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.

Did the two Pathans stick together?

In a recent interview on Geo Super, Shahid Afridi touched upon the fact that a number of players came to him after the Champions Trophy saying they had problems with Younis Khan. His exact words were: “The players informed me about their problems. I told them it was better if they directly communicate their problems to Younis, an idea which they didn’t like.”

Interestingly, Afridi went on to say that he had told the chairman and Younis about the players’ concerns. It is clear from this that everything was not, and probably is not, hunky dory in the camp. The fact that Misbah Ul-Haq was suddenly dropped from all three squads may suggest that he was one of the ones to take issue with Younis and his captaincy. Also, because Afridi had also told Younis about it may mean that neither of the two captains sided with Misbah, hence his axing from Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s.

Though Misbah was having a bad time of things, his sudden exclusion from all squads came as a bit of a shock to me especially as he was not the only one going through a bad spell. Afridi’s latest revelation may have given us a true insight into why they got rid of Misbah. If he really was axed for taking issue with Younis then we will certainly not be seeing Misbah again during Younis’ reign and considering his age, I’d be surprised if we see him again in Pakistan colours.

Some newspaper was going to make such an allegation because India’s progression was dependent on Pakistan beating Australia. When this didn’t happen, the allegations that Pakistan deliberately lost to make sure India was knocked out, were bound to surface. Unfortunately, certain people in Pakistan were not clever enough to figure this out so decided to believe what they were reading and criticise their own team rather that question the newspaper report.

Having lost count of the number of times Younis has resigned the captaincy, it had been said on Stani Army before that it would only be a matter of time before he does so again having taken up the reins from Shoaib Malik. We did say back then that Younis will get criticised and that as a captain, he must bear the brunt of it, yet he has decided to walk away.

After every match or series, if it’s not an ex-Pakistani player coming out in the media criticising the team, then it’s going to be a politician. This is the mentality of these people and Younis should know this so it should be no reason to quit. Walking away from problems doesn’t solve anything. This decision of his seems selfish. Had he put the team first he would not have resigned unless he doubts his own ability of course.

If Younis wanted to walk away to teach these people a lesson i.e. to say to them “look what you’re missing”, then it would have been effective if we had something to lose by Younis doing so. The problem is, will Younis really be missed? The answer I’m afraid is probably no so walking away won’t teach those who made these allegations anything.

His volatility and hot headedness brought no stability when it was one thing all Pakistan fans had hoped his leadership would bring. The hope is we can now bring in a leader who is less likely to throw tantrums. It will be interesting to see if Younis retains in his place in the ODI team should his resignation be accepted.

Umar Akmal does Sajda after reaching his 50

New Zealand turned up to the semi-final of the Champions Trophy and did exactly what you should do against a Pakistan side which is to stick in there, not force the pace and allow Pakistan to implode. They only made one mistake in the field that I can recall and never allowed themselves to get above their station, cruising home comfortably in the end.

Though the scars of our bowling performance will be fresh, it was the batsmen that cost us again I’m afraid. Many may argue the total was a defendable one, but it was by the bats of our bowlers that we were spared embarrassment and got to such a total in the end. Shoaib Malik and Shaid Afridi went off the same high risk shot, trying to cut fine instead of playing straight. When you’re 50 not out, you can play delicate shots but not when you just got in.

Umar Akmal played another encouraging knock (55) and was very unlucky to be given out lbw by Simon Taufel after sweeping the ball off the middle of his bat and onto his pads. Taufel is an excellent umpire who very rarely makes mistakes but this one was crucial I’m afraid and ended up costing Pakistan dearly. Had it not been for the 35 run last wicket partnership between Ajmal and Aamer then this match would have been over at the half way stage.

The bowlers, though they tried to attack, were largely ineffective due to some stubborn resistance from the Kiwi batsmen and a couple of ball changes that didn’t allow them to work on the ball. Aamer was the pick of the bowlers (1 for 32) and would have got two wickets had his captain knew how to catch. It was the simplest of chances which looped to Younis who for someone reason decided to go onto his knees and catch with his fingers pointing up. He was going to do only one thing and that was to knock the ball into the ground. Grant Elliot was on 42 at the time and he went on to make another 33 which included an over of 16 off Umar Gul. Elliot finished on a match winning 75 not out.

After the game, Younis said: “We won the World Twenty20 and reached the semi-finals here. We are improving day by day.”, but I’m afraid I saw no improvement today. The same poor shots, the same wides and no-balls and the same poor fielding. The excuses need to stop Younis, and grown men need to act like so.

Good on New Zealand for making the most of their talent. If Pakistan could only do the same they’d be the best in the world.

Pakistan’s victory was set up due to a brilliant partnership of 206 between Mohammad Yousuf (87) and man of the match, Shoaib Malik (128). The pacing of the partnership left MS Dhoni scratching his head but you have to feel for the guy as only Ashish Nehra and Yusuf Pathan did anything of note with the ball for them.

It is a well held belief that if Pakistan’s batsmen fired then they’d be a force to be reckoned with as the bowling usually takes care of itself. Unfortunately for India, their bowling was their weak link and many of their bowlers looked devoid of ideas and played into Pakistan’s hands. The most frustrating of them for Indian fans must be Ishant Sharma. After bursting onto the scene he has flattered to deceive even though he posses all the attributes you’d need to be a top quality fast bowler. India’s main selection conundrum is the bowling all rounder spot. It means that their bowlers have to do their job and their batsmen likewise. If either fails, then it becomes difficult for them to make it up.

Of Pakistan’s bowlers, the normally reliable Umar Gul had a surprisingly off day giving many extras and conceding 55 of his 6 overs. It must be said that Younis should have dragged him out of the attack earlier as it was quite clear he was having an off day and there plenty of bowlers to make up his overs. The captain himself had a relatively poor showing after all the build up about him playing with a fractured finger although he must be given credit for persevering with an unconventional slip for the dismissal of the dangerous Yusuf Pathan in the 39th over of the Indian innings. A special mention must go to Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi who bowled superbly well in containing India at vital times and on a pitch where Harbhajan had a shocker.

But this day belonged to Mohammad Yusuf and mainly to Shoaib Malik with their match winning 4th wicket partnership which is the highest of the tournament thus far. Shoaib Malik has recently been criticised, some fair, mostly not, but I’ve always felt he has a mix of attributes that our other batsmen, current ones or those waiting in the wings, do not possess and therefore is a vital team member. The most obvious is his cricketing intelligence and ability to play according to the situation. The reassuring thing about Malik is that when he gets in he looks twice the player he looks early in his innings. If he could be more consistent then it may get some critics off his back but today he played the perfect ODI innings.

Congratulations to the Pakistan fans and commiserations to the Indian fans who are not yet out of it and still have lots to play for.

When the match began and the West Indian batsmen capitulated, I was beginning to question what the West Indians were doing there and whether it would have been more worthwhile, for a top 8 tournament, for Bangladesh to have been included instead. Yet the West Indian fight back with the ball was encouraging even if the Bangladeshi players may feel they probably deserve to be at the Champions Trophy. Maybe the ICC could have told the West Indies board that if their contract dispute was not resolved in time, the Bangladesh team would go to South Africa instead. Let’s just hope the Windies carry on holding their own in the next two games at least.

As for Pakistan, the two stars of the show were teenagers, Mohammed Aamer and Umar Akmal. Aamer continues to impress after a successful T20 World Cup and Umar has just burst on the international scene and looks at home already. His innings today prevented a possible embarrassment. Being a usually attacking batsman, with a ODI strike rate above 100, he assessed the situation and played an intelligent innings along with Afridi to carry Pakistan over the finishing line. When Afridi was asked what he liked about him he said, “I love brave heart people and he is brave”. Watch out for him and Mohammed Aamer, 19 and 17 years old respectively, in the rest of the tournament, the latest fresh off the unmatched Pakistan cricket production line.

For Pakistan to win the tournament the batsmen need to perform but with arguably the best bowling attack in the world, we’re always in with a chance.  India are up next yet have been dealt a major blow with Yuvraj out of the tournament with a broken finger. This I think will have a major effect on what was deemed to be India’s strongest part of the game, their batting. The three others in the group, Pakistan, West Indies and Australia, will see this as a boost.