Pakistan offer fitness update as Shaheen Afridi tipped to bounce back

How to watch Australia v Pakistan

Pakistan suffered a disappointing loss to India after making a winning start to their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka and Netherlands.

But the performance of some key players, not least strike bowler Afridi, has been a concern.

However, Hasan Ali, speaking to the assembled media on Thursday, says that part of Afridi’s poor form can be put down to illness, with the 23-year-old one of a number of Pakistan players who have been struggling for premium health.

“No one has control over their health and injury. It’s just room sickness, a flu and hopefully we all will be fine soon,” Hasan said, before backing his fellow bowler to bounce back.

“Shaheen has won us many matches in Pakistan. I know he is not fit right now but very soon he will be there. He is a champion and he has given a lot of performances for Pakistan."

The impact of Afridi could be key in breaking through Australia’s top order in Friday’s game, but Aussie skipper Pat Cummins says he hasn’t been paying too much attention to the fortunes and fitness of the Pakistani pacer.

“To be honest, I haven't been watching too much, so I can't really comment on that. But he's always a good competitor. He's always a threat up front. So yeah, hopefully he's keeping quiet tomorrow.”

Whether or not Shaheen will be fully fit for Friday’s match remains in some doubt, but Hasan says that the majority of the squad trained ahead of the game in Bengaluru, with only Fakhar Zaman ruled out of featuring.

“I think Fakhar is not there, he has some issue with his knee,” Hasan revealed.

“The remaining 14 players are available. The rest… I am not the captain, so I can't tell you more about that.”

Hasan is Pakistan’s top wicket-taker for his country in the tournament so far, with seven in three matches, but wasn’t set to be a guaranteed presence in the starting XI prior to the injury suffered by Naseem Shah.

The 29-year-old has stepped in to do the legwork through the middle overs for Pakistan, and says he is happy to take on that role as part of a bowling attack that could yet define the tournament.

“I think that (Naseem Shah) is the only change in the bowling line-up. One person has changed and that too due to an injury," Hasan added.

“I have been given the role to play the new ball and the middle overs – if you see I have taken quite a few wickets in the middle overs. That’s the role that I am playing.

“The skill of the bowler – like my skill – my inswing, outswing, bouncer, whatever skill I have, I will try to use it to take a wicket. So far wickets are falling in the middle overs – if you see in all the previous matches, runs are made in the beginning but then suddenly the batting line-up collapses. That’s what has been seen in the World Cup till now.”

And Cummins agrees that who dominates the middle overs in Bengaluru is likely to be key.

“Most games of ODI cricket are won in those middle overs, either by not conceding wickets when you're batting or trying to get a few breakthroughs with the ball," the Australia skipper noted.

“So, yeah, it's an area of the game that we spend a lot of time on how to navigate through. If you feel like it's a good opportunity to attack, then go for it. But if it feels like maybe a moment that you just need to bide your time and set up for the back end, that's also okay.”

A win for either side would be a huge boost to their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup, but South Africa’s loss to Netherlands earlier in the week, coupled with England’s defeat to Afghanistan, has levelled the playing field in the race for those semi-final spots.

Crucial qualification match awaits Australia and Pakistan in Bengaluru

“I mean it's good, I won't lie,” said Cummins, whose team lost their two opening matches in India. “I think it just evens all the teams out really. They (Netherlands) played really well; we've got them after this game.

“I think what we're seeing in this tournament is, it's ten really strong sides. It's not sides that are just making up numbers. They've all qualified and they're all here because they've earned their spot. So yeah, there's no easy games. Everything's pretty full on.”