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ShareJohannesburg: Pakistan skipper Younus Khan and coach Intikhab Alam have a problem of plenty when it comes to picking the team for the semifinal against New Zealand on Saturday. The bowling unit is well oiled and comfortable with both the new and old ball.
Mohammad Asif announced his return to international cricket with an in-cutter that bowled Cameron White through the gate but there is no guarantee that hewill be in the semifinals.
Asif played in place of Mohammad Aamer, the left-arm paceman who has shown that he can handle big-match pressure. Umar Gul is a master at bowling in the death, while Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is one of the craftiest in the business.
While the Indian pace attack has looked weary in the absence of Zaheer Khan, the Pakistan attack has been bustling, even when Asif didn't play. Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal are more than able spinners and if the New Zealand batsmen fail to pick them like the Australians did it could be a one-sided game.
Aamer is the latest fast bowling sensation from across the border. On Saturday he used a leg-cutter to get rid of Sachin Tendulkar early. "It happens that you get big wickets in the big matches. But the best wickets are those which help the team do well in a game. For me, getting Sachin Tendulkar out was a big wicket. His wicket helped my team," Aamer said. "There is pressure when you play for Pakistan as there are so many good fast bowlers."
The 17-year-old started off playing with the taped ball. "My elder brother used to support me a lot; it was his dream that I become a cricketer. He got me entry into a club and ensured that I played cricket. Because when you are growing up there is a tendency to lose focus. I still continue talking to him about cricket," Aamer added.
