(Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
The Green Shirts, under the leadership of Younus Khan will today take on the Kiwis for the semi-final match.
Pakistan came second in their Group-A after getting four points by thrashing West Indies and arch rivals India in their pool matches. However, they lost against Australia in a well-contested affair at Super Sports ground Centurion on September 30.
New Zealand finished top of Group-B with two victories and a better average compared to fellow semi-finalists England, who also gain two wins in the pool fixtures of the mega cricket event of the world. Both teams did practice at the Wanderers on Friday.
On the otherhand, captain Younus Khan said in a pre-match press conference that it would be good contest at the Wanderers, but the Green Shirts would enter the ground at full strength. “I am also fit for the semi-final," he added.
Younus Khan added that it was good sign that Muhammad Asif did well against World Champions Australia in the previous match at Centurion. “We have a pace battery to tackle the Kiwi batsmen in the second semifinal of the Champions’ Trophy cricket tournament," he maintained.
While answering a question, captain of the Pakistan team said that he would like to see England in the final. "Pakistan and England never win this title in the past and players of the both sides are eager to clinch the ICC Champions Trophy and there will be good cricket for the game lovers," he described.
Captain Younus Khan said that all boys are fit including Imran Nazir. He said: "We will finalize the team after observing the pitch conditions before starting the match. Our bowlers are doing well with the ball including pacers Umer Gul, Rana and Mohammad Asif. Shahid and Ajmal completing their job in the spin department."
Venue: The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Weather Conditions: Isolated Thunder Storm Showers are Expected, Max: 25°C Min: 15°C.
PAKISTAN
Younis Khan (capt), Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Rana Naved-ul Hasan, Fawad Alam, Moahmmad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal (wk), Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal.
New Zealand
DL Vettori (capt), SE Bond, NT Broom, IG Butler, BJ Diamanti, GD Elliott, JEC Franklin, MJ Guptill, GJ Hopkins†, BB McCullum†, KD Mills, JS Patel, AJ Redmond, LRPL Taylor, DR Tuffey.
(last five matches)
PAKISTAN - LWWWW
NEWZEALAND - WLWLL
STATS (The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg)
Highest Total by Pakistan = 228/10 (Aus)
Highest Total by NZ = 315/2 (SL)
Highest Total (Batting First) = 434/4 by Aus
Highest Total (Batting Second) = 438/9 by SAF
Lowest Total by Pakistan = 109/10 (WI)
Lowest Total (Batting First) = 128/10 by SL
Lowest Total (Batting Second) = 109/10 by Pak
Pakistan have played seven ODIs on this ground and have lost six, except its Champions Trophy match against WI.
15 Day/Night matches have been played here, from which seven were won by the team who batted first, while eight were won by the team who batted second(match b/w IND & WI is excluded)
Teams batting first average 4.99 per over and 33.60 per wicket. For teams chasing, the numbers are 4.82 and 28.84.
Useful Links
Live Streaming: http://www.icctrophy.info/ & http://www.webcric.com
Live Text Coverage: http://www.cricinfo.com
Weather Report: http://uk.weather.com/weather/10day-SFXX0061?cm_ven=cricinfo_UK&cm_cat=grounds&cm_ite=weather&cm_pla=10day
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