Team Pakistan – Plenty of Problems…

The Pakistani squad for the world cup is as follows –

Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain)
Younis Khan (vice-captain)
Abdul Razzaq
Danish Kaneria
Iftikhar Anjum
Imran Nazir
Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper)
Mohammad Asif
Mohammad Hafeez
Mohammad Yousuf
Naved-ul-Hasan
Shahid Afridi
Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Malik
Umar Gul

Over the years Pakistan has got the distinction of being the most unpredictable team in international cricket. A team historically capable of producing cricketing moments of brilliant heights (as well as atrocious depths) with alarming frequency, no one can ever write them off an event until the proverbial fat lady starts singing.

In ’75 they missed the semifinal bus after having the eventual winners West Indies on the mat for most of the day, but then letting the tenth wicket pair of Andy Roberts and Murray add 63 runs to take the match away with 2 balls to spare. Then in ’79 they romped to the semis and almost won it too, before their famed middle order collapsed to the slow bowling prowess of a certain Viv Richards. They repeated the act in ’83 too, but this time they just couldn’t muster the will to give a fight, setting the West Indians a very small target of 184, which ironically was a run more than what the Indians set the West Indies in the finals. In ’87 they overcame the West Indian hurdle by the narrowest of margin, but went down to the eventual winners. Then in ’92, having gained just 3 points from 5 matches and after being written off by everyone including their own countrymen, Pakistan aided by ample luck and the raw aggression of two of their future greats (Akram and Inzy), won everything there-on to eventually win the cup. ’96 saw them win almost everything in sight, until they hit a road block called Jadeja and Prasad. ’99 saw them lose to Bangladesh, but go on to the Finals to eventually lose very tamely to the Australians. 2003 was completely forgettable as they failed to even make the super sixes.

Can it get more inconsistent and unpredictable???? Expect nothing different this time too…

However this time, the Pakistanis have more problems to take care off – the pace bowling trio of Akthar, Asif and Gul are still not certainties. The team having been brutally vanquished by the South Africans, are certainly very low on morale. And to top that is the bad blood within the team – Inzy-Akthar, Woolmer-Akthar, Younis-Afridi to just name a few…

Let’s analyze the individual disciplines -

Batting –

On their day, this batting order is capable of achieving impossible heights (ask the South Africans) but then most days are not their days… The main problem is their not-yet-stabilized opening slots. Akmal, Nazir, Hafees, Malik are all capable of opening, but the slot is not yet finalized. The middle order is rock steady with the likes of Younis, Yousuf and Inzy capable enough to hold fort or slog. The lower middle order is once again inconsistent with Afridi and Razzaq generally promising more than they can offer. The depth in the batting is among the best in the business and if used effectively it could be a match winning one too.

Bowling –

The Pakistanis are famed for their potent bowling attacks and this time too it is no different (atleast it looks Potent enough on Paper). The drawback however is that none of the strike bowlers (Asif, Akthar and Gul) are certainties yet. Naved Hassan is fast becoming the most preferred bowler, of batting attacks during the power plays and death. Razzaq is no longer menacing enough. That leaves us with the spinners… Having Kaneria may turn out to be a great option on the slow pitches of the West Indies – but would Inzy have enough confidence to let him bowl on these small grounds and also compromise on the depth of the batting order is anyone’s guess. Afridi, Malik and Hafees too can bowl tidy spells.

Keeping –

Akmal is the keeper and though not the best in the business, his batting ability certainly lets him be the first choice. However his horrible form (both in front and behind the stumps) would be a point of huge concern.

Fielding –

In-spite of all the efforts of the coach and the support staff, Pakistanis are definitely not a great fielding side. With the occasional brilliance of Younis, there is very little else to write about.

My First Playing Eleven –

Imran Nazir
Akmal
Younis
Yousuf
Inzamam
Shoaib Malik
Afridi
Razzaq
Akthar
Asif
Gul

The line-up definitely looks good on paper – a long batting order, 4 fast bowlers, 3 part time spinners – looks perfect. But how many would be match fit is an impossible question to answer.