Pakistan squad for World Cup match against Sri Lanka revealed
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Mickey Arthur, the director of the Pakistan cricket team, openly acknowledges his in-depth knowledge of Sri Lanka's "strengths and weaknesses." His familiarity with the Sri Lankan squad stems from his tenure as their coach, a role he held for two years from December 2019 to November 2021. This knowledge will be put to the test as former champions Pakistan and Sri Lanka prepare to face off at the World Cup in Hyderabad, scheduled for Tuesday. For Arthur, it's a chance to reconnect with players he played a pivotal role in developing.
Looking ahead to the upcoming match against Sri Lanka, it appears that Pakistan is inclined to maintain the same lineup. This decision includes retaining out-of-form opener Fakhar Zaman, who managed only 12 runs in the match against the Netherlands. Arthur expressed confidence in Zaman's abilities, asserting, "I am not worried about his form; he is a good player and is just one innings away from a big score." It's a testament to the faith and belief that the team has in their talented batsman, who has previously achieved the milestone of a double century in ODI cricket.
With a shrewd eye on the upcoming clash, Arthur stated, "Yes, I know their strengths and weaknesses, so we will have plans put in place for all of them." He is well aware that Sri Lanka is a formidable opponent, emphasizing the need for Pakistan to perform at their best to secure a victory.
In their World Cup journey, Pakistan encountered a tense battle against the Netherlands in Hyderabad, emerging victorious by 81 runs. Despite facing early setbacks with a faltering top order that had them at 38-3, Pakistan managed to post a challenging total of 286, thanks to half-centuries from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan. In the subsequent innings, Pakistan's bowlers dismissed the Netherlands for 205 runs in 41 overs.
Reflecting on the performance, Arthur shared, "I enjoyed the first win even though it wasn't a great performance." He acknowledged that while it may not have been perfect, the team did enough to secure the win, with key players stepping up when it mattered most.
