owenhcricket
Tape Ball Regular
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2023
- Runs
- 418
My first tourny while on PP so I thought I'd post a review of Pakistan's time in the tournament, what was good, what was bad and what neds to be improved in time for the CWC 2023, which let's be honest is what this tournament was all about.
The End
Let's start with Pakistan's final match, essentially a quarterfinal for a place against India this Sunday. In that regards, Pakistan pushed themselves and Sri Lanka to the edge, in a riveting game of cricket. The better side won without a doubt and no rain or pitch issues were to blame here (although the rain did make it flat, which also helped Rizwan and Iftikhar).
In a complete u-turn from the India game, the Pakistan fielding gave everything, with everyone diving all over the place, a stunning run out, two excellent outfield catches, where Pakistan are now a world leader and lots of effort throughout. As down as we all were after the India match, Pakistan's players really showed grit, determination and character to bounce back like this. There are positives to be taken from this but not before we address the glaring problems.
The Problems
As I see it, there are three major issues facing Pakistan's ODI outfit in the build up to the CWC 2023.
The above sounds depressing but there is always a silver lining, and no tea reaches number one in any format without having some good...heck, Pakistan even has some great. Here I highlight the three major positives to take home:
So what is next?
Well the squad may need a revamp, Saud Shakeel and Shafique may have to find a place in the final XI and the back up pace bowlers will need overs in the nets because it's likely the CWC will need to start without Naseem and hopefully even a rest for Haris and Rauf who are both playing hard through injury.
And Babar needs to introspect on what he can do better as a captain.
Finally, player ratings out of 10, for each of those who have represented Pakistan in this tournament:
The End
Let's start with Pakistan's final match, essentially a quarterfinal for a place against India this Sunday. In that regards, Pakistan pushed themselves and Sri Lanka to the edge, in a riveting game of cricket. The better side won without a doubt and no rain or pitch issues were to blame here (although the rain did make it flat, which also helped Rizwan and Iftikhar).
In a complete u-turn from the India game, the Pakistan fielding gave everything, with everyone diving all over the place, a stunning run out, two excellent outfield catches, where Pakistan are now a world leader and lots of effort throughout. As down as we all were after the India match, Pakistan's players really showed grit, determination and character to bounce back like this. There are positives to be taken from this but not before we address the glaring problems.
The Problems
As I see it, there are three major issues facing Pakistan's ODI outfit in the build up to the CWC 2023.
- The middle over bowling: Since the advent of two new balls and multiple powerplays, middle over bowling and taking wickets is a specialty no team has mastered and few have even excelled at. England are good with Rashid in those overs, India have shown Kuldeep can be useful but what and who else is there really? This is not just a Pakistan problem but an ODI problem however Pakistan need to tighten their spin bowling here and their captaincy. Babar needs to be better with his field placements and if early wickets are taken, he needs to push for more, rather than allowing easy singles. To do that, he needs Pakistan's spinners to actually spin the bal. Iftikhar showed what that meant but he is just a part time offy, what of Shadab and Nawaz who were selected for this very role? The problem is, Pakistan currently have a massive hole where their spinners used to be. The domestic circuit hardly has any greats ripping up the List A or T20 game. I don't think this problem will be soled before CWC 2023.
- Lower middle order batting: Pakistan's batting is very top heavy. It is all about Fakhar, Imam, Babar and Rizwan. Iftikhar is pushed down to 6 or 7 for some reason known only to Babar and Pakistan's absentee coaching staff. Iftikhar is a solid striker of the ball who can certainly build long innings, no need for him to play any lower than 5. Is there room for an Asif Ali re-call? Is there room for Saud Shakeel whose List A numbers are pretty good? Something has to be done, it can't just be moving Iftikhar around and relying on Shadab and Nawaz to hit out when neither has shown they can do that consistently.
- Captaincy: I am a massive fan of Babar the batsman but Babar the captain shows little nous or inventiveness. He lets the middle overs slips again and again and again. He over relies on spinners who currently are not doing the job and does not know how to use his fast bowlers in overs 20-40...or even someone like Faheem. This is another problem not likely to be solved before CWC 2023 BUT the least Babar could do is sit down with his invisible coaching staff and watch, learn, study the likes of Stokes, Ponting or Smith. Understand how to manage those middle overs, how to set fields which go beyond just the text book and how to keep the pressure on his opponents. Oh, and how to read a pitch with his non-existent analyst.
The above sounds depressing but there is always a silver lining, and no tea reaches number one in any format without having some good...heck, Pakistan even has some great. Here I highlight the three major positives to take home:
- The fast bowling: Pakistan's pace trio is arguably the best in the world. They take wickets at high pace, can swing and seam, mix it up and do so with exceptional averages and strike rates. Will they all be fit for the CWC? That is the big question but if they are, they can work wonders against the very best. There's not much more to say on that.
- The outfield catching: Pakistan's catching has been some of the best in the world, across formats for the best part of 18 months now. In the Sri Lanka series they took about four all time great catches in a single test and have not let the side down in the Asia Cup even in adverse, at times downright horrid conditions. This gives bowlers a lot of confidence, led by an all time great keeper who seems to hold onto everything. Rizwan is an absolute gem behind the stumps and even though I have felt his batting needs replacing, he is difficult to deny at the moment. As are the likes of Shadab and Imam. Babar himself is currently one of the best fielders going and a safe pair of hands.
- The attitude: Apart from the abysmal India super four game, Pakistan players have shown grit and determination beyond their years and continuously fought hard. This is something that Babar and the other seniors have somehow ingrained into their fellow younger charges. They are a side that can bounce back, as bowling India out in the later overs showed and taking Sri Lanka to the wire after the winners had created an epic partnership on a pitch where the ball was sliding on nicely. They must not let the toxic media and fans bring them down.
So what is next?
Well the squad may need a revamp, Saud Shakeel and Shafique may have to find a place in the final XI and the back up pace bowlers will need overs in the nets because it's likely the CWC will need to start without Naseem and hopefully even a rest for Haris and Rauf who are both playing hard through injury.
And Babar needs to introspect on what he can do better as a captain.
Finally, player ratings out of 10, for each of those who have represented Pakistan in this tournament:
| Player | Rating |
| Imam-ul-Haq | 5 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 3 |
| Babar Azam | 6 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 8 |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | 6 |
| Agha Salman | 4 |
| Shadab Khan | 5 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 4 |
| Shaheen Shah | 8 |
| Naseem Shah | 8 |
| Haris Rauf | 8 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 4 |
| Abdullah Shafique | 7 |
| Zaman Khan | 5 |
| Mohammad Wasim | 4 |
