Champions Trophy 2009-Team Review: Pakistan

Pakistan Cricket

Pakistan my home team, reviewing it will be a challenge but fun, so let’s do it.

Pakistan is always a team of surprises either good way or bad way. If they come to conquer the world they surprise the world so much that something fishy is labeled with them like ball tempering etc. And if they decides to drift down the slope they are worse and people started to think an end of the team. Tony Greig don’t assume Pakistan in favourites for ICC Champions Trophy 2009 but he is afraid of under estimating them, lol what a reputation.

The Team

Pakistan Squad: Younis Khan (capt), Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Naved-ul Hasan, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal (wk), Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal.

Looks like a good bunch of players on paper. Bowling attack is threatening with inclusion of Asif but wait he is back after two years of almost no cricket don’t expect something extraordinary from him, Younis Khan is right saying that we can’t expect great performance from Asif straight away. But there are Umar Gul a proven limited over sensation specially later in the innings. On top Aamer the 17-year-old youngster has shown great potential and temperament. There are all-rounders to support these specialists like Rana Naveed and Rao Iftikhar.

Spin attack is pretty successful in recent times with Saeed Ajmal and Afridi, both have the ability to get wicket in the middle parts of the inning with there varieties and also containing batsmen from scoring freely.

Batting consists of names like Younis Khan, Misbah, Yousaf and Fawad Alam in middle order. Opening slot is vulnerable with no clear choice, Imran Nazir is the specialist will likely to open with Kamran Akmal,  Shoaib Malik or even Afridi . There is some fire power is lower middle order in form of Afridi, Rana Naveed, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal provided any of them not promoted to top order.

Couple of exciting youngsters are in the squad with recent debut Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam and Aamer to name them. The most awful thing about the squad is absence of Abdul Razzak, how can you miss him?.

Strength

Bowling for sure, as seen recently Pakistan is cruising along due to some good bowling performances rather than batting in recent past. T20 cup June 2009 is the classic example of it. There is variety, depth, attack, speed and depth bowling every thing is pretty good. And if organisers produced some healthy pitches South African conditions surely going to help them.

Batting on their day is very good, blasting opening pair of Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal/Afridi/Shoaib Malik. Strong solid middle order with class of Yousuf, un-orthodox of Younis and improvisation of Misbah. Late order is deep with all-rounders and power hitter/finishers. Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam are also exciting additions.

Weakness

Batting is a real worry despite some good batsmen in team still no consistency due to lack of technique and implementation. Batsmen are foolishly giving their wickets rather than getting out to good bowling. Javed Miandad said they lack in basics as they were trying to play shots while moving, shuffling, leaving stumps to play a shot, slogging etc. Ah, T20 charm right? Also indicates lack of nursing in grass root. He is giving tips to improve their performance but that’s not a one week task you need to plan long term for that.

I haven’t discussed fielding of any team yet but here I am forced to say, Pakistan need to maintain a high standard in fielding to make some difference. They have some good young fielders but overall it is not that good as always.

Bowling is good but still they need to adjust to conditions and situation of the match, captain also need to use them accordingly.

Group

Pakistan is in a tough group, they need to beat at least one of Australia or India, big ask hmm? West Indies is relatively easy team specially if its b-grade team appears which Pakistan have to face in their opening match. After that two hard tasks. Some players and captain Younis voiced their eager to beat India in a major ICC tournament could possibly hint the plan to beat India with WI to qualify for semis. Whatever Pakistan vs India on 26th September will be a hell of a match as usual (hopefully )

Chances

There are two rocks in their way to semi final, they have to beat a strong team. Providing their unpredictability they have some chances of making it through. They have to have a hard go on one of either India or Australia. I assume they selected India in their second match for slaughter and it is a right choice being emotional rivals from long time and an eager to beat them in a ICC event might help the cause. And if this doesn’t happen they will have another chance to play their skin out against Aussies. Oh yes they have to win against West Indies in first match for sure of course to make the other plan successful.

In semi final and final its all about the best who played best in all departments of the game.

Mathematically speaking I am inclined to give them 60% : 40% win : loss ratio. And add their unpredictability to both side of equation and you get Pakistan team in ICCCT 2009.

Looking forward for a great display!