Pakistan have lost their first two matches in the World Cup. So, the team now is in a crisis. It is really essential for them to get a victory in their next match against Zimbabwe on Sunday. If they cannot seal the match, they will be in an immense trouble to reach quarter-finals.

Comparatively, Pakistan are favourite in the match. But the team is mentally down due to the first two defeats. What the advantage for Pakistan is that Zimbabwe is weaker opponent than India and West Indies.

That does not mean that Zimbabwe is a team to be looked down upon. Zimbabwe’s coach Dav Whatmore was the coach for Pakistan earlier. He knows well about most of the players of Pakistan. A coach like Whatmore knows it very well how to face Pakistani players. Pakistan have to play better than their two previous matches for that reason.

Like Pakistan, the luck of England is not in their favour. They have lost two among three matches. It will be really difficult for England to reach quarter-finals if they lose to Sri Lanka on Sunday’s match.

What England need to bother is that Sri Lanka is in a good form. Sri Lankans are now relaxed after defeating Bangladesh easily. But it is possible for England to beat Sri Lanka if they can come back to their own playing style.

Minhajul Abedin Nannu: Selector of Bangladesh Cricket Board and former captain of Bangladesh cricket team. He is the first Man of the Match of Bangladesh in World Cup.

Translated by Bijoy Chandra Shaha