Pakistan has three strike bowlers with avg. below 25. Saqlain, Waqar and Wasim. The fast bowlers have not become old either. Batting has been unpredictable. But can come good at times. I think Pak needs one solid batsman in the middle order if both openers fail. Maybe Youhana will do it.
What are the rates in gambling market for various countries? Anyone has info.
PG
why don't you ask wasim akram or salim malik :)
Are there any takers for NZ reaching semis. I am impressed with their performance against SA.
P.S. Did you notice that though NZ is in follow on to SA (4 without loss, one more day to go), their last batsman Allott batted for 77 balls and 108 minutes (though got out on 0) That speaks of team spirit. Yes, this is a world record of standing for longest time on 0.
[This message has been edited by PG (edited March 02, 1999).]
Hey guys!
I have always been a strong supporter of the Pakistan team. I think they stand a good chance of winning with the wily Miandad as manager. Wasim is a fair captain, he leads by example.
My best wishes are with the team!
Love and peace always!!!
My choices have to be South Africa or Pakistan. YES.. Pakistan. Well actually you never know what can happen in CRICKET!!!! Hell it could even be Kenya or Scotland winning it!!! No one knows.. but as a top team I'd pic South Africa or Australia. As a never know what can happen team is Pakistan and England.
But the bottom line is.. South Africa will win. But I pray everyday for Pakistan! (serious). Let's just hope for the best.
One thing is.. IF WE GO DOWN.. WE'RE BRING INDIA WITH US!
On the current form, I change my prections for group B.
1)Aus 2)Pak 3)NZ 4)WI
And I predict NZ will even get in semis. They drew the game with SA today.
Well India and Pak may not even meet. For India to get in top three in the group, they have to win against Zim and SL both which is tough looking at their fielding and unnecessary dependence on SRT. A bad fielding side has never done well in WC.
Pak also has bad ground fielding but good at catches though not like SA. Pak has better chances than India.
P. S. I found bookies rates for various countries. Like commonsense consensus, Aus. and SA are 3:1 followed by Pak and Eng at 5:1. Sl 6:1 and India 8:1. I personally disagree. I will put Lanka way below. In England weather and pitches thay are not going to make 120 in first 15 overs.
[This message has been edited by PG (edited March 03, 1999).]
Muzna, I see that you'll be travveling to ENgland to see a cricket match, keep two things in mind that there are allot of Pakistanis all over UK and they will give anything to see the matches, so I suggest that you book your tickets now. Secondly the tickets will definately cost allot! I know in 1996 when I went to England the Pakistani team was there, I checked the cost of one ticket and it was somewhere around 60 70 pounds. Thats quiet expensive and they will probably increase it due to the fact that its the world cup. If you are goin all the way to england just for the match I say "many doesnt matter" :) I think u should watch any game involving Pakistan vs India, Srilanka, West Indies or Australia.
Muzna, I see that you’ll be travveling to ENgland to see a cricket match, keep two things in mind that there are allot of Pakistanis all over UK and they will give anything to see the matches, so I suggest that you book your tickets now. Secondly the tickets will definately cost allot! I know in 1996 when I went to England the Pakistani team was there, I checked the cost of one ticket and it was somewhere around 60 70 pounds. Thats quiet expensive and they will probably increase it due to the fact that its the world cup. If you are goin all the way to england just for the match I say “many doesnt matter” 
I think u should watch any game involving Pakistan vs India, Srilanka, West Indies or Australia.
Visit Dhamaka’s Website @ http://www.maxpages.com/said
I think Newzeland has a good chance too now.
To our frustration/disappointment, South Africa really ROCKS!!! at this time, they are the best team. West Indies is in way of making up a team including oldies like C. Ambrose, Courtney Walsh. Newzealand is in background after winning streaks in World Cup 92. Australia is emerging. England is struggling to make a team. India is losing its team..... how long Azharuddin can hold on? SriLanka is in bad shape..... the rest is PAKISTAN! Pakistan has almost made the team and looks to be in good shape... Pakistan can make upto SEMIs for sure.
Group A: England and South Africa with SA on top
Group B: Pakistan and West Indies with some chances for Australia
I don't think India can make it for semifinals.
and in the last, I wish Pakistan comes out to be the winner..... Pakistan Zindabad!
Well this is my theroy
Group A
1) South Africa
2) England
3) India
NOT MAKING IT:
Sri Lanka
Kenya
Zimbabwa
Group B
1) Australia
2) Pakistan
3) New Zealand
Not Making it:
West Indies
Bangaldesh
Scotland
Then the Super Six.. etc.
Then Semi's will be
Team 1) South Africa vs. Team 4) England
Team 2) Australia vs. Team 3) Pakistan
Finals
Team 1) South Africa vs. Team 2) Australia
Winner: South Africa
Hey guys ...just listen up 1 thing and that is :
we Pakistan are going to be the champs ,and im saying it in only one condition and that is that our key players dont sell themselves to the bookies !
now look.....1,saeed anwar---no match an any kinda wicket!
2,wasim akram ---best bowler in the world!!
3,shoaib akhtar --gettin beter wit exposure!
4;saqlain --do i need to say1
5,moin khan --man of crisis!
6,afridi can kick some u know what !!
7,inzi --on his day maybe the most talented!!
8,waqar--old campaigner!!(though i dunn believe in his ability too much)
9,M wasim--rock solid batsman
10,aamir sohail--good on englisjh wickets (and dunn gimme examples from 96 cuz thats a long time now)
11,i would like a nice batsman to fill in this spot:)
MR
Afridi or Jaysuria style is not going to go big way on English pitches.
Paki batting has a big problem. They will make to super six for sure. But I don't know later.
India may not even make to super six. Traditionally, it is allrounders of quality (Kapil in 83 Imran 92 Jaysuria/Arvinda 96) and good fielding side are the ingradients of win. India/Pak have neither with India being worse.
Australia!
PG ...i think u may be wrong in saying that afridi style is no good on english wickets !!
what swith them ...they just seam a lot:)
and afridi with a test century now and is doing well in the opening slot too inthe one dayers will sure deliver ....take MR's word!
about his bowling i think that would be useful too since he doesnt turn much and if he speeds up his pace a bit he can be a good run blocker.
wee whatever u say i would stick with Pak..call it blind faith...hehe
MR
i have read some of the replies,and was amazed to see people saying that pak is going to win the world cup
ok im a paki too,but have we all forgotten the shame and embarresment we went thru just couple of months ago...i used to love cricket i couldnt stand to hear something bad about our team...but do u think i have got a decent answer to people asking me about the monkey business going on around the sub continent....in my humble view pakistan will not stand a chance unless they sack black sheeps like wasim, malik and not to forget ijaz...have we all forgotten what happened in the westindies a couple of years ago...what happened in south africa when saqlain was thrown out of a strip club...wasim and waqar were caught with drugs....it makes me think that , that may be qasim umar was right ...our own aamir sohail testified against the big guns....waht about ata ur rahman...i mean are we pakistanis so forgetful and forgiving....what makes u think this series that they played in india was not a setup...i mean you win one and we win one....i'm not saying pak is the only team...it includes westindies,australia,india and god knows who else
and lets pray for this coming world cup that
let the fairest team win....i hope i didnt offend anybody i dint mean to ...its just what i think
Oh who cares about that.. that's yesterdays news. No one remembers that. The main thing is.. if we win. I don't care if they cheated or not. No one will cheat in the World Cup I'm sure. And if we come clean in the World Cup and win. Then we will be the WORLD CHAMPS!!!
I don't care if anyone agrees with my thought.. but the bottom line is if we win. Not how.. not if.. not why. Match fixing is old news and we should just forget about everything. Unless your totally against Pakistan then go right ahead. But everyone should just care about the World Cup and we'll win. I hope so.
we should definitely not ignore the sellers in our team!
Response to: MahaRaja, 03/03/99, 4:09PM CT...
I wish Inzamam could be rested (oust) for World Cup 99, and instead, bring the new guyz like Yousuf Youhana, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Wasim and Wajahatullah Wasti in the team.
we should definitely not ignore the sellers in our team!
Response to: MahaRaja, 03/03/99, 4:06PM CT...
I wish Inzamam could be rested (oust) for World Cup 99, and instead, bring the new guyz like Yousuf Youhana, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Wasim and Wajahatullah Wasti in the team.
[This message has been edited by Khilari (edited March 05, 1999).]
As per your wish, Malik and Ijaz are out (also Waqar). Now do you predict Pak will win championship? My guess is that it depends on how the new batsman do.So wait a few more games.
P.S. New ones can't be worse than Ijaz. But for eample, Malik's ability to bat in situation under pressure was very useful when Pak was 26/6 in last test.
[This message has been edited by PG (edited March 06, 1999).]