Pakistan vs. UAE: Date, Live Stream, TV Info, Cricket World Cup Preview
The relief was obvious from the Pakistan players after they edged to victory over Zimbabwe in their previous outing at the 2015 Cricket World Cup. But after picking up that first win, the onus will be on Misbah-ul-Haq and his men to keep momentum going against the United Arab Emirates.
The Associate nation have impressed in spells at this tournament, but they are still without a victory on the biggest stage since 1996. Nevertheless, they’ve definitely showcased enough class to suggest they could make a real fist of this clash with the 1992 winners and subsequently it’s definitely a match worth watching.
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Here’s all the information you need to catch this one on the box and via a live stream, as both teams look to give their respective campaigns a timely jolt.
Date: Wednesday, Mar. 4
Time: 1 a.m. (GMT), 8 p.m. (ET, Mar. 3)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), ESPN Cricket 2015 (US)
TV Info: Sky Sports 2 (UK)
Pakistan Looking to Build Momentum
After a turbulent beginning to their tournament Pakistan desperately needed to pick up victory against Zimbabwe. And although for certain spells in the match it looked as though they were going to struggle to get over the line once again, they eventually edged to a 20-run win.
That was thanks to Wahab Riaz in the main. After a tortuously slow batting effort first up, Pakistan looked set to be meandering toward a total of less than 200, but the fast bowler’s brisk half-century at the end of the innings gave his team some initiative on their way to 235/7; he then went on to take four for 45 with the ball in hand.
As noted by BBC Test Match Special, it was a pretty unprecedented contribution from the 29-year-old:
Had it not been for his all-encompassing display, things could have been very different for Pakistan and, although skipper Misbah made 73, there are lingering concerns about his form.
He took up 121 balls to get to that particular mark and against better sides in the competition it’s imperative runs flow a lot more freely than they did against the Africans. Indeed, if this team is struggling against Zimbabwe’s modest bowling attack, how will they potentially fare against the likes of South Africa and possibly even New Zealand in the quarter-finals?
Alt Cricket thinks the poor form of other players often conjures an undesirable scenario for the captain, though:
"His full name is Misbah-walks-out-to-a-familiar-situation-ul-Haq. #PAKvZIM
— Alt Cricket (@AltCricket) March 1, 2015"
Nonetheless, Pakistan should have more than enough to beat the UAE. The Associate nation looked to be closing in on an overdue victory at this competition against Ireland before they were foiled by a blistering late knock from Kevin O’Brien and you just wonder whether they have the mental strength to get over the line in these matches.
In Shaiman Anwar, they are in possession of one of the tournament’s standout batsmen so far, however. As noted by cricket statistician Mohandas Menon, the UAE star has been exemplary against some very decent opposition:
If the UAE are going to savour a shock victory here much will rest on Anwar’s shoulders. But you just wonder what state the rest of the team are in after that narrow loss to the Irish and the subsequent nine-wicket defeat to India, in which they were prised out for just 102.
Pakistan are a notoriously streaky side and that win against Zimbabwe should have abated some of the pressure on these players. As such, expect Misbah and his men to play with a lot more freedom in this encounter, picking up their second win of the competition as they look to cement a quarter-final spot.
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