So what was wrong with the Pakistan team that reached the Semi-finals of the Champions Trophy? For some reason, when the squads were named for the New Zealand games, there were some surprising names in there. But it didn’t stop there. Changes were made to the team also and the team taking the field in each of the three ODIs against New Zealand was a different one.
There was no Shoaib Malik or Rana Naved in the first ODI (not to mention Imran Nazir who wasn’t even in the squad). In the second ODI, Umar Akmal was dropped and Shoaib Malik was brought in. For today’s game, Mohammad Yousuf made way and back came Umar Akmal. Ask most Pakistan fans and very few would say we went in with our best side in any of these three ODIs.
Consistency in selection usually results in consistency in performance so why the need to make changes? These changes have basically all come about because of the conundrum that Pakistan are having with their openers. Khalid Latif, one of the openers brought in, has done very well averaging 43. His partner on the other hand, Salman Butt, averaged 28. Could we have done without bringing Butt back? Yes in my opinion, because it would have meant Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf were able to play in the same side. Kamran Akmal or Shoaib Malik opening with Khalid Latif could quite easily have given us the 28 runs an innings like Butt has, and evidently, by using fewer deliveries. It was surprising he was recalled in the first instance but to keep him and disturb a settled side was a big mistake.
Today was a big game for the Captain. Having scored 0 and 19 respectively, I was hoping he’d make a match winning century and do the honourable thing of handing over the reins to Afridi and then stepping down. Pressure is piling up on Younis Khan and some would say he brought it on himself with his resignation and subsequent demands for reinstatement. But having scored and excruciating 3 off 16 balls today, the chances are that he will not be going out like this.
Younis comes in at number three, a vital position where innings collapses are either born or die a slow death. Rather than stop a collapse today, Younis triggered one by running out a settled Salman Butt, and in the end, bringing more pressure on himself as was evident from the jeers he received at the presentation.
The final word must go to the two shinning lights of Pakistan cricket, Mohammand Aamer and Saeed Ajmal. Not only were they head and shoulders above the others with the ball, but they also were the two highest scorers in the Pakistan side, taking the game to the last over and almost snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Man of the match Aamer’s 73 not out made him the first Pakistani number 10 to reach a fifty in ODI cricket. His partnership of 103 with Ajmal (33), was the second highest overall for the tenth wicket in an ODI. They were deservedly applauded by the Kiwis.
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November 9th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Stani
Agree with all of your points, Pakistan’s batting problem is like a balloon you try to squeeze one side the problem inflates from the other side. We fixed the opening problem but the middle order was meddled with and a problem was created there.
As regards Salman Butt YK has ran him out twice in this series, Butt’s strike rate was very slow in all of his innings. This has been the upteenth time that Younis gets his well set partner run out and then throws away his own wicket soon after. Is anybody noticing this trend?
I think the culprits today were Malik, Afridi and Akmal.
Yk is out of form so I won’t say anything about him but these three were inform players and the shots they played to get out were atrocious.
Aamer and Ajmal showed these selfish losers the spirit with which one plays for his country. A lot of determination, a high spirit and an overall never say die attitude.
It’s a shame that these seniors are only fighting for their self interests and show no grit to perform for the country.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:44 am
Wasim
Yes, very good analogy. Let’s hope the balloon doesn’t pop.
As for Younis, I guess we must appreciate that his innings today was one of a man who just didn’t want to fail, who was struggling and desperate to succeed, which is why he took up so many balls. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to stay at the crease and convert determination into runs.
I was impressed by Khalid Latif. He seems to have hit the ground running.
I don’t think dropping Malik helped his good form in any way. To be experienced as he is and in decent touch yet still be dropped, it leads to negative thoughts creeping back into ones mind set. From being a regular, he’s now not sure where he belongs. How they dropped Mohammad Yusuf I do not know. A calm head was needed today. Yousuf would have nurdled the singles and we would have been home and dry.
As for Afridi; this is his first mistake in what I call his ‘interview period’. Everything was going swimmingly so far as he puts himself forward for Younis’ ODI job. He was even saying in the media how he was more calm now. He let himself down today and missed a big opportunity in a game where Younis failed once again. I know it shouldn’t be seen like this, but I bet that’s the way Afrid sees it.
Aamer and Ajmal really did seem as though they were batting on a different pitch to their team mates.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:50 am
I also agree with all the points u have made Stani. This is a pathetic unacceptable series defeat when contrasting where the two sides stood on paper before the series. Similarly, the conditions were in our favour but yet we disappointed. This was meant to be a starting road ahead of the 2011 WC and it’s started poorly.
I don’t understand this selection policy either? As ever consistency holds the key and the PCB isn’t investing in a settled side for a sufficient period of time. Chopping and changing is only bound to result in inconsistency.
Statistically speaking this is worrying. Pakistan have lost 4 consecutive ODI series all of which have been played in sub continental conditions. Apart from the t20 triumph this year victory has been a rarity.
But hats off to Aamer and Ajmal whom put on a fighting stand to rescue the team morale! Could Aamer be a Wasim Akram in the making? This stand reminded me of that Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz stand in the memorable Edgbaston test match in 2005 where the two almost pulled of something heroic.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:54 am
YK’s form is appalling. I feel he should stand down from captaincy and ODI cricket ! 3 failures in a row as well as that poor form in the CT and b4.
Appoint Shahid Afridi.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Stani, nothing to do with thread but what videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKLwDW3WXtY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0O2aVG8rIU&feature=related
The batsmen are clueless against Mushy ! A personal favourite of ours.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Stani I understand he is out of form, but then he should change his own batting order and should rest himself rather than resting in form players.
The problem is that the players whenever they have a point to prove they try to underperform and get back at the captain they do not try to prove it by proving their worth on the ground. Right now the problem has gone out of control most of the players are not on talking terms with each other.
November 10th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
It starts from the squad selection which has gone awry. There is too much bickering and internal pressure within the team relationship. The batting order is also a bit crazy. They have to make a checklist and address each one. Form also now seems to be an issue especially with the big ys.
November 10th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I think the biggest problem is that Younis himself is not performing if he was performing nobody would have questioned any of his move. He is at the mercy of other players who are taking full advantage of it.
The solution is either YK should be axed from the ODI’s or some of the seniors should be axed it’s not going to work in any other way.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Maz
It’s interesting you mention the comparison on paper. I think it’s mostly down to Vettori. He almost always gets the very best out of his players as did Fleming. It is why New Zealand consistently over achieve.
Wasim
I see what you’re saying about Younis resting himself due to bad form. After all, this was the reason given for Misbah’s exclusion. Maybe he is wary of the vulture Afridi circling over head.
As for him coming down the order, the reason he’s not demoting himself is the same reason he played in the Indian champions trophy game with a broken finger. He just doesn’t want to be seen as shirking responsibility but sometimes you just have do the right thing.
Scorpi
Absolutely, this was my point, that there was no need to change the squad, even less the team.
November 12th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Stani, Younis had quit again. I suggest you copy paste your last post on him to give him a tribute
.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Purna
Hmmmm, I was hoping if I leave it like this, then when he’s re-instated I won’t have to write anything. Genius!
November 12th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Haha. I don’t think he is going to come back though. His reasons are pretty legit.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Pakistan will never acheive their potential of they keep changing the side.
Sucessful sides have a core squad which rarely changes.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I am anti Younis. I hope to get your support on this too! Younis Khan and captaincy has been an episode of comedy and irony. From the high of winning a world cup to the lows of wanting to resign as a result of media pressure and a few silly statements made by influential people.
Yet now he is asking to take a break in a big series. What kind of responsible and keen captain would want to do that? This and more before suggests captaincy is too much of an emotional, psychological or conscientious challenge for him to deal with as he has unleashed on several occasions. This surely is unacceptable for a responsible captain and someone who wants to be captain in the future? Captains are meant to be a leading role which have the highest conscious levels and don’t release emotion for petty things like a sympathetic attraction.
This annoying part of it all is that of Mr Ijaz Butt, the over aged chairman’s not letting Younis go and instead providing him full support and confidence for continuation when after all it’s only evident that Younis is unable to cope with the pressure of captaincy. That has been the case since the 2007 WC when he rejected it. Perhaps after that one should have never asked him to do it as he denied missed the opportunity.
Moreover, Afridi has captained in 3 t20’s and won all. May not been a sufficient sample to count for but that is a perfectionist record of 100%. In those matches Afridi has shown leadership credentials like a true “Pathan” character.
But it doesn’t take an idiot to figure out that this is some conspiracy flirting in the camp. The team has been partially divided under Younis but with Afridi there appeared to be more comfort for players (in particular the younger ones) and the boys appear to really gel well together. In other words the team morale seems better as a whole.
Afridi for captain
November 13th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Deeply sorry to the typos and grammar stani and co. Probably better of reading the full one on my site because then I wasn’t rushing and have clarified much more !
November 14th, 2009 at 2:38 am
Cricket Bats
To be honest, I’m not sure any more whether the Pakistan players want to achieve their potential. Certainly, the fans want them to but I just do not know what motivates these strange sportsmen.