England
vs
Pakistan
watch free streaming
at 17:30 local time (16:30 GMT)
vs
Pakistan
watch free streaming
at 17:30 local time (16:30 GMT)
As Pakistan prepare for their return to the world stage after a traumatic period of exile, England find themselves staring into an abyss of their own making. A lip-smacking contest that, by rights, ought to have launched the ICC World Twenty20 has instead been turned into a do-or-die encounter. Netherlands' stunning victory at Lord's on Friday has blown the group wide open, and while England need nothing less than victory to keep their hopes alive, only two wins from two will guarantee Pakistan's qualification as well.
England's attitude in the tournament opener was shameful and dismissive - they turned up without conviction and chose to rest their star players with an eye on bigger tussles. The impression they gave was one of indifference, which is an emotion that couldn't be further from the needs of Pakistan's hour. They need desperately to do well here, perhaps more than most other countries, given what they have and are going through.
Anything less than a semi-final spot would be a disappointment for Pakistan, and winning their very first game is now imperative. At least four of the potential XI against England were in the side that lost to Ireland in 2007: they know well the dangers - and subsequent pain - of playing against a minnow and would much prefer to go into Tuesday's game against Netherlands with a win secured.
Their run-in to this contest has been poor, with two comprehensive defeats in the warm-ups, but Pakistan has never been a nation to get excited by practice games. Indeed, if 1992 is anything to go by, the worse they play in the warm-ups, the better they are later in the tournament. Above all, as seen in 2007 and a Twenty20 record of 13 wins from 17 games (three losses), the format suits them just fine.
England's attitude in the tournament opener was shameful and dismissive - they turned up without conviction and chose to rest their star players with an eye on bigger tussles. The impression they gave was one of indifference, which is an emotion that couldn't be further from the needs of Pakistan's hour. They need desperately to do well here, perhaps more than most other countries, given what they have and are going through.
Anything less than a semi-final spot would be a disappointment for Pakistan, and winning their very first game is now imperative. At least four of the potential XI against England were in the side that lost to Ireland in 2007: they know well the dangers - and subsequent pain - of playing against a minnow and would much prefer to go into Tuesday's game against Netherlands with a win secured.
Their run-in to this contest has been poor, with two comprehensive defeats in the warm-ups, but Pakistan has never been a nation to get excited by practice games. Indeed, if 1992 is anything to go by, the worse they play in the warm-ups, the better they are later in the tournament. Above all, as seen in 2007 and a Twenty20 record of 13 wins from 17 games (three losses), the format suits them just fine.
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