Pakistan’s World Cup hopes undermined by inconsistency
Pakistan’s World Cup hopes undermined by inconsistency
Richard Sydenham (Bloomberg) - 10 February 2003
Pakistan have the most experienced player in one-day international cricket, the two most successful bowlers and the highest run-scorer in a match – and only an outside chance to win the World Cup.
Because of the team’s struggle to string together consecutive victories and its history of infighting, bookmakers rank Pakistan the fourth favorite behind champions Australia, hosts South Africa and arch-rivals India.
“One day we’re the best, the next we can be the worst,” said opening batsman Saeed Anwar, whose 194 against India in 1997 remains the highest score in a one-day match.
He played in the 1999 World Cup when Pakistan beat the Australians in the group stage and lost to them in the most one-sided final ever. They also lost to Bangladesh in the biggest upset of the event. Anwar put many of the problems down to a lack of stability in Pakistan cricket.
Since the 1996 tournament, there have been six captains and 12 changes to the coach, and the Pakistan Cricket Board has employed seven chief executives. England has had three full-time captains and two coaches in the same period.
Pakistan cricket is now showing signs of stability in time for the sport’s biggest showpiece, which runs from Sunday to March 23.
Waqar Younis, the second-highest wicket-taker in one-dayers with 409 victims, has been captain since May 2001, Richard Pybus was rehired as coach in September, and General Tauqir Zia has presided over the PCB since December 1999.
“There are lots of factors that go into performance,” Pybus said in an interview. “If you want consistent world-class performances, you have to have a consistent world-class support system. That hasn’t always been there, though 5the PCB has gone a long way to correcting that.”
The PCB, which says it missed out on revenue of about $25 million over the past two years because countries canceled tours to Pakistan, recently established three national academies to nurture young talent.
It also appointed physiotherapist Dennis Waight, who worked with the West Indies during their unbeaten 15-year run in Test series from 1980. It still needs facilities for sports science and sports medicine, Pybus said.
The new accent on fitness may boost Pakistan’s hopes of repeating the 1992 World Cup triumph of Imran Khan’s team.
Inzamam-ul Haq, who marked his international debut by hitting 60 runs off 37 balls at that tournament, has lost about 23 pounds in the past six months and aims to shed another five pounds by the match against India on March 1. Inzamam has been run out in 34 of his one-day matches.
Talent is not a problem. The team has Shoaib Akhtar, the only man timed at bowling faster than 100 miles-per-hour, and Wasim Akram has played a world record 350 one-day matches and taken 490 wickets.
“Individual talent doesn’t make a team,” said Pybus, who was assistant coach to Mushtaq Mohammed in 1999. “Anyone who’s watched Pakistan will know it doesn’t matter if you’ve got top-class operators because it doesn’t mean you have a cohesive unit.”
The squabbling that has dogged Pakistan cricket may now be over. Whereas splinter groups have previously tried to oust captains, Waqar is managing to unite his players.
“There is a massive turnaround in the attitude of the players,” said Inzamam, the fourth-highest run-scorer in one-day internationals. “Maybe they feel it’s time to pay back the PCB that has gone all the way to support them. Whatever the case, this team looks determined, disciplined and committed.”
According to Pybus, the team made progress during its Month long tour of South Africa in December and January even though it lost both Tests and went down 4-1 in the one-day series.
“It’s great that we’ve been there and had the chance to acclimatize,” said Pybus. “Sides from Asia have to adjust their game more than most because of the faster, bouncier pitches.”
The 15-man squad – 10 of which played in the 1999 World Cup - is the strongest available, Pybus said. Their experience may be crucial in a group comprising Australia, Pakistan, India, England, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands and Namibia. Only three can progress to the next stage.
For the 34-year-old Saeed, it’s a chance to retire on a high after a knee injury and a fractured wrist limited his opportunities last year. His 8,605 runs in 242 matches is the sixth-highest total in one-day internationals.
“I’m really excited,” said Saeed, whose last match was in the Champions Trophy six months ago. “I’ve made four or five comebacks so this situation is not unusual for me.”
Saeed, who averaged 82 in the 1996 tournament and 40 in 1999, has been practicing in Pakistan on cement pitches, particularly cut and pull shots. His previous form in South Africa is mixed. He averages 34.14 in four Tests and just 11.77 in 10 one-day matches there.
“I want to leave the game in a decent way, like Imran Khan in 1992,” he said. “It’s better to leave than for somebody to kick you out.”
© Bloomberg
