Re: "Defensive mindset snatches defeat from jaws of victory" - Imran Khan
I chuckle at those who are now longing for Salman Butt. Guys, your memories are deceiving you. Butt started off phenomenally in Australia but then has lost his way, and you know why? Because other teams read through him. They know his weaknesses and unless he fixes them they will get to him every time. Thats why he failed again and again, before he was dropped from the team. This happens when a cricketer has faulty technique and is just a flash in the pan talent. Talent alone can not make you successful at international level on a consistent basis.
I think its Pakistani mindset to long for the one who is invisible and trash those who are actually there. As they say -- Dur ke dhol suhaanay!
Hafeez is a terrific asset to the team. He should not be dropped. Opening with Younis may or may not work. Kamran is always an option. He is a tulla... chal giya so chal giya. Most critical is that Younis, Yousaf and Inzi have to play it out till the 40th over at a reasonable run rate. After Afridi is back, most likely Nazir and Rana will make way for Afridi and Sami. Shoaib Malik is an other extremely under-rated player. He is also a phenomenal asset for the team.
We all say Pakistan has mediocre bowling; however it was our batting that lost us the first game. 241 is an eminently gettable score on an easy batting friendly wicket. If Nazir had not gone out on the 3rd ball or if Younis had not gotten out, we could be looking at 105/1 at the end of 15 overs rather then the pathetic 43/3. I don't even want to start on how MoYo and Inzi batted
What asset? For god's sake, he is the worst opener in world cricket. Give me one good thing about his batting. so he bowls nice offspin, so what. That doesn't give him license to open. People need to stop bashing Nazir and Butt when Hafeez, such an incompetent player, is overlooked.
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