Tigers face Pakistan today
Sunday, 30 March 2014
Pakistan will return to World Twenty20 action after a week's break today (Sunday) charged up to make a move for the semi-finals by winning their two remaining games in the Super-10 round in Dhaka.
Mohammad Hafeez's men, who lost their opening group two match to India by seven wickets on March 21, bounced back to beat Australia by 16 runs last Sunday and remain in contention.
Pakistan must defeat hosts Bangladesh today (Sunday) and the defending champions West Indies on Tuesday to join India in the semi-finals from the group, according to news agencies.
The Pakistan-Bangladesh match will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur at 3.30pm.
"The picture is clear," Hafeez said on Saturday. "We have to win both games to make sure we are in the last four. There is no scope to make mistakes now and we are eager to get back to the field."
Hafeez said the team used the break to iron out shortcomings ahead of the crucial matches at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.
"We have trained and worked hard for the last six days," he said. "The management and the coaches worked on our weaknesses. The build-up for the crucial stage has gone off very well."
Hafeez praised arch-rivals India, who won three consecutive games to ensure their place in the knock-out round even before their last league match against Australia on Sunday.
Hafeez knows the tougher game will be against the West Indies on Tuesday, but refused to take Bangladesh lightly even though the hosts have lost both matches so far.
"No team is easy to beat in T20 cricket," he said. "You have to do the basics right every time. We respect Bangladesh and will do our best to win."
In another match of the day Australia will face India at the same stadium at 7.30 pm.