TheNews Blog

Heart Breakers In The Desert!

Omair Alavi on 14, Feb 2012 | 1 Comment | in Category: Sports Sprit

Omair Alavi

• Waiting for The Avengers To Assemble …
• The Tigers that Cry Aloud!
• Torrents In, DVDs Out
• Pawnay 14 August – A Ray of Hope
• IPL 2012 – Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment!






Rate this blog: (No Ratings Yet)  Loading ...

Breaking the heart of anyone, especially on Valentine’s Day, is a crime. The Pakistan cricket team committed that crime when it was to its old ways surrendered against England in the first one day international of the 4-match series on 13^th February. They were not only outclassed by the opponents but also undone by inept selection as well as an overconfident captain!

Just before the 2009 World T20, which Pakistan eventually won under Younis Khan, all-rounder Abdur Razzaq was recalled to the side and immediately proved his selection right by taking wickets and scoring runs. The selectors tried to do the same thing when they inducted Shoaib Malik in the already-announced Pakistan side for the England series. Sadly, he proved the ‘one man can make a difference’ formula right by not only disrupting the winning combination but also showed why he shouldn’t be in the side. He just bowled 5 overs for 21 runs which could have been bowled by Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz (had they bowled their full quota) whereas came in at number 7 (ahead of Shahid Afridi and Wahab Riaz) only to score 7 runs off 23 deliveries! I guess he was trying to stake a claim in the Test side with such a pathetic batting performance, because in one dayers such batting is unacceptable.

Same can be said for Imran Farhat whose only criteria for selection remains his father-in-law, Mohammad Ilyas who happens to be the chief selector. He made his ODI debut in 2001 and has played 48 matches since, scoring 1 century and 11 half centuries which doesn’t make him the best opener in Pakistan. Former captain Imran Khan has always criticized Imran Farhat for his chancy batting, and its about time that he should either be kicked out or made to bat lower down the order where the team does need a left-handed hitter!

A wicket-keeper’s spot is of utmost importance in the playing XI, but sadly the Pakistan cricket team management doesn’t think so. They made Umar Akmal, the most explosive batsman in the side, keep wickets for 50 overs which not only disturbed his back but also his batting. He also missed crucial chances that gave Alistair Cook the opportunity to score more runs than the entire Pakistan team! The management should get back Adnan Akmal in the next match instead of the ‘can’t bowl, can’t bat’ Shoaib Malik and make Shahid Afridi bat higher in the order, if they are to win the next match to level the series. Younis Khan should be asked to bat at number 3 while Asad Shafiq or even Shahid Afridi can open with Mohammad Hafeez, who doesn’t necessarily need to open the bowling as well. Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul should share the new ball and Saeed Ajmal should be asked to bowl before the 10^th over, instead of the 20^th, as the opponents fare him more than any other bowler in the Pakistan side.

These are the simple things Pakistan should do in the next match instead of applying the same team formula, something they are very fond of. Changes are always for the better and I am sure they will help in lessening the burden on the individuals. The players are humans after all, not machines as the management seems to believe.

You might also like: