I feel I am the happiest Pakistani supporter since last night
as Pakistan lost to West Indies rather convincingly in World
Cup 2007 opener. I suppose nobody will have sympathy for the
loser, but I do have sympathy from the depth of my core because
our players have got the hardest job compared to their calibre.
Defeat for Pakistan is not easy to digest for many viewers,
except those who believe that Pakistan wins a tournament after
losing its opening match (as in World Cup 1992). But does
anybody think this team has the right to win?
The bowling attack for Pakistan is weak while the fielding
is just fair than worst. The trembling batting line up has
a non-professional attitude – obsolete method of target
hunting, tendency to make achievable things look difficult,
and falling short of reachable target against decent bowling
attacks.
I have always been a big supporter of Green shirts in cricket.
Be it Pakistan, South Africa or Kenya, the matches have always
preserved my interest. But just before the beginning of the
World Cup, I eliminated Pakistan from the list of semi-finalists.
Reason is quite simple – a lack of consistency, courage
and style. The openers and the bowlers are unpredictable,
the middle order doesn't have the courage to flourish with
a good pace as they struggle maintaining a run-rate.
There is always a glimpse of lack of strategy with Team Pakistan.
After losing early wickets, the middle-order tries to sustain
not only the wickets but also the flow of runs. The required
rate creeps up from 5 an over to 7 per over and when it is
time to accelerate, the settled batsmen throw their wicket
away. It won't be fair to blame the openers because it's the
way they play. Inzamam can nott be blamed either as he belongs
to early 1990s era when improvisation was normally provided
in later stage of the innings. Perhaps the blame should fall
on the selectors for still relying on Mohammad Yousuf in limited-overs
cricket. He does not suit there! He proved himself a great
test player last year with some fabulous knocks. But a player
who is unable to place the ball for singles, maintain the
required run-rate and gets out when needed is surely a menace
to any batting line up. He has a great style but playing with
the 1990s strategy is not going to work out for Pakistan.
He could accomplish half-century in 30 balls in a test match,
but in one-dayers, he sustains a strike rate of almost 60.
Australia and South Africa maintain a healthy run-rate even
when they are losing wickets, but Pakistan batsmen look satisfied
with more dot balls per than scoring shots every over. They
can't take the singles. They can't push the fielders back
to the boundary rope. The defeat was predictable after losing
three early wickets. Then the defensive attitude (5-over,
7-run partnership during PowerPlays) showed by Inzamam and
Yousuf gave it away completely. Much was left to be done for
the tail as pressure mounted.
I respectfully appeal to the PCB to call back Mohammad Yousuf
and ask Shoaib Malik to bat at number 3 or 4. He is the only
suitable batsman who can put some solid efforts and follow
a run-a-ball technique. The time has arrived to formulate
separate teams for test cricket, Twenty20 and ODI matches.
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