Pakistan’s chances at the World Twenty20

Posted on September 9, 2007
Filed Under >Syed Ahsan Ali, Sports
21 Comments
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Syed Ahsan Ali

What did you say?..No Mohammad Yousuf (a stunning move). No Abdur Razzak (an amazingly amazing decision) and no Shoaib Akhtar (a blessing in disguise?). That means, no real chance of creating history in first ever T20 Championship for Pakistan squad. But hold on for a moment. Haven’t you heard that life is wonderful because it is uncertain? Well, so is Pakistan cricket. They are as talented as to be able to beat the best in the business and can be as miserable as to be left clueless against minnows like Ireland.


Pakistan has one of the finest new ball bowlers around called Mohammad Asif. A smart and shrewd middle order batsman called Younis Khan and a swashbuckler who is in his own league called Shahid Khan Afridi. What Pakistan needs to do is to play with discipline and forget about controversies for the time being at least. According to some, the most gifted bunch of players needs to focus on the game and have a good run in the playing field. It may sound little too ambitious and patriotic, but things are not as gloomy as they are painted. One thing that favors Pakistan, is the lack of experience of playing Twenty20 games in all international teams. It would be more of a trial and error method for most of the teams where slice of luck will play good hand in deciding the champion.

Strengths of Pakistan: A top notch pace attack. Even without raw pace of Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan has a seriously formidable bowling line-up that can settle scores with most oppositions in first few overs. On a given day, Pakistani pace attack can easily handle serious openers with the new ball burst on protean tracks where ball the climbs up to a batsmen and darts around as well. If they get it right by taking wickets with brand new ball and keeping a strict check on the scoring rates at the same time then Pakistan will be in with healthy chance of toppling good sides.

Concerns: In my opinion, Abdur Razzak was crucial for Pakistan in this form of the game mainly due to his belligerence with the bat especially against faster bowlers. He is one guy who can eclipse even Shahid Afridi when it comes to some dazzling stroke making. As there would be no Abdur Razzak -factor, I see only two real power hitters – Shahid Afridi and Imran Nazir. Both are capable of hitting long and hard but other than them most of the batsmen in the sides are bit of nudgers and pushers and single-accumulators. What we needed from the selection committee was more all rounders in the line-up who could hit the strike rate of between 100 or 150. Kamran Akmal has to prove his worth with the bat after passing through a lean trot in last several months to match other two. Here in lies the big opportunity for the skipper Shoaib Malik to strengthen his position in the middle order by scoring some precious runs. Other concern is fielding. Hopefully, rigorous fitness and training camps would make a difference in agility and nimble-footedness.

Overall the team is volatile and unpredictable but equally capable of springing a surprise or two if things do not take any ugly turn which Pakistan cricket usually produces uninterrupted.

Credits: Photos for this article are taken from www.cricinfo.com

21 responses to “Pakistan’s chances at the World Twenty20”

  1. Aliya says:

    Thanks for putting up the live scoreboard on the side. Nice touch.

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