Pakistan is not good enough and we just have to accept it

[Abdullah]

South Africa did something different today and opened with Imran Tahir and that seemed to confuse and bamboozle Pakistan and totally ruin their gameplan.

They are so mentally weak that you expect a collapse any minute.

Not really , cos we were 60-1 after 11ish.
So that had nothing to do with it

 

[ShahidDar08]

Batting
Fast bowling
Spin bowling

Pakistan lagging behind in all the 3 departments.

Retain Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Shinwari + bring two right arm pacers.

Drop:Aamir, Fahim, Shadab, Imad.

Bring specialist spinners- Zafar Gowhar or someone better than him, an off spinner and a leg spinner.

 

[PakPremi]

Not really , cos we were 60-1 after 11ish.
So that had nothing to do with it

I Agree it was buisness as usual with Pakistan giving away soft wickets, nothing to do with quality of opposion bowling or their game plan. The only difference between Pak and other countries bat India and England's batting is that we give away wickets as gifts to opposition's.

 

[PakPremi]

Batting
Fast bowling
Spin bowling

Pakistan lagging behind in all the 3 departments.

Retain Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Shinwari + bring two right arm pacers.

Drop:Aamir, Fahim, Shadab, Imad.

Bring specialist spinners- Zafar Gowhar or someone better than him, an off spinner and a leg spinner.

No shinwari please his bowling is all over place and Amir has lost pace , so he needs to be removed as well.

 

[Savak]

We were 120 in 20 overs, the batsmen just choked and collapse under the miscroscope of expectations after that.

 

[a_tahir]

No shinwari please his bowling is all over place and Amir has lost pace , so he needs to be removed as well.

Shinwari is not mentally tough enough.
Imagine if you have one over left and 15 runs to defend. You'll feel confident right? But not when shinwari's around, he's a mental midget which was proven in the asia cup and is being proven now again

 

[Abdullah]

Shinwari is not mentally tough enough.
Imagine if you have one over left and 15 runs to defend. You'll feel confident right? But not when shinwari's around, he's a mental midget which was proven in the asia cup and is being proven now again

Losing it with him and Aamir.

 

[Mp812]

Mamoon was right when he said CT was fluke.

One just has to look results of 2 matches played between India and Pakistan ...i.e 2 matches before and 2 matches after the CT final...to conclude fluke or not.

 

[fitCricFan]

Teams are preparing for the World Cup and will be judged on how well they do in the competition. Pak won 2 matchs in SA and if they win a couple in England they will be feel good about the World Cup as the potential is there to beat anyone and win the Cup.

Yes, we did better than expected in the SA ODI's (2-3 is better than 1-4 or 0-).

Preparations apart, you cant simply judge a team based on its one off performance in the world cup and whether it won it. One team having a bad day or under-performing doesn't mean its trash. Yes WC is a coveted trophy but it in no way diminishes the credibility of a good team that fails to win the trophy.

I would rather see our team perform and win consistently and if it is at the cost of the WC, then so be it and for a change would like to see folks bet on us winning rather that loosing or being the under-dog, depending on luck and "performance on that day" to win. That would be a fluke.

 

[Syed1]

Think the lack of a proper spinner is hurting Pakistan. When was the last time Inzi picked a genuine spinner rather than a psuedo alrounder neither here nor there type of player.


It's not like he has to go on a scouting trip across the length and breadth of the country, he has ready made choices available in Zafar Gohar or Muhammad Asghar. Then there is Irfan Jr. as leggie. We do lack a genuine threatening offspinner who I personally think is the biggest asset for any side.


Mickey's mantra of picking bowlers who can bat has totally decimated our one suite we could rely on. Would you ever think a Pakistani bowling attack would let the opposition chase down 240 without even breaking a sweat. And this is not new it's been happening for a year or so, still preference given to bowlers who can bat rather than genuine bowlers.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Yes, we did better than expected in the SA ODI's (2-3 is better than 1-4 or 0-).

Preparations apart, you cant simply judge a team based on its one off performance in the world cup and whether it won it. One team having a bad day or under-performing doesn't mean its trash. Yes WC is a coveted trophy but it in no way diminishes the credibility of a good team that fails to win the trophy.

I would rather see our team perform and win consistently and if it is at the cost of the WC, then so be it and for a change would like to see folks bet on us winning rather that loosing or being the under-dog, depending on luck and "performance on that day" to win. That would be a fluke.

If the World Cup was years away, I'd agree but its just over 4 months now. The format of the World Cup is also different, you will have to play every team to progress into the semis. There is no way you can get lucky with the draw, facing weaker teams to progress. Pakistan also do pretty well in England and having won the CT not long ago in the same nation, now have a very good chance to lift the WC too. Pakistan are trying to play their best XI but know new faces will come into play so this is a experimental time for the team, even though they want to win each series. Series wins are important but at this time imo, the World Cup will show us how well Pakistan fair against the other world teams.

 

[fitCricFan]

I hear you and I really hope we do make the most of this time leading upto the WC, improve our game, play well and make it to the semi's and get to play the Indians. The better team on that day will win, hoping it will be us.

Win or loss apart, watching an Indo-Pak game is always a thriller for me and my friends because it does bring out that edge in both teams. Add to it the huge table of savories and delicacies that we always prepare for such a match and that makes it more worthwhile.

After our Asia cup loss, I was treated to a weekend at the Irish Cliffs which was a blast. I look forward to paying-it-back to my my buddies hoping that our team will oblige. If not, no biggie, just another game

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Pakistan cricket has been abysmal for the best part of our playing history and that's not an understatement but a fact. We did win matches when we started playing cricket but it was due to brilliance of one man and one man alone on certain kind of pitches. Granted Hanif stabilized our batting a bit but that was shortlived and didn't really spark a long-term batting revolution. We were utterly terrible and produced nothing until Mushtaq Muhammad rebranded our cricket and we started to play some good cricket on the back of a young fast bowler who had all the charm of Fazal and then some more.

This figure then towered above our cricket and became an icon. Times were good and two young fast bowlers just emerged from total obscurity. And hence we entered one of our best eras but that too if you look comparatively, wasn't world domination. Our best was sandwiched between the greatness from the Islands in the West and the utter dominance of the continent shaped island in the East.

Granted even after the retirement of Wasim we had Shoaib, Zahid, and even Sami to look for exciting fast bowling but the career of Sami is the story of our cricket. There and there abouts but never really there. Here was a guy who could crank up to 155 kph and had searing reverse swing and outswing but statistically has the worst bowling average of all fast bowlers who have played that much cricket. That's saying something.

Our cricket now is basically a wing and a prayer and that's about it. No time do our openers look settled enough to dominate, our middle order always looks mediocre and shaky, and bowling our saving grace for so long looks on its last legs. They aren't even skilled let alone fast. Then we have ex-players who have nothing positive to say, people who don't support cricket but want to just win, and a culture where sports is non-existent. I mean seriously we have schools that don't have playgrounds, cricket stadiums are virtually non-existent so how can we expect talent to keep emerging.

There's also a case of people who rise to the top having very little education (not always) and even little maturity. Outside of cricket they have no careers and they have to milk cricket as much as they can to maintain their lifestyle hence the trend of late retirements plagues our game. Our youngsters burst on the scene, play good cricket for two years, then become embroiled in team politics and lose their mojo.

And when we look at the domestic scene, grade II is filled with players from grade I, which is filled with players with bellies, bad fitness, and nepotism. It's a gravy train and everyone wants in; where's progress going to come from?

We may win a few series here and there and for that kudos to the team. As fans we've to see beyond the 11 that play the game but have to align our perspective with the ground realities. Normally the angry reaction comes when our expectations meet brutal reality and are shattered to bits and pain is all that remains behind. We are a bang on average cricket team, and historically a bang on cricket nation and with all the decline in our fortunes as a nation, to expect our cricket to rise is just mixing emotions and reality.

It's a sad state of affairs, but it is what it is.

 

[Hasan123]

There is enough talent in Pakistan to be competitive at this WC. I refuse to believe otherwise. Selecting a middle order of Sarfraz , Malik ,and Hafeez isn't giving Pakistan the best chance of competing at the WC.

 

[PakLFC]

The likes of IK have been raging of Pak's natural talent for ages. The tank is empty, we have nothing coming through at all other then more average players like Amir.

 

[Theo_14]

its one of those days.

It’s true though.

Pakistan’s grass root levels are such a bad state. Forget the pitches, let’s look at the basic needs... Have you seen the state of the changing rooms and toilets at domestic level?

We are not producing any world class potential talents - our bowling is no longer frightening and we are facing the same issue for a decade ie failing to win big series v big teams, failing to be consistent, failing to chase big scores, mental block etc etc

Pakistan is slowly on a decline with glimpse of hope - our selection policy and lack of focus on investing in Pak and Domestic cricket is costing us in the longer run.

 

[Theo_14]

pakistan cricket has been abysmal for the best part of our playing history and that's not an understatement but a fact. We did win matches when we started playing cricket but it was due to brilliance of one man and one man alone on certain kind of pitches. Granted hanif stabilized our batting a bit but that was shortlived and didn't really spark a long-term batting revolution. We were utterly terrible and produced nothing until mushtaq muhammad rebranded our cricket and we started to play some good cricket on the back of a young fast bowler who had all the charm of fazal and then some more.

This figure then towered above our cricket and became an icon. Times were good and two young fast bowlers just emerged from total obscurity. And hence we entered one of our best eras but that too if you look comparatively, wasn't world domination. Our best was sandwiched between the greatness from the islands in the west and the utter dominance of the continent shaped island in the east.

Granted even after the retirement of wasim we had shoaib, zahid, and even sami to look for exciting fast bowling but the career of sami is the story of our cricket. There and there abouts but never really there. Here was a guy who could crank up to 155 kph and had searing reverse swing and outswing but statistically has the worst bowling average of all fast bowlers who have played that much cricket. That's saying something.

Our cricket now is basically a wing and a prayer and that's about it. No time do our openers look settled enough to dominate, our middle order always looks mediocre and shaky, and bowling our saving grace for so long looks on its last legs. They aren't even skilled let alone fast. Then we have ex-players who have nothing positive to say, people who don't support cricket but want to just win, and a culture where sports is non-existent. I mean seriously we have schools that don't have playgrounds, cricket stadiums are virtually non-existent so how can we expect talent to keep emerging.

There's also a case of people who rise to the top having very little education (not always) and even little maturity. Outside of cricket they have no careers and they have to milk cricket as much as they can to maintain their lifestyle hence the trend of late retirements plagues our game. Our youngsters burst on the scene, play good cricket for two years, then become embroiled in team politics and lose their mojo.

And when we look at the domestic scene, grade ii is filled with players from grade i, which is filled with players with bellies, bad fitness, and nepotism. It's a gravy train and everyone wants in; where's progress going to come from?

We may win a few series here and there and for that kudos to the team. As fans we've to see beyond the 11 that play the game but have to align our perspective with the ground realities. Normally the angry reaction comes when our expectations meet brutal reality and are shattered to bits and pain is all that remains behind. We are a bang on average cricket team, and historically a bang on cricket nation and with all the decline in our fortunes as a nation, to expect our cricket to rise is just mixing emotions and reality.

It's a sad state of affairs, but it is what it is.

potw.

 

[Stewie]

We have won quite a few trophies. It is ridiculous to suggest that we hve always been mediocre or below par. We were excellent consistently through the 80s and 90s. We have also been good in the 2000s but not as good but we are nowhere a bottom of the ladder.

Now things got really bad for our ODI side towards the late 2000s and through the Misbah era but we were fine in tests and t20s.

Then when we thought our ODI side had hit lowest of the low, we won the Champions Trophy.

The only thing you can deduce from this pattern is that our cricket is cyclical and unpredictable. We hit peeks and troughs across formats for whatever reason or reasons. But we dont stop being competitive at some format or level.

So stop slitting wrists.. yes we could do better.. but its not the end.. we always do better at the world cup.. and in England we usually do better than most.

Cheers!

 

[Syed1]

Oh God so much doom and gloom. Tomorrow if Amir and Hasan find form and Shadab doesn't have his worst ever match this same Saffer side would struggle to chase 240. It's just a matter of too many of our players going through a lean patch AT THE SAME TIME, but all it takes is an inspirational moment. A breathtaking catch, a searing yorker that rattles the stumps or an out of the blue run out for it to all click together.


That's how we won 92 WC, 09 WT20 and CT 17. That is the Pakistani way.

 

[Stewie]

We need a couple of batsmen to perform and Amir to find his mojo and thats all we need really��

And its not entirely impossible because imam, fakhar, babar, hafeez and makik have all shown they can score. Its the collective collapse that makes it worse. Lol

But inhave to say i am worried about hasan and shadab being so inconsistent. I know amir will show up.. i have no doubt about that.

The biggest factor in our favor is that his is a long tiurnament and you are gauranteed 9 fames. We are slow starters and we usually starting warming up towards the tail end. If we dont lose too many up front, and keep fighting, i see us in the semis.. once in the semis, its anybody’s game..

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

I have a feeling we will do good in WC and Sarfraz will once again have a great global odi tournament after WC 2015 and CT 2017.

Lot depend on Haris' fitness as he is our best bat at playing pace. Yes even better than Babar. Looked in sublime touch against NZ in last odi. Having both Malik and Hafeez is too much.

One other important player who hasnt lived up to expectations till now is Faheem Ashraf.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

I am worried about bowling more though :/

Amir is mediocre now and the replacements arent anything to write about too.

Hope some quickie surprise us in PSL.

 

[The Viper]

I am worried about bowling more though :/

Amir is mediocre now and the replacements arent anything to write about too.

Hope some quickie surprise us in PSL.

Only Shaheen at the moment gives confidence for the bowling. The rest are too inconsistent. Especially Shinwari who can get smashed or run through the lineup.

 

[Stewie]

Hasan needs to get his mojo back quick.. i m not so sold on faheem anymore. He needs to contributr something with the bat. So much promise and he has been waaay below par..

But yes, bowling is a bigger worry because we win tournaments based on our bowling. Bad bowling form is absolutely a bad sign. Hopefully it will turn the corner.