Thursday, October 1, 2009
Kiwis prepare for Pakistan semi
Injury-hit New Zealand have seamer Iain O'Brien available for Saturday's ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against Pakistan in Johannesburg.
O'Brien - the third replacement player called up by the Kiwis - has replaced broken hand victim Daryl Tuffey
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Younus Khan is hoping to build on their ICC World Twenty20 triumph earlier this year.
"I'm always happy whether you play England, Australia or any team in the semi-finals or final," Younus said.
"It doesn't matter. If you play good cricket then you are the winner."
Batsman Aaron Redmond, who was called up to replace the injured Jesse Ryder but only flew in hours before the Kiwis' final group game, is pushing for a place in the line-up for the semi-final, as is all-rounder Brendon Diamanti.
Pakistan have competition for places in the seam bowling department as teenager Mohammad Aamir was rested for Wednesday's defeat by Australia, while his replacement Mohammad Asif - back after a year-long doping ban - took 2-34.
New Zealand (from): Brendon McCullum (wk), Martin Guptill, Neil Broom, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Daniel Vettori (capt), James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond, Ian Butler, Aaron Redmond, Brendon Diamanti, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien.
Pakistan (from): Kamran Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi, Younus Khan (capt), Shoaib Mailk, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Saeed Ajmal, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Aamir, Fawad Alam, Rao Iftikhar.
Umpires: Simon Taufel, Ian Gould, Daryl Harper (third umpire), Steve Davis (fourth umpire)
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Labels: ICC Champions Trophy, ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2009
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