Former India captain Anil Kumble believes “it won’t be easy” for Pakistan to beat Sri Lanka in their final Super Eight clash of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Pallekele on February 28.
On paper, Pakistan can still qualify for the semi-final after England defeated New Zealand on February 27. However, the qualification equation remains tough.
Pakistan are currently third in the points table with one point and a net run rate of 0.461. England’s win helped Pakistan by keeping New Zealand on three points. However, New Zealand remain second with a strong net run rate of 1.390.
To qualify, Pakistan must not only win but also surpass New Zealand’s net run rate. They need a big margin. If they bat first, they must win by more than 65 runs. If they chase, they need to complete the target in around 13 overs.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Haier Match Centre Live’, Kumble suggested Pakistan should bowl first if they win the toss. “It can be done, but it won’t be easy. If Pakistan win the toss, chasing might be the better option. Batting first would mean posting a massive total and then bowling the opposition out for something like 65 or less, effectively doing the job twice. If chasing, the requirement becomes finishing the target within 13 overs or so, which is still challenging but perhaps slightly more realistic than dominating across 20 overs in both innings,” he said.
Kumble further added, “We’ve seen the surfaces in Sri Lanka, Pallekele tends to be slightly better than Colombo, but it’s not like what we saw in Chennai. Both teams will have to assess conditions quickly. Sri Lanka will be playing for pride. Apart from their game against Australia, they haven’t quite clicked in this World Cup.”
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