PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka: Pakistan eased into the World Cup quarterfinals Monday but captain Shahid Afridi was more concerned with victory over Australia Saturday where it will target top spot in Group A. “We will definitely play well against Australia. It's a match which we'll take very seriously,” said Afridi. Man of the match Umar Gul, who took 3 for 36 Monday, said his team had already started planning to face Australia. “We are looking forward to the game against Australia. We have done our homework, we will do our best,” said the seamer. Pakistan coach Waqar Younus has given his players a simple plan to gain momentum before “jumping” into the quarterfinals: beat four-time champion Australia. “They are such a big team, world champs and haven't lost (in the World Cup) for ages,” Younus said. “If you beat them you can leave a mark and teams will think twice about playing against you.” “To say that we have achieved a lot here because we didn't qualify the last two times would be wrong,” Younus said. “Once you get to the quarterfinals, the real game starts there – the game of nerves, the pressure game.” Pakistan was the last team to beat Australia at a World Cup – in the group stage of the 1999 tournament. Stephen Waugh's Australians made amends by thrashing Pakistan in a lopsided final at Lord's – the first of three consecutive World Cup final wins for the Aussies. Pakistan is ranked No. 6 in the ODI rankings, but that's not how Younus sees it. “For me Pakistan is No. 1 without any doubt and all we have to do is do our best to beat them (Australia) on the day.” Mathews happy to be Sri Lanka's forgotten man Angelo Mathews said he would be delighted to be Sri Lanka's forgotten man if it helps his side lift the World Cup. Middle order Mathews hasn't had much chance to bat in the tournament with the top order coming good more often than not as Sri Lanka made sure of its place in the quarter-finals. He has faced just 37 balls in the three games that he has batted, totalling 35 runs. “I feel Sri Lanka's batting is very strong,” he said. “The top order has batted very well and the opportunities for others have been limited so far. “I would be happy if I don't get to bat and the top order continues to do well.” Mathews added that he's happy to play the team's last league match against New Zealand in Mumbai, saying conditions would be similar to those back home. “It's not a big deal,” said the all-rounder. “The conditions are similar to Sri Lanka and the wickets are also slow. We have also played in India often.” Tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka were scheduled to play all but one of their Group A matches at home, prompting captain Kumar Sangakkara to slam the format. “We were surprised when we learnt that we will have to travel to Mumbai to play that game against New Zealand. I thought hosts play at home,” Sangakkara said. Strauss, Swann miss practice England skipper Andrew Strauss and spinner Graeme Swann missed Tuesday's practice with a stomach bug but both are likely to feature in Thursday's must-win Group B match against West Indies. “They both missed practice today with a stomach virus. (We) will assess them tomorrow but certainly (it is) nothing serious,” the team spokesman said in a text message. With five points from as many matches, England badly need to beat West Indies in its last group assignment and then hope South Africa defeat Bangladesh Saturday to clear its quarterfinal passage. England has already lost makeshift opener Kevin Pietersen (hernia) and pace bowler Stuart Broad (side strain) to injuries.
