After falling short to the defending champions Australia on Wednesday, the Pakistani camp would be gearing to pull up their socks and get back to winning ways when they take on their historic rivals India in the 2019 ICC World Cup on Sunday.
The 1992 champions find themselves in a tricky position after getting just three points after four games and are eighth on the points table, making a win on Sunday all the more important. But if Pakistan are to create history and beat India for the first time in a World Cup game, these three players need to play to the best of their potential.
Mohammad Amir
The current leading wicket-taker at the World Cup, Mohammad Amir has been the lynchpin for the Pakistani seam attack with his ability to swing the ball both directions while maintaining exquisite control. He picked up his first-ever five-wicket haul in international cricket against Australia and maintained an economy rate of three on a day when the batting side scored in excess of 300 runs.
It's game on at Taunton!
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 12, 2019
Australia looked set for a mammoth total thanks to David Warner's century, but Mohammad Amir's five-wicket haul sees the batting side bowled out for 307. #AUSvPAK LIVE 👇 https://t.co/eEmVwQQPYP pic.twitter.com/jN5CEq4YmY
Amir was instrumental in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy final triumph over India in 2018, with an inspired spell of swing bowling which saw his dismiss Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli to break the Indian chase aspirations.
READ | Mohammad Amir and English summer: A love-hate relation
Mohammad Hafeez
The ‘professor’ of Pakistani cricket has been their leading run scorer for Pakistan this year and scored a match winning 84 against hosts England in their only win thus far. Hafeez averages a healthy 48.60 against India in ODI cricket, which includes three fifties and a century.
Therefore, if the Pakistani brigade are to get one over their Indian compatriots on Sunday, the middle-order batsman would have to perform at his best.
READ | Pakistan will have to be at their best to beat India, says Waqar
Fakhar Zaman
The southpaw opener for Pakistan has been struggling for form a bit since the turn of the year but the Indian camp wouldn’t dare to be complacent due to that. Zaman scored a blistering 114 in that Champions Trophy final last year and has had a good record against India.
A date with the arch rivals would be the perfect pedestal for the 29-year-old to get back to his best and help Pakistan create history.
Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Saeed Khan
