Re: Pakistan Team - developments and news (merged)
‘‘Expect drama from the Pakistan team’’ - Rameez
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\07\story_7-3-2007_pg2_3
Team analysis: Call it mental strength or aberration, Pakistan has a habit of striking back only after it has been bullied or almost punched out of the contest. Recent form doesn’t fill you with hope but going by history, and the 1992 World Cup where we were embarrassed regularly by most teams and we still managed to win it, expect drama and miraculous victories from this team in this World Cup as well. The team has always had the element of individual brilliance and when its cricket takes shape with method the combination becomes worthy of serious presence on the field. The team boasts of match-winners and [Danish] Kaneria’s inclusion has certainly given the bowling attack bit of body and teeth, and it has warmed my heart as well.
Weaknesses: I think the team’s greatest weakness is that it is consistently inconsistent. Hot one day, cold the other; most of its all-rounders are out of form and are getting exposed quite frequently against good teams. Youngsters are still raw at understanding the game and their progress is painfully slow. An unsettled opening pair is putting constant back-breaking pressure on the middle order and Shoaib’s and Asif’s pullout is bound to upset the team and it chances at the World Cup.
Key areas to improve on: To win matches, Pakistan need to play the right combinations. At times the eleven is top-heavy with all-rounders. If you overload your team with bits-and-pieces cricketers at the expense of specialists it can backfire and steer the team expertly towards losing the game. Fielding needs to improve a couple of notches at least; nobody expects them to field eleven Jonty Rhodes but at least fielders should be good enough to do the basics well. Inzamamul Haq needs to brush up his captaincy manual when it comes to using a leg spinner as a match-winner in the one-day game.
Pakistan must also improve their fitness in general discipline and it is directly responsible to performance. Professional teams and individuals sacrifice comforts and wants to achieve greatness in the sport – a mantra that Pakistan need to adopt if it is to taste success at the World Cup.
Recent form: Their recent form in Pakistan was patchy to say the least. They lost more than they won, both matches and players. Besides playing poorly at times the limited pool of players, of fit players, was also a cause of the form slump.
Key players: If Pakistan’s resources have stringed down appreciable by Shoaib and Asif’s departure, the pressure has increased two-fold on the bowling and the already over worked middle order. Inzi, [Mohammad] Yousuf and Younis [Khan] will have to play out of their skins throughout the World Cup to secure an honourable presence for Pakistan at this mega event.
Shahid Afridi could be the mercurial giant for Pakistan in this World Cup. It was quite interesting listening to his take on losing his all-round partner Abdul Razzaq. He felt that his absence would put pressure on him and so he would give more consideration to singles and twos. Now we all know that it will not be less than a miracle if he makes that change; but we also know that when he decides to be sensible and hit the ball straight then no attack is safe enough to suppress his raw brilliance. His bowling will allow a bit of range to Inzi as a captain, and his record as a bowler in the West Indies are good enough to consider him as a bowling challenge for the opposition.
Adaptability to West Indian conditions: Pakistan and other Asian teams should not find West Indies conditions alien and difficult to cope with. The fact that pitches have been prepared by the ICC curator Andy Atkinson, whom Pakistan used for a couple of series to good effect, is a positive sign as teams can expect that balance between bat and ball. Somehow I am inclined to feel that spinners will have a role to play in this World Cup and if so, it may turn out to be a surprise sub continental victory at the 2007 big event.
