Pakistan set for must-win match

Zimbabwe can only be chastened after running into a rampant Chris Gayle in their most recent defeat against West Indies on Tuesday.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have had as much trouble off the pitch as on it and are pointless after losing to India and then the Windies.

A succession of controversies has beset their campaign to date, most recently chief selector Moin Khan's untimely visit to a casino.

The former Test wicketkeeper was subsequently sent home, to be met by an angry throng at Karachi airport, and is having to lie low as more protests take place outside his house.

A senior police official said: "We have deployed some police at Moin's residence for security reasons because people were causing disturbances."

Moin admitted his mistake, saying: "I went to the casino to have dinner with some friends.

"But in hindsight it was an inappropriate judgement on my part, given the disappointment in the team's performance at the World Cup."

There has been little for Zimbabwe to smile about either, save a four-wicket win over UAE.

They have since been blitzed for the first double-century in World Cup history by Gayle - an experience which resulted in an International Cricket Council reprimand for seamer Tendai Chatara for bowling two successive high full-tosses in the final over.

Zimbabwe's former World Cup captain Alistair Campbell acknowledges the team are in a tough spot going into Sunday's match in Brisbane, but still has not given up hope.

"We have plenty to be encouraged by in three-quarters of all three games so far," he said.

"Unfortunately, the final quarter has been horrendous. Every team in the tournament is struggling to contain batsmen in the 'death' overs, but none more than Zimbabwe.

"The match against Ireland [on March 7] is crucial to our chances of progressing, but we will have to beat Pakistan or India, too.

"It is not impossible - far from it. But we will have to find a way of limiting the damage in the final overs. The best way, of course, is to take more early wickets."