Amidst the doom and gloom...

[Usman Chadda]

Yes, our team has issues. Glaring issues. But I believe this team has held its own by competing pretty well in two out of the three ODIs against the hot favourites for the WC, on their home grounds.

No one expected us to give England a scare in the 2nd ODI, when Fakhar blitzed their bowling attack to all parts and we scored 361. Would have won too, had it not been for the mediocre lower-order, which has underperformed in all three completed games so far.

We had England on the ropes in Nottingham, with them needing 80 off 41 balls at one stage. Unfortunately, the boys lost it in-terms of handling pressure and proceeded to give Stokes and Curran the right momentum at the wrong intervals to hand them the match.

If anyone told me Pakistan would score three 330+ scores in three consecutive games before the series, I would have called him/her an absolute nutter. Our batsmen have done well, while some of the bowlers did okay in the last game before being let down by horrible fielding.

There are definitely areas for improvement, but we won't be facing batsmen on steroids every game in the WC.

I'm trying to be positive, and in sha Allah the boys will respond. One inspirational bowling spell will lift the team. Let's get behind the lads and support them, as these are the ones who have been selected and will represent us at the WC

 

[Majestic_Inzi]

whichever bowler pak has they wont take wickets, these two new bowls in a game has killed it.

 

[Chokli]

It's only going to help us in the World Cup.

We're putting up a fight against the Number 1 side and making them sweat.

Imagine what we can do to other sides who are not number 1.

 

[Hasan123]

I don't understand why people are doing banghra over getting to 350 . It wasnt enough on those pitches. It was a good achievement but we needed to get more on those pitches. I don't think we will score these scores against India and Australia as they have better attacks than England.

 

[Usman Chadda]

I don't understand why people are doing banghra over getting to 350 . It wasnt enough on those pitches. It was a good achievement but we needed to get more on those pitches. I don't think we will score these scores against India and Australia as they have better attacks than England.

It's progress. We were worried we won't even score this much against England. Alhamdulillah, our top three has looked in good touch.

 

[Chokli]

I don't understand why people are doing banghra over getting to 350 . It wasnt enough on those pitches. It was a good achievement but we needed to get more on those pitches. I don't think we will score these scores against India and Australia as they have better attacks than England.

You should be happy we're not getting bundled out for 200 on these pitches.

 

[Hyperion66]

Impressed with Pak batting this series but toothless bowling is what letting them down. Amazing how the mighty have fallen!! The nation known for fiery fast bowlers now can't find a decent pacer.

 

[topspin]

I don't understand why people are doing banghra over getting to 350 . It wasnt enough on those pitches. It was a good achievement but we needed to get more on those pitches. I don't think we will score these scores against India and Australia as they have better attacks than England.

I would say the par score has been 400 in this series and our capability is around 340-460, so we're still somewhat at least 10% short.

It's like scoring 2250-270 on a 300 pitch. Batting is competitive at best, but definitely not hitting the par scores, let alone match winning totals.

 

[NauV]

I don't understand why people are doing banghra over getting to 350 . It wasnt enough on those pitches. It was a good achievement but we needed to get more on those pitches. I don't think we will score these scores against India and Australia as they have better attacks than England.

They also don't have a line up any where close to this English batting line up . . . this English batting line up is miles ahead of any other batting line up in the world today . .

 

[NauV]

Good thread man!

First of, people need to realize that this English batting line up is just bloody good! They have done it over and over again in the last 4 years . . if one batsman doesn't get you, another will . .and they have that ability down to number 10 or even 11 . .

In terms of bowling, India and Australia probably have better attacks . . India I think has the most well rounded attack . . so if your top 4 display the same kind of form, and you're putting up scores in excess of 320 330, I can guarantee you will be winning most games . .

Bowling wise . . look, it has been bad . . no doubt. . but English bowlers haven't faired that much better either . .and you have to take into account that PAkistani bowlers have had to contend with quality of batsman that's much higher than what the English bowlers have had to bowl to . . no Roy's, Bairstows, Buttlers, Morgans and co in our team . .

What I am genuinely worried and to a certain degree inquisitive about is the form of Shaheen Afridi . . he has far and away looked our best bowler in the LOI for a while now . . pace, bounce, accuracy, etc. . . he has not even looked a shadow of that bowler . . it's not even the fact that he has gone for a lot of runs . . everyone has . . it's the fact that he has just not looked the same bowler . . down on pace . . bowling leg side garbage . . no venom . . almost like no effort . . Perhaps [MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] has insight into what's going on with him. . is he not 100% fit? Not sure what the issue is . .

By and large, there is enough positives to not be completely demoralized . . need some inspiration the bowling and fielding front . . ability is there . . World cup comes once in 4 years .. need to light a fire in the belly . . who knows where we go from there . .

Focus should be 31st of May and game against WI and a good start there!

Good Luck team Pakistan!

 

[msb314]

I don't understand why people are doing banghra over getting to 350 . It wasnt enough on those pitches. It was a good achievement but we needed to get more on those pitches. I don't think we will score these scores against India and Australia as they have better attacks than England.

350 was enough.

Although the wicket was flat and had nothing for the bowlers - we had to adapt and bowl defensively whilst reducing their shot making opportunities. We end up conceding 70-80 runs in the first 10 overs every time which is frankly unacceptable. Not to mention crappy fielding let us down big time...

 

[Hasan123]

350 was enough.

Although the wicket was flat and had nothing for the bowlers - we had to adapt and bowl defensively whilst reducing their shot making opportunities. We end up conceding 70-80 runs in the first 10 overs every time which is frankly unacceptable. Not to mention crappy fielding let us down big time...

Yes I agree our bowling has been poor. But I think we should have scored more at times. We should have won the 1st game. Our lack of quality cost us in all departments has cost us.

 

[Hasan123]

They also don't have a line up any where close to this English batting line up . . . this English batting line up is miles ahead of any other batting line up in the world today . .

Rohit
Dhwaan
Kohli

Warner
Finch
Smith
Khawaja
Maxi

Your telling me these guys cant help their team get over 350 ?

 

[Hasan123]

I would say the par score has been 400 in this series and our capability is around 340-460, so we're still somewhat at least 10% short.

It's like scoring 2250-270 on a 300 pitch. Batting is competitive at best, but definitely not hitting the par scores, let alone match winning totals.

Yes I agree with this. Look how England chased 358 easily in the last game. Yes they have a strong line up but it does that score was not enough.

 

[Hasan123]

It's progress. We were worried we won't even score this much against England. Alhamdulillah, our top three has looked in good touch.

Our top 3 look good no doubt but I am worried about how we finish the innings. I don't trust our middle order at all.

 

[Hasan123]

You should be happy we're not getting bundled out for 200 on these pitches.

Lol fair point. But now that we got into those positions we have to hammer home the advantage.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Rohit
Dhwaan
Kohli

Warner
Finch
Smith
Khawaja
Maxi

Your telling me these guys cant help their team get over 350 ?

In England, Not very likely.
Check the stats from the last time these teams played each other.
Aus got thrashed 5-0 in eng and 4-1 in aus and ind won the first game due to Kuldeep and were butchered in the next two.

 

[Chokli]

Lol fair point. But now that we got into those positions we have to hammer home the advantage.

Indeed we should.

But when your set batsman, your best one supposedly, doesn't score a single boundary from overs 27 to 37 then it'll be difficult.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Only Pakistani fans will find a positive in a 8 match losing streak.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Our top 3 look good no doubt but I am worried about how we finish the innings. I don't trust our middle order at all.

True. Addition of Hafeez will make things better hopefully. First game back after a long lay off, and he looked in decent touch aswell. Shootout between Asif and Malik for the number 5 spot IMO.

 

[Hasan123]

In England, Not very likely.
Check the stats from the last time these teams played each other.
Aus got thrashed 5-0 in eng and 4-1 in aus and ind won the first game due to Kuldeep and were butchered in the next two.

Players like Malik and Hafeez scoring in England but elite players like Kohli and Rohit will struggle. ) )

That was a different Australia team. Warner ,Smith ,and Khawaja can do damage in flat pitches.

Also this Australian team chased down 364 against Kuldeep and Chahal after being 13-2 . Pakistan couldn't do that in their wildest dreams.

Every team is called weaker or rubbish in department yet they hammer our team still.

 

[Chokli]

True. Addition of Hafeez will make things better hopefully. First game back after a long lay off, and he looked in decent touch aswell. Shootout between Asif and Malik for the number 5 spot IMO.

Sarfraz said he will bat at 5, number 6 should go to Asif.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Sarfraz said he will bat at 5, number 6 should go to Asif.

Agreed

 

[Hasan123]

True. Addition of Hafeez will make things better hopefully. First game back after a long lay off, and he looked in decent touch aswell. Shootout between Asif and Malik for the number 5 spot IMO.

Hafeez looked good.

I wouldn't trust Malik. Asif does well against pace. I would go with Asif. Maybe on a drier surface with spin on offer , Malik could play.

We need to play players according to the situation .

 

[Usman Chadda]

Hafeez looked good.

I wouldn't trust Malik. Asif does well against pace. I would go with Asif. Maybe on a drier surface with spin on offer , Malik could play.

We need to play players according to the situation .

Yes. Malik and Hafeez should play against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India. They are the only two reliable players of spin.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Players like Malik and Hafeez scoring in England but elite players like Kohli and Rohit will struggle. ) )

That was a different Australia team. Warner ,Smith ,and Khawaja can do damage in flat pitches.

Also this Australian team chased down 364 against Kuldeep and Chahal after being 13-2 . Pakistan couldn't do that in their wildest dreams.

Every team is called weaker or rubbish in department yet they hammer our team still.

Are you alright?
When did i say the pitches will be the same??
The pitches won't be as dead as they are now in the WC. So obviously it will be harder to score 350+.
On these pitches, obviously they can score 350+, they're one of the top batting sides for a reason

 

[Ronaldo7]

Only Pakistani fans will find a positive in a 8 match losing streak.

Don't see how the aus series is relevant?
Only 3 players from that squad have played against eng.

 

[Hasan123]

Yes. Malik and Hafeez should play against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India. They are the only two reliable players of spin.

Hafeez has done enough to start other games as well as those games you have said.

All teams will have spinners so he will be useful in all games.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Hafeez has done enough to start other games as well as those games you have said.

All teams will have spinners so he will be useful in all games.

But we've played eng's spinners (Rashid and moeen) really well in all the matches we've played. Even in the 2 matches where Malik and Hafeez weren't playing.

 

[Hasan123]

Are you alright?
When did i say the pitches will be the same??
The pitches won't be as dead as they are now in the WC. So obviously it will be harder to score 350+.
On these pitches, obviously they can score 350+, they're one of the top batting sides for a reason

Trent Bridge is a WC venue so India and Australia will back themselves to score big on that pitch.

I am fully aware that conditions will be different for different venues , heck I am 1 of the view who said this. But on batting surfaces India and Australia will score big. That's my point.

 

[Hasan123]

But we've played eng's spinners (Rashid and moeen) really well in all the matches we've played. Even in the 2 matches where Malik and Hafeez weren't playing.

Hafeez has done enough to play at the WC. I don't think Malik should start the tournament.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Trent Bridge is a WC venue so India and Australia will back themselves to score big on that pitch.

I am fully aware that conditions will be different for different venues , heck I am 1 of the view who said this. But on batting surfaces India and Australia will score big. That's my point.

Fair enough.

 

[Cric1234]

The good thing is Mickey will be shown the door he has shown zero will to change a losing formula always the same top order no spinner which every team needs fast bowlers unable to adapt.
Why not send Imad or even Hasan Ali when the team is 150/1 to pinch hit a quick 50 to see what happens.
It's about flexibility which isn't being shown same mistakes are being repeated unless things improve drastically it could be a long few months.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Hafeez has done enough to play at the WC. I don't think Malik should start the tournament.

He's scored 40 off 20 odd balls which is enough for a senior to justify his spot. If he, god forbid, scores similarly tomorrow then he'll definitely start.

 

[gazza619]

I think we are confusing ourselves with the high scores by Pakistan. 340 on these pitches and small boundaries is not that much.

Agree that we need to be positive.

 

[Hasan123]

He's scored 40 off 20 odd balls which is enough for a senior to justify his spot. If he, god forbid, scores similarly tomorrow then he'll definitely start.

Yes that 40 will be enough for him to start especially as Asif Ali failed in the same game.

 

[Hasan123]

I think we are confusing ourselves with the high scores by Pakistan. 340 on these pitches and small boundaries is not that much.

Agree that we need to be positive.

This is my point. On flat pitches and small boundaries like this ,400 has to be the target.

 

[Pete Rose]

I am under no doom and gloom blues. Pakistan of past would either score 270 odd batting first or would get dismissed for 220 chasing anything over 270.
I trust the bowling will get it right eventually.

 

[QalandarFan]

I am under no doom and gloom blues. Pakistan of past would either score 270 odd batting first or would get dismissed for 220 chasing anything over 270.
I trust the bowling will get it right eventually.

+1 I completely agree with you and OP. People are being over pessimistic.

 

[PakPlayer]

Do you think england could have made 400, with such a batting line up? Only in the third odi.

2 out of 3 odi we have only lost by 12 runs and 3 balls. The difference in rankings means it should have been more. We have done well.

Realistically none of us really thought we would win the world cup. Our bowling has been poor but then again so has england otherwise we would not have challenged them in 2 out of 3 games.

If we caught and fielded better we would be leading the series 2- 1 ( also if Sarfraz batted better in the second odi).

 

[Gullycricket]

I want to say we are doing ok.Nobody expected us to beat England anyways.Playing England on these pitches is like facing Aussies of 2000's where we know the results.People coming up with their fancy teams should realize no Saud,Saad,Shehzad,Wahab,Uks ,Umer khan etc would do any better than this team.
Better to focus on WC where will get different oppositions and hope catch England on an off day like CT.

 

[Mean&Green]

Yes, our team has issues. Glaring issues. But I believe this team has held its own by competing pretty well in two out of the three ODIs against the hot favourites for the WC, on their home grounds.

No one expected us to give England a scare in the 2nd ODI, when Fakhar blitzed their bowling attack to all parts and we scored 361. Would have won too, had it not been for the mediocre lower-order, which has underperformed in all three completed games so far.

We had England on the ropes in Nottingham, with them needing 80 off 41 balls at one stage. Unfortunately, the boys lost it in-terms of handling pressure and proceeded to give Stokes and Curran the right momentum at the wrong intervals to hand them the match.

If anyone told me Pakistan would score three 330+ scores in three consecutive games before the series, I would have called him/her an absolute nutter. Our batsmen have done well, while some of the bowlers did okay in the last game before being let down by horrible fielding.

There are definitely areas for improvement, but we won't be facing batsmen on steroids every game in the WC.

I'm trying to be positive, and in sha Allah the boys will respond. One inspirational bowling spell will lift the team. Let's get behind the lads and support them, as these are the ones who have been selected and will represent us at the WC

Man nothing to get excited about England has the worst bowling line up in the world but I’ve been happy we’ve been starting to get 280+ scores recently even against Australia

 

[sam_ahm]

It's the number of losses and the elementary mistakes Pakistan have been doing which is a point of concern here. Even if you score 500 hundred who cares, as long as lose it doesn't matter.

18 losses in last 21 matchs. - this itself is mind-boggling.
Consistently dropping catches.
Ground fielding not good enough
Captaincy / tactical errors.

These r the worrying points, and it has nothing to do with you facing England.

 

[BDfanforever]

...
We're putting up a fight against the Number 1 side and making them sweat.

Imagine what we can do to other sides who are not number 1.

Sorry to burst your bubble there, but you would still be on umpteenth losing streak against sides not number 1 lol.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

The problem for me is Pakistan has no lower order or iffy middle order at best.

At least against Australia and India and to an extent NZ, if they get rid of our top 3, we have 100 percent lost the game.

England is one of those teams that out bats rather than out bowls the opposition. And their approach is simple. They chase whatever they get, or if they bat first, they get close to 400 and no team is going to realistically chase it under pressure.

So while the approbation is not inappropriate, you have to look at the context. England is one of the few teams that has a miserable bowling attack and a gun batting attack. And they proved by even winning from 80 off 45 odd balls 6 wickets down.

This is my issue. If we win at least one match against them, I see progress. If we lose all 4 matches, there is really no progress except knowing what we don't know. That most batting heavy teams will out bat us 9 times out of 10 in the World Cup. Is it enough to win the trophy? I don't think so.

 

[NauV]

Rohit
Dhwaan
Kohli

Warner
Finch
Smith
Khawaja
Maxi

Your telling me these guys cant help their team get over 350 ?

No . . even Pakistan can get to 350 as shown in the last 3 ODIs . . My point is that no team in the world other than ENgland can get to that score with such frequecy and disdain should we consistently put such scores on the board . .

England is far and away the best and the most brutal batting line up in the world . .

 

[Kroll]

We must be minnows if fans are doing bhangra for scoring 350 yet still racking up loss after loss.