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
Younis Khan is the most pathetic person, I have ever seen or met. He doesnt deserve the status he has been given and not to forget his attitude after the return from the WC. He is a one who should be dropped and I was unfortunate enough to meet him in London, and the attitude he carries was pathetic with kids, he was too busy with impressing young girls with his biceps and challenging them to squeeze it. Loser as ever!
Don’t forget Salman Butt. He can be a big scorer on his day. By the way, Pakistan A has performed like true champions against a very strong Australian team in the recent series. Congrats to all.
What about Shoaib Malik? isn’t he a power hitter? I think with his experience of producing dazzling cameos in the fomat at domestic level, his performance both with the bat and ball will be crucial. And yes, we ought not to forget Yaisr Arafat, who’s got pace as well as batting abilities to shine at the lower order. All in all, the chances look bright enough keeping in view Pakistan’s recent performances where players like Younis Khan, Salman Butt and Umer Gul are performing quite consistently…
One big reason why Pakistan’s chances are better than in most tournaments is because Twenty20 doesn’t really require the same physical and mental fitness level as a 50 over ODI.
One batsman they’ll miss is Abdul Razzak because his powerful shots can sail over many heads. I am hoping Malik and Afridi will be able to make up for his absence.
Good luck Pakistan. For all your ills, we still love you and want you to succeed.
how is dropping Razzaq “an amazingly amazing decision”? the only thing amazingly amazing is how long it took for this trundling relokatta to get dropped.
Razzaq has been coasting for at least the last two years if not longer. you can tell from the way he ambles in to bowl his dibbly dobblers that he thinks that he can treat playing international cricket for Pakistan like a 9-5 job where you punch in and punch out without letting a single file move from its place the whole day. the interesting thing is how his speed all of a sudden goes up as soon as there is competition for his spot in the shape of Yasir Arafat or Azhar Mehmood. but leave them out and Razzaq mian is back to bowling in the low seventies.
Razzaq clearly thinks that he owns a spot in the team regardless of whether he is willing to put in any work or not. this is unacceptable. if you don’t realize what an honour wearing the green is, you should not be wearing it. Razzaq had to go and others who share his philosophy and (lack of) work ethic also need to go (cue Maulana Shahid Afridi).