Chennai: In what is considered to be a grudge match, defending champion South Africa takes on a strong Pakistan side in the final of the Petro World Cup for the Blind at the M A Chidambaram Stadium on Friday. Though Pakistan defeated the Springboks in the league stage convincingly, the team from the Wagah border knows that nothing will cheer it more than winning the final, which it lost to the same team in the 1998 inaugural World Cup at New Delhi. Pakistan performed creditably in the league stage, losing only to England while the Proteas lost to Australia and Pakistan. Striking a philosophical note Agha Shaukat Ali, chairman, Blind Cricket Council, Pakistan, said, "Cricket is a game of chance. Whoever plays better will win." "Both batting and bowling are in good nick. Last time in the final, our BI (totally blind) players were not that good. But this time, we have a better team. Our bowlers unlike South Africa and Australia have not been giving too many extras," he said. Ali said batsmen like Tariq Samuel, Ashraf Bhatti Muhammad Fayaz, Amir Ishfaq are among the runs. Tariq Samuel has been in fine form in the last two matches, cracking a magnificent 131 in the league match against South Africa, and a solid 76 against England in the semi-final. Skipper Abdul Razzaq, an all rounder, is also in fine form, and kept his cool in the end overs in the nerve tangling encounter against India, which Pakistan won by a mere 31 runs. Raghunathan Naidu, a B-3 (partially sighted player) for South Africa said, "Pakistan's batting is strong. It is going to be tough match." Asked about the many extras (97) conceded by the Springboks in the semi-final against Australia he said, "Our bowlers have to concentrate on line and length. May the best team win." South Africa's strength is that like its test side it has players who can bat down the order. Skipper Roy Field has marshalled his team well and he has come up with some good knocks, especially the 99 in the opening match against England and 104 against Australia in the semi-final. But can he tame a rampaging Pakistan team out to settle scores that is the big question. Only the match on the morrow will reveal that.
Extras:
South Africa defeats India by 2 wickets, Pakistan wins

Tags: cricket, chennai, south africa, pakistan, petro world cup for the blind, the m a chidambaram stadium, springboks, wagah border, england, proteas, australia, agha shaukat ali chairman blind cricket council pakistan, tariq samuel, ashraf bhatti muhammad fayaz, amir ishfaq, abdul razzaq, raghunathan naidu.