Skipper Afridi admits thinking about Pak's 2007 loss to Ireland in Jamaica during yesterday's game against Canada
Skipper Afridi admits thinking about Pak's 2007 loss to Ireland in Jamaica during yesterday's game against Canada
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| Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi (centre) celebrates the wicket of Canada's Harvir Baidwan during their World Cup Group A match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday. Afridi claimed 5-23 as Pakistan won by 46 runs. Pic/Getty Images |
When Pakistan were bowled out for 184 by Canada yesterday, the 1992 World Cup champions' dressing room was filled with memories of their defeat to Ireland in Kingston four years ago. In 2007, Pakistan were bowled out for 132 and their World Cup dream was over with Ireland winning the match by three wickets. More than the match-fixing murmurs that resurfaced and Inzamam-ul-Haq's retirement following Pakistan's early exit, then coach Bob Woolmer's dead body was found in the hotel the next morning, making the campaign the most forgettable one for Pakistan.
And with four members of the playing XI against Ireland in the team on Thursday against Canada, skipper Shahid Afridi, who was benched for the forgettable outing in 2007, did recall that game during the innings break at the R Premadasa Stadium.
"The Pakistan-Ireland game in 2007 was in my mind. But I just told my boys that we are going out to win this game so don't let any negative factor affect your mind. Let's work hard and win," a relieved yet disappointed Afridi said after the match.
In the end, the 50-odd additional runs that Pakistan scored than the Ireland game made all the difference as Afridi, riding on his third successive man-of-the-match haul, guided his team to a 46-run victory.
With Pakistan still recovering from the spot-fixing scandal that resulted in three of their premier players being suspended by the game's governing body, a batting collapse, with Pakistan losing their last five wickets for 19 runs off 29 balls, the F-word was again doing the rounds at the stadium.
That's probably the reason Afridi was delighted with the great escape. "I knew what was in the offing had we lost the game," the leg-spinner said. Despite keeping one foot in the quarter-finals, Pakistan have been far from being convincing in their three victories so far. If their fielding let them down on Saturday against Sri Lanka, it was the batsmen who were guilty yesterday.
"Poor batting performance and poor shot selection. If we want to play good cricket against good teams, we should improve. I must say it's a good wake-up call for us," Afridi said.
