HAMBANTOTA: Pakistan faces early problem with fall of 2 early wickets vs kenya as Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi decided to bat first against Kenya in his team’s opening World Cup match on Wednesday.
Pakistan are slowly recovering from 22/2 in 9 overs, as Younas khan and Kamran Akmal are trying to recover Pakistan on 58/2.
Pakistan have opted for fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul, dropping out Wahab Riaz and
uncapped pacer Junaid Khan.Kenya, who crashed to New Zealand in their first match by 10 wickets after being shot out for 69 on Sunday, left out opener Alex Obanda and brought in Tanmay Mishar as the only change in their side.
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdur Rehman
Kenya: Jimmy Kamande (capt), Seren Waters, Collins Obuya, Steve Tikolo, Tanmay Mishra, Rakep Patel, Morris Ouma, Thomas Odoyo, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Elijah Otieno, Shem Ngoche.
Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG) and Tony Hill (NZL)
Tv umpire: Daryl Harper (AUS)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)
Pitch condition: The second pitch in the stadium – the first was used for the Sri Lanka-Canada clash on Sunday – had a tinge of grass until Tuesday, but that was mown. The strip now looks brown, flat and is likely to assist batting, with turn for the spinners later in the day.
