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Top attack, explosive batting can spoil party for Hansie's men. Cricket Correspondent COLIN BRYDEN, in England for the World Cup, looks at the main threats to South Africa's chances of success and assesses the teams in each of the two preliminary groups

PAKISTAN may prove to be the biggest threat to South Africa's chances of winning the 1999 World Cup.

Wasim Akram's multi-talented team have the skill to upset South Africa's superbly-drilled one-day cricket machine.

The balance of Pakistan's attack is the best in the competition, with great fast bowlers in Wasim and Waqar Younis, extreme pace in the form of Shoaib Akhtar - rated by Gary Kirsten as the fastest he has faced - and world-class spin from Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq.

Explosive if inconsistent batting is another Pakistani hallmark. The return to prominence of the brooding Inzamam-ul-Haq, who single-handedly bludgeoned Pakistan to victory over New Zealand in he semifinals of the 1992 tournament, is an ominous sign for the other countries.

They are in the midst of yet another coaching crisis but such flare-ups have long ceased to have either surprise value or the capacity to distress the players unduly.

South Africa have built up an extraordinary sequence of 12 successive one-day victories against Pakistan, stretching back five years.

They may need to stretch that record even further if Hansie Cronjé is to get his hands on the trophy at Lord's on June 20.

Australia are likely to be tough competitors. Steve Waugh said at the captains' photo call at Lord's on Tuesday: ``Anything less than winning the World Cup will be a disappointment.''

Waugh has been disappointed before, however, notably at the Commonwealth Games where a virtually full-strength side was beaten by a youthful South African team.

Australia have some fine players and renowned resilience but their decision to mould a distinct one-day squad may backfire. They have arbitrarily left behind several cricketers, notably Michael Slater and Greg Blewett, whose specialist skills might have been more than useful in England.

India will be a threat with their phalanx of gifted batsmen but England do not appear to have enough ability, although they will be difficult to beat on home turf, especially in the early stages of the tournament.

The big losers could be the defending champions, Sri Lanka, many of whose players are ageing rapidly. It is possible Sri Lanka will fail to survive the first round - but then that fate could just as easily befall South Africa if luck and the toss go against them in their three difficult opening matches.

Group A, which includes Sri Lanka and South Africa, looks the more competitive, with five teams in contention for a place in the Super Six and only Kenya likely to provide easy pickings.The two weakest teams in the World Cup, Bangladesh and Scotland, are both in Group B, where one win against Test opposition should be enough to earn a place in the Super Six.

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