If Pakistan is to win the title and make up for its dismal performance in the 1999 final at Lord's, it will rely on burly batting star Inzamam-ul-Haq to dominate the bowlers throughout the championship. Younis and Shoaib Akhtar have the pace to soften up Zimbabwe, England Netherlands and Namibia but could struggle against Australia and India.
Over in Group B, South Africa comes up against the West Indies -- winners of the first two championships in 1975 and 1979 -- Sri Lanka, New Zealand and minnows Bangladesh, Kenya and Canada.
Realistically, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will fight over three second-round places.
Playing on home turf, the South Africans are under extreme pressure to win the title for the first time and make up for its last-over blunder against Australia four years ago.
Lance Klusener, having put his team in a winning position with 31 quick runs, went for a match-winning single with four balls to spare and ran out teammate Allan Donald. The game was tied but Australia went on to reach the final where they crushed Pakistan.
The West Indies has reshaped its batting lineup with Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle teaming up with Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, team captain Carl Hooper and opener Wavel Hinds. They also hope that World Cup organizers will allow them to recall Marlon Samuels after positive news about his injured left knee.
Sri Lanka's batting strength is based on team captain and opener Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Hashan Tillakaratne and veteran Aravinda De Silva. It's matchwinner could be Muralitharan, whose suspect bowling action has been cleared by the ICC in the past and who has the ability to take wickets even on unhelpful batting strips.
RSS