A must win clash for Englishmen

England captain Nasser Hussain is on course to play in the ‘must-win’ World Cup game against Pakistan at Newlands on Saturday afte...

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England captain Nasser Hussain is on course to play in the ‘must-win’ World Cup game against Pakistan at Newlands on Saturday after shaking off a neck problem. Hussain, who missed the team’s second Group A game against Namibia, came through a net session on Friday at Newlands.

‘‘He felt a lot better this morning when he woke up,’’ England coach Duncan Fletcher said. ‘‘He had a very long net and is very confident of playing tomorrow. Psychologically, it’s a must-win game…this is the first time we have played against major opposition.’’

Hussain had been suffering from a stiff neck. Fletcher said one-day all rounder Ian Blackwell had ‘‘improved considerably’’ after complaining of a bad back and would undergo a fitness test before Saturday’s encounter. Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, who missed England’s matches against the Netherlands and Namibia because of tonsillitis, was also in better shape ‘‘and should be 100 per cent,’’ according to Fletcher.

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Meanwhile, the unpredictable Shahid Afridi could return to the Pakistan team for their crucial match where there is an effective five-team scrap for three Super Six places, with Australia, Zimbabwe and India all ahead of tomorrow’s contestants in the Pool A table.All-rounder Ian Blackwell was doubtful because of an injured back but left-arm slow bowler Ashley Giles could make his first appearance of the tournament after recovering from tonsilitis.

Afridi, scorer of the fastest one-day international century in history but prone to get himself out early because of his all-out attacking style, could displace fellow all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who has not been in good form lately. A key player for Pakistan is likely to be Saeed Anwar, who was recalled to the Pakistan team for the World Cup after two seasons of frustration while he battled a stress fracture in his left hand.

Pakistan are expected to promote Inzamam-ul-Haq to No 3 in their batting order.