by ben
26. October 2010 13:52
Rejoice and be glad all fans of cricket for Zulqarnain Haider has returned. The beloved, lanky Pakistan wicketkeep is back in the side as Kamran is laid low after having his appendix out, perhaps appropriate that an the removal of a purposeless organ has resulted in the absence of the butter-fingered, square jawed 'keeper.
There are also other considerable absences well publicised for Pakistan but despite that their bowling doesn't look all that weak, in T20s at least. With one of the toughest bowlers in limited over formats in Gul and Akhtar still able to cause damage in short burts Pakistan have two viable pace options to see them through to the slow bowling threats of Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi. The batting, on the other hand, is a different matter and there are a number of wholes in the line up. I like South Africa's plethora of big hitters to take me higher and higher to more maximums than the Pakistanis and CricketBetLive are giving me 1.80 on this.
Comparing Akhtar and Steyn is almost unfair, especially as things stand now with Akhtars body having all but given up on him and Steyn at the peak of his powers. When you also account for the stronger South African batting that the string haired Shoaib will have to face backing Steyn to take more wickets at 1.80 seems like free money. There is another bowler bet I like and that is Saeed Ajmal over Botha, he's a significantly better bowler than Botha and loves these T20 match ups. That's another 1.8 bet at CricketBetLive.
Favourite bet is on the sixes for South Africa although I will be also be backing Haider when the line comes up.
Good luck.
* 1 point per run, 10/catch, 25/stumping, 20/wicket
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