JOHANNESBURG, 28 February 2003 — Waqar Younis has warned World Cup organizers that one of the tournament’s finalists is likely to be decided by the toss of a coin.
The Pakistan captain urged them to re-think their plans of staging the second World Cup semifinal as a day-night match.
Waqar told Reuters at Centurion yesterday: “It has become obvious that, in the matches played under lights in this World Cup, teams winning the toss are getting an unfair advantage.
“I would say any team which wins the toss has won the match 75 percent (of the time) and that is grossly unfair.
Waqar, whose side surprisingly lost a day-night match to England in Cape Town on Saturday after losing the toss, added: “I think there is still time for the ICC (International Cricket Council) and the World Cup organizers to hold both semifinals as day affairs. “I would support any move from other teams to have the ICC reconsider having the second semifinal in Durban as a day affair.”
World Cup executive director Ali Bacher, however, contacted by phone by Reuters, said: “Look at the statistics and there’s no substance to these allegations.”
He added that changes in climate were part of the game. “That’s cricket. That’s the unpredictability and beauty of the game.
“The semifinal (in Durban on March 20) will be a day-night game as scheduled.”
Pakistan suffered a shock 112-run defeat in Group A when England won the toss at Newlands. After making 246, Nasser Hussain’s team skittled Pakistan for 134 as the ball began to swing under the evening lights.
It was England’s first win in six games against Pakistan.
England then suffered a similar fate in Durban on Wednesday against India.
Losing the toss, they restricted India to 250 for nine before being routed for 168, left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra taking six for 23, at the time the third-best bowling figures in World Cup history.
England captain Hussain complimented India on bowling well for their victory, but added: “It (the ball) just seemed to zip off the wicket.
“Obviously it was our turn to be on the other side of the equation.” India captain Saurav Ganguly had conceded: “The toss was very crucial.”
The second World Cup semifinal is due to be staged in Durban as a day-nighter.
Several other significant Group B games — Sri Lanka against West Indies in Cape Town today and South Africa against Sri Lanka in Durban on Monday — are also day-night matches.
Those games could decide if the hosts South Africa reach the second round.
Commentators believe evening conditions and dew can offer bowlers more seam and swing movement.
At some grounds, however, too much dew can make it harder for bowlers to grip the ball later in the game, thus favoring sides batting second. Changing winds can also affect conditions significantly, while the artificial light affects fielders trying to make catches as well as batsmen.
Waqar added: “The World Cup is held only once every four years and there should be no match where the toss decides the result. Teams should have an equal chance of winning. “I think the organizers and the ICC should have thought about this issue before finalizing the itinerary.
“Batting second under lights is very difficult in South Africa. We were on the receiving end against England, who themselves were on the other side of the fence against India.
“The team bowling second under lights, for whatever reason, has got the advantage of the ball seaming and skidding around a lot. “For the batsmen also, it gets difficult to spot the ball as it loses its color, which are big factors in deciding the outcome of the game.
Imran Says Pakistan Should
Attack in India Match
In Islamabad, former captain Imran Khan said Pakistan would have a better chance of winning their crunch match against India if they shed their current defensive mindset and go all out on the offensive.
“They have to be aggressive and must go into the match with an attacking mind,” Khan, who led Pakistan to their World Cup victory in 1992, said as the two cricket crazy nations eagerly await tomorrow’s clash in South Africa.
Pakistan face must-win encounters against India and Zimbabwe to qualify for the Super Sixes round and a loss to India would mean certain elimination from the premier tournament.
“It is do or die match for Pakistan,” Khan, who is now an MP and heads his Movement for Justice Party, told AFP late Wednesday.
The Pakistan captained by Waqar Younis has so far put up an uninspired show in the team’s last four matches, with losses against Australia and England and victories against minnows Namibia and the Netherlands.
