home.
The team will seek advice from their government if they reach the knockout phase and meet arch-rivals India.
Politics leave Pakistan no room for error at T20 World Cup
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Politics leave Pakistan no room for error at T20 World Cup
- Pakistan open their campaign on Saturday in Sri Lanka against the Netherlands
- Pakistan refused to face co-hosts India in their Group A fixture
Bottom club Wolves shock high-flying Aston Villa at Molineux
- Both sides struggled in a dour first half but Wolves seized the initiative 16 minutes into the second period when Gomes gave it a surprise lead
WOLVERHAMPTON, England: João Gomes scored his first Premier League goal of the season and Rodrigo Gomes added a second in stoppage time to give bottom club Wolverhampton a shock 2-0 win over high-flying Aston Villa on Friday.
It was only the second win in the league for a club that remains six points adrift at the bottom of the table and is almost certain to be relegated.
The result was a bitter blow to Villa’s Champions League aspirations and a slap in the face for coach Unai Emery, who was bidding to record his 100th victory in charge of the Birmingham club.
Both sides struggled in a dour first half but Wolves seized the initiative 16 minutes into the second period when Gomes gave it a surprise lead.
Adam Armstrong deftly cushioned a long pass right into the path of the onrushing Gomes and his superbly struck shot gave Emiliano Martínez no chance.
Villa pushed forward as the game went on and it was caught out in stoppage time when Wolves doubled its lead on the break, Rodrigo Gomes doing the damage.
Villa has won only one of its last five league games. The result leaves it 10 points behind leader Arsenal and five behind second-placed Manchester City, having played a game more than both.
Its next two matches are against the clubs immediately below it in the table, Chelsea and Manchester United.
