India and Pakistan are peaking at the right time with the World cup exactly a month away.
India drew the test series with South Africa after losing the first test match and is currently heading the one day series 2-1 after conceding a 1-0 lead. Moreover India snatched those two wins almost from the jaws of defeat. What is more. Their three key players are not playing, and some of the key players in the team have not contributed significantly. An indifferent form of Yuvraj Singh, insignificant contributions from Dhoni, and the absence of Sehwag, Sachin, and Gambhir have not deterred India from taking a 2-1 lead in the series. The only concern for India would be the form of players returning from injuries. Sehwag was not in the best of form in test series against South Africa and he is missing the one day series due to injury. Similarly Sachin has not played one day cricket for a long time except for the first one day International in this series where he failed to make his mark. Indifferent form of Yuvraj Singh is the biggest concern as he is their greatest one day match winner. Nonetheless, India has managed to take a lead in the series despite the absence or lack of contribution from the key players.
Pakistan is also peaking at the right time. They gave tough challenge to South Africa in one day and test series. On their current tour of New Zeeland, after losing the T20 series, they came back to decimate New Zeeland in the third T20. They have also won the test series 1-0. The one day series against New Zealand would be a great occasion for Pakistan to get their team in order. Some of the players who have not played in the test series and are part of the World Cup can be tried and tested in this series. Pakistan selectors too have done a decent job in selecting an appropriate squad for the World Cup except the inclusion of Shoib Akhtar and exclusion of Mohammad Yusuf. Shoib Akhtar will be liability in the subcontinent and will go for a lot of runs. Mohammad Yusuf could have been an asset in the middle order. Nonetheless the selected team is capable of beating any team in the competition.
India drew the test series with South Africa after losing the first test match and is currently heading the one day series 2-1 after conceding a 1-0 lead. Moreover India snatched those two wins almost from the jaws of defeat. What is more. Their three key players are not playing, and some of the key players in the team have not contributed significantly. An indifferent form of Yuvraj Singh, insignificant contributions from Dhoni, and the absence of Sehwag, Sachin, and Gambhir have not deterred India from taking a 2-1 lead in the series. The only concern for India would be the form of players returning from injuries. Sehwag was not in the best of form in test series against South Africa and he is missing the one day series due to injury. Similarly Sachin has not played one day cricket for a long time except for the first one day International in this series where he failed to make his mark. Indifferent form of Yuvraj Singh is the biggest concern as he is their greatest one day match winner. Nonetheless, India has managed to take a lead in the series despite the absence or lack of contribution from the key players.
Pakistan is also peaking at the right time. They gave tough challenge to South Africa in one day and test series. On their current tour of New Zeeland, after losing the T20 series, they came back to decimate New Zeeland in the third T20. They have also won the test series 1-0. The one day series against New Zealand would be a great occasion for Pakistan to get their team in order. Some of the players who have not played in the test series and are part of the World Cup can be tried and tested in this series. Pakistan selectors too have done a decent job in selecting an appropriate squad for the World Cup except the inclusion of Shoib Akhtar and exclusion of Mohammad Yusuf. Shoib Akhtar will be liability in the subcontinent and will go for a lot of runs. Mohammad Yusuf could have been an asset in the middle order. Nonetheless the selected team is capable of beating any team in the competition.
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