Pakistan should seize the opportunity
BY ZAFAR SAMDANI
What chance Pakistan stands to win the first of three VB series finals against Australia today? Plenty. At least judging from the manner in which the team gelled together in the last two matches.
That the team has also gained a psychological edge over the opponents is to be seen in a self-reassuring statement from ace pace-man McGrath maintaining that Australia would be favorites to win. This is an expression of nerves and uncertainty not seen in the mighty Aussies for at least half a decade if not a longer period of time.
Australia was almost defeated by West Indies during the tri-nation tournament but rain saved it from a second embarrassment; the first was in the Champions Trophy in London last year when the West Indians took the honour from it. The VB series performance against the West Indies exposed their limitations. Pakistan drove that point to the hilt by comprehensive success over the celebrated home team.
Brain Lara has tried to lend a helping hand by assessing that Pakistan has the ability to defeat the Australians. The problem of continuously failing but previously prolific opener Hayden has become an additional chink in the Aussie armor. This is so not because he has been getting out for low to no scores but because Shoaib Akhtar humbled him in the Test series. His loss of confidence has been fully exploited by the rookie Pakistani attack.
All of a sudden, the visitor's weak bowling has growing in to an area of advantage for the tourist. The relatively inexperienced Rana Naveed seems to have inspired his even greener colleagues, Mohammad Khalil and Rao Iftikhar. Both of them bowled well against Australia.
It is to be assumed that Abdur Razzak would not be lacklustre again. That makes them an excellent foursome. With Shahid Afridi displaying growing confidence and acumen, the attack has started developing lethalness.
But the managers of the touring squad need to rethink the playing eleven. The thinking of the captain, Inzamamul Haq that wickets should be retained to launch an attack in the later part of the innings has weight but that should not mean a crawl at the start.
With Salman Butt needing to re-assert himself, the team could do with a more authentic partner for him than Kamran Akmal who should prove a better batsman low down, possibly like Afridi and Abdur Razzak who have become more reliable than they were while playing at higher position. They have come to be feared by opponents and Akmal can also be groomed for a similar role.
The pace quartet plus Afridi are an excellent attack but there would be no harm in beefing up bowling. There are two options: Azhar Mehmood and Mohammad Hafeez. The former would be more of the same in the presence of four medium pacers; the off spin of Hafeez could add variety to the attack.
He would come in handy if one of the bowlers gets a hiding. Moreover, he can be batted as opener or one drop. A playing eleven composed along these lines would give the Aussies a harder run for their money, particularly as Hafeez performed reasonably well as batsman in his last outing. Yasir Hameed should be persisted with.
As the two main batsmen of the side Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana have hit mid season form, the batting that was a plus point of the team even in the Test series that inflicted a white-wash on the visitors, followed by Abdur Razzak, Afridi and Akmal, with Rana gaining confidence as batsman too, there is every reason to expect the players to produce a tough target for Australia or chase a challenging one. With the boys bristling with confidence and zeal in the field, Pakistan has started looking like a difficult-to-beat outfit with winning combinations.
The team seems to have faulted in one way. This has been so possibly because the players are not fully versed in the ways of the world and Bob Woolmer and Haroon Rashid failed to provide them guidance. They should have worn black armbands after the death of Younis Khan's father.
As Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, experienced diplomat Shaharyar Khan is now with the team, one hopes they do that now to show solidarity with colleague Rana Naveed's grief whose father passed away the other day. His courage in staying with the team instead of returning home for mourning should also be acknowledged.
D maybe azhars given birth now so wont be tied down with extra weight!
