Pakistan will still be recovering from the shock of their T20 World Cup opener against India when they face Zimbabwe in Perth on Thursday.
Babar Azam's team contrived to surrender a winning position against India in Melbourne on Sunday, with Virat Kohli's epic unbeaten 82 snatching a last-ball win in what is regarded as one of the greatest T20 innings ever played.
There, Pakistan were defending 48 runs from 18 balls but ended up on the losing side in front of more than 90,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
That missed opportunity will be in the minds of Pakistan's players when they take on the unheralded Zimbabweans. However, given the state of affairs in the World Cup so far, they will need to be on their toes.
Weather has already played a huge part in the opening stages of the tournament. South Africa's match against Zimbabwe and New Zealand's clash against Afghanistan was washed out, forcing teams to share points. Also, Ireland stunned England on Wednesday in a rain-curtailed match, ruining every pre-tournament calculation.
That means teams not only have to keep one eye on the weather, but also must prepare for shortened games. With little room for error, Pakistan will be looking for a more clinical performance against Zimbabwe following their Melbourne heartbreak.
"The hurt remains after losing such a big match. We were heart-broken," said middle-order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed, who hit 51 in Pakistan's loss against India.
Ahmed said that morale remained high and praised skipper Babar Azam for his handling of the team in the aftermath of the India loss. A video of Azam's pep talk to his side went viral.
"We have to learn from our mistakes. Don't fall, the tournament has just begun. We have lost as a team and will win as a team," Azam said in the video.
"The way Babar and the management supported the players, it was good. Babar and coaches told us that 'it was not our last game, everybody put in the effort'," Iftikhar said on Wednesday. "So our morale is high."
Ahmed said no team can be taken lightly in the 20-over format.
"Zimbabwe is an international team and we have to play strong against them like any other team," said the 32-year-old. "Important to play well and keep up the confidence. The players are hungry to perform."
While spinner Mohammad Nawaz drew the ire of fans after conceding 16 runs in the final over against India, pace spearhead Haris Rauf also faced scrutiny as he was hit for two successive sixes by Kohli in a game-changing moment at the end of the 19th over.
However, Ahmed said the pacer had bowled admirably until then and will recover from the setback quickly.
"The Australian pitches are fast and bouncy and we have prepared for that," said Ahmed. "Haris is our main strike bowler and we expect him to bowl better here and win it for Pakistan."
Pakistan will have a few concerns going into the match on Thursday. Their lower middle order of Shadab Khan, Haider Ali, Nawaz and Asif Ali collapsed within a couple of overs to hand the initiative back to India. Also, returning pace ace Shaheen Afridi was down on speed and was negotiated expertly by the Indian batsmen.
Pakistan could bring in top-order batsman Fakhar Zaman, subject to fitness, and pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr. There is no serious threat of rain affecting the match, according to forecasts.
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Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
RESULTS
Main card
Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision
Lightweight 60kg: Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision
Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
