Pakistan, who will take on Bangladesh in their last league match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 on Friday, is placed at the fifth position in the points table i.e. just behind New Zealand, who currently holds the fourth and final semi-final berth.
The Sarfaraz Ahmed side needs to bat first against Bangladesh at Lord’s and win by a margin of at least 316 runs to leapfrog Kane Williamson-led New Zealand on net run rate.
“It is very difficult, 316 runs is a big margin. Only if you’re batting first, if you score 600 runs or 500 runs,” said Sarfaraz while speaking to the reports ahead of the Bangladesh clash.
“I don’t know what the study is behind this, but I can’t do anything … definitely, we’re interested in finishing on a high note,” he said.
Pakistan will also be playing for pride, having been beaten by their Asian rivals in the last four meetings going back to the 2015 World Cup.
“If you talk about the previous matches, yes, Pakistan lost four, but it is a World Cup match. Both teams look stronger, so hopefully we will do well as a team,” Sarfaraz added.
Sarfaraz Ahmed "we will try to score 500" #PAKvBAN #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/JPN3sQ5DR8
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) July 4, 2019
Meanwhile, Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes said that his team is desperate to seal another victory over Pakistan in what will be skipper Mashrafe Mortaza’s final World Cup match.
“Bangladesh versus Pakistan at the beautiful Lord’s, there’s no such thing as a dead rubber. Both teams are desperate to beat each other. We certainly are,” Rhodes said.
“I often use the word warrior, but he (Mortaza) goes to war for the team and people respect that, understand that, and they love him because of that.
“The players in the dressing room do love Mash. He has said it’s his last World Cup and it’ll be emotional for him,” he added.
