Two of the worst performing teams South Africa and Pakistan will meet in a World Cup 2019 league match at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s in London on Today.
Both team have managed to win just one match so far in the tournament and are currently in eighth and ninth positions respectively in the World Cup points table. They both need to win all their remaining matches to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stage, provided other teams' results also go in their favour.
Pakistan come into the match following back-to-back defeats against Australia and India. Under fire from all quarters, the Pakistanis know that their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread. They will have to beat the Proteas, and then win their remaining three games against New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
That’s not all. With just three points from five matches, Pakistan need results of other World Cup games to go their way in order to have a chance to make it to the last four.
South Africa, who arrived in London from Birmingham on Thursday evening, face an even worse situation. They have just one win from six World Cup outings and know that only a miracle can save them from yet another World Cup disappointment.
The Proteas came into the tournament as one of the leading title contenders but have punched below their weight in the contest where their only win has come against minnows Afghanistan.
There poor run of form continued against the must-win game against New Zealand at Edgbaston where South Africa threw away a series of opportunities to lose by four wickets.
South Africa coach Ottis Gibson said the team have plenty to play for in their remaining three matches.
"We've still got three games to play and I'd like to think that we can at least play the way we know we can play," said Gibson.
For South Africa, leg-spinner Imran Tahir and middle-order batsman JP Duminy will both retire from ODIs at the end of the tournament after impressive careers.
"The thing about the squad is that there are guys playing their last World Cup and I'd like to think that they will leave the world stage having signed off on a strong note."
Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz insists his teammates realise the importance of the do-or-die game and hopes displaying a united front against South Africa will spark a resurgence.
"We have to lift ourselves. We are each other's strength. We are all good friends and know that only 15 of us can lift the team which not even our family members can do," Wahab told the reporters, ahead of the game.
Batsmen from both teams have failed to perform consistently which probably is one of the reasons why they are placed near the bottom of the table.
Gibson admitted South Africa's failing had been their batting. They have only reached 300 once in the tournament and that was in a losing cause against Bangladesh.
"We've not really been able to put enough runs on the board. We don't have the bowling attack that we wanted to have, therefore we needed more runs to work with," Gibson said.
