Dejected Pakistan aim to fulfil final Cup commitment

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Mar 21 (Reuters) A shattered Pakistan team will attempt to lift themselves for their final World Cup outing against Zimbabwe today, just three days after the sudden death of their coach Bob Woolmer.

Woolmer's death on Sunday put Pakistan's early exit into perspective and Inzamam-ul-Haq's men want to fulfil their Group D obligation before flying home to begin the rebuilding process.

The tie against Zimbabwe, who must win the match to have any chance of progressing to the Supers Eights, will be a test of the Asian team's resolve as it will also be Inzamam's one-day swansong.

''We are all victims of depression but we are professionals and we will try our best to win the match,'' Mushtaq Ahmed, who has taken over as coach, told reporters.

The Zimbabweans will join Ireland on three points if they defeat the 1992 champions. But even if the Africans win, they are still not guaranteed a place in the Super Eights.

Victory must be joined by an Ireland loss in the final group match with West Indies on Friday. Then, if both teams finish level on points, the side with the highest net run rate would progress. Ireland's run rate is currently superior.

Pakistan have yet to score a point after losing to West Indies and Ireland.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi is expected to return to the side after completing his four-match ICC ban.

In Group B, Sri Lanka face Bangladesh in Port-of-Spain with everything still to play for.

Bangladesh, the least fancied among the three Asian teams in the tournament's toughest group, upset the formbook to defeat India in their opening match and triggered a three-horse race for the Super Eights.

With debutants Bermuda having become the group's whipping boys, three teams could finish with two wins apiece and moving to the next stage could come down to net run rate calculations.

Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to victory in 1996, said victory over Sri Lanka could be too much to ask from his young and inexperienced team.

''Sri Lankans know of us a little bit more than India did,'' he told reporters. ''Sri Lanka has a good bowling attack and we need to be careful of playing them.'' Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene said Whatmore was bound to use his insider's knowledge.

''Dav is a very smart, clever guy when it comes to handling people,'' he said.

''He brought Bangladesh a long way since he took over. We know what Dav can come up with.'' REUTERS SAM BST1017