Today's game was yet another anticlimax and another testimony to the ICC's decision to kick minnows out of the 2015 world cup. The Pakistani batsmen got in runs except opening pair. 4 middle order 50s, captain getting 5-for, best for a captain in world cup, Shoaib Akhtar lasting 5 overs in spell and fielding being rarely good and electric. What else Pakistan wanted. Rarely they have kickstarted a world cup with a win. Going back with the facts and figures this was just their 4th opening match victory in last 24 years (1987, 1996,1999). They lost in 1992, 2003 and 2007.
What was an anticlimax was the approach Kenyans took. They openly showed that they had no intent to go for the chase and they were just going through the motions, that is doing a formality of turning up in the field and batting. They conceeded 37 wides amidst 50 extras and thus fuelled the debate that minnows who dont show intent to perform better, dont show the zeal to learn and step up their performance should be kicked out.
Kenya is going to provide an easy fodder for all teams and mainly Sri Lanka would look forward to a gigantic demolition when they play this team.
Netherlands and Ireland are two minnows who look good to scare the top teams in respective groups. Netherlands have already scarred England to deepest and I would count Ireland favorite against Bangladesh on Friday.
The bigger test for Pakistan comes this Saturday when they take on Sri Lanka in one of their most important games of the tourney (another would be vs Australia).
