CWC 2019: Pakistan will be dangerous if it enters the semis, says Waqar Younis 

Sarfaraz Ahmed's team has had three consecutive victories in the tournament.

Pakistan will now take on Bangladesh in a must-win game | Getty

Resurgent Pakistan now needs to not only win against Bangladesh but also hope that New Zealand defeats England for a semi-final berth. However, former paceman Waqar Younis reckons if that actually materialises, his countrymen will offer a very stiff challenge to their opponent. 

"It is actually becoming quite scary at this point! Is history repeating itself?(1992 reference) I have no idea but if Pakistan do make the semi-finals then they are going to be such a dangerous side. For that to happen they will need some results to go their way, but most importantly of all they will have to beat Bangladesh," Waqar wrote in his column for ICC

"To beat Bangladesh they will have to play better than they managed against Afghanistan. The win over Afghanistan on Sunday was not the performance of champions and yet, somehow and some way, they are still in contention for a semi-final spot and you can never write them off."

Pakistan will take on Bangladesh having clinched victory in a thriller over Afghanistan with all-rounder Imad Wasim playing key roles with both bat and ball. "We were so lucky to escape and survive and still be floating in this World Cup, really it was thanks to Imad Wasim. Unfortunately, it has always been this way for Pakistan, we don't seem to be able to find that collective consistency."

"But there is no doubting the individual pure talent in our country, look at a guy like Imad who won us that game," Waqar added, before emphasizing the importance of Pakistan sticking with the same line-up and giving more confidence to struggling opener Fakhar Zaman.  

"We appear to have found a perfect XI at last, and I hope they (team management) don't tinker with it anymore. Fakhar Zaman has had a poor tournament but I don't think it would be right to drop him now."

"He (Fakhar) should be given every chance to come good, and at the same time, just think how much pressure that would put on the player coming into the side at such an important time. Look at the other teams doing well in this World Cup and they are making very few changes," he concluded. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 02 Jul, 2019

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