burger_uno
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- Joined
- Mar 19, 2016
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Some threads on Pakistan’s recent poor record got me thinking.
Up until the mid-80s, Pak was a mediocre odi side. After getting into strong positions, team more often than not choked such as against WI in 75 WC and against WI and England in 79 world cup. Pak also had an abysmal record against India in matches played on neutral venues. India humiliated Pak twice in Australia in 1985 and soon after, dismissed Pak side for 87 when Pak was chasing around 130 in Sharjah. Goes without saying that record against WI was rather horrific. Overall, by the end of 1985, Pak had odi W/L ratio of 39/53 with losing record against all major countries with exception of Australia against whom Pak was 500.
So what happened after that? Most people will say Sharjah 1986 or emergence of Akram but that is not the full story. By early 80's, Imran khan had become the dominant cricketing personality in Pak and one of cricket's intl superstars. Imran wanted the team to operate at his own level but recognised that Pak could not be competitive because Pakistani batsmen were mentally soft. To rectify this limitation, Imran pushed the board to arrange more matches against the best of the lot i.e. Windies.
During the decade of the 80's Pak played 45odis against WI Which was 1.5x the number played against the next most frequent opponent which was India. More importantly, in that period, Pak played more matches against WI In Australia than at home. Miandad in his career played 21odis against WI In Australia. In comparison, Azharuddin played 4. For Pakistani batsmen like Miandad, it became much easier to play likes of Chetan Sharma, Binny and Madan Lal in South Asia after having faced likes of Marshall, Holding and Garner on WACA and MCG multiple times. In addition pace bowling standards improved drastically in Pakistan domestic cricket in late 80s which enabled new players to adjust much more easily to international cricket.
Sadly for Pak supporters things have come full circle. Most Pakistani batsman when they come to the scene now seem horribly overmatched especially against good pace bowling. The last few series in Australia/NZ have been embarrassing for Pak supporters. This is partly due to fault of the board and partly due to circumstances. Opposition pace attack has been by UAE pitches which has prevented batsmen from developing their techniques. At the same time, domestic cricket was played on sub-standard pitches where slow medium pacers could average in high teens.
Return of intl cricket is a welcome development. So is the progress of players like Rizwan and Fahim Ashraf who have been with intl setup for a number of years and have adapted their game. To take the game to next level, Pak must adapt the approach IK took. Pak team can only get better by playing against top quality opponents in challenging conditions. Previous admins have let the supporters down badly but situation is looking better now but for the foreseeable future its likely to be no pain no gain.
Up until the mid-80s, Pak was a mediocre odi side. After getting into strong positions, team more often than not choked such as against WI in 75 WC and against WI and England in 79 world cup. Pak also had an abysmal record against India in matches played on neutral venues. India humiliated Pak twice in Australia in 1985 and soon after, dismissed Pak side for 87 when Pak was chasing around 130 in Sharjah. Goes without saying that record against WI was rather horrific. Overall, by the end of 1985, Pak had odi W/L ratio of 39/53 with losing record against all major countries with exception of Australia against whom Pak was 500.
So what happened after that? Most people will say Sharjah 1986 or emergence of Akram but that is not the full story. By early 80's, Imran khan had become the dominant cricketing personality in Pak and one of cricket's intl superstars. Imran wanted the team to operate at his own level but recognised that Pak could not be competitive because Pakistani batsmen were mentally soft. To rectify this limitation, Imran pushed the board to arrange more matches against the best of the lot i.e. Windies.
During the decade of the 80's Pak played 45odis against WI Which was 1.5x the number played against the next most frequent opponent which was India. More importantly, in that period, Pak played more matches against WI In Australia than at home. Miandad in his career played 21odis against WI In Australia. In comparison, Azharuddin played 4. For Pakistani batsmen like Miandad, it became much easier to play likes of Chetan Sharma, Binny and Madan Lal in South Asia after having faced likes of Marshall, Holding and Garner on WACA and MCG multiple times. In addition pace bowling standards improved drastically in Pakistan domestic cricket in late 80s which enabled new players to adjust much more easily to international cricket.
Sadly for Pak supporters things have come full circle. Most Pakistani batsman when they come to the scene now seem horribly overmatched especially against good pace bowling. The last few series in Australia/NZ have been embarrassing for Pak supporters. This is partly due to fault of the board and partly due to circumstances. Opposition pace attack has been by UAE pitches which has prevented batsmen from developing their techniques. At the same time, domestic cricket was played on sub-standard pitches where slow medium pacers could average in high teens.
Return of intl cricket is a welcome development. So is the progress of players like Rizwan and Fahim Ashraf who have been with intl setup for a number of years and have adapted their game. To take the game to next level, Pak must adapt the approach IK took. Pak team can only get better by playing against top quality opponents in challenging conditions. Previous admins have let the supporters down badly but situation is looking better now but for the foreseeable future its likely to be no pain no gain.
