^^
Indeed PAK has improved in fielding in last few years - problem is they were lagging so much behind that the improvement has just closed the gap. Regarding the personal level improvement, I think even 10 years back PAK had some brilliant individuals (YK, Malik, Inzi in slips, Sami, Afridi, Nazir ...). Problem isn't the individuals, problem is in consistency. In just 2 days time PAK can have a brilliant to horrible day, even in a match after a couple of great catches, you 'll find a dolly dropped. Most top fielding sides also drop catches, but they often makes up with a stunning one - most importantly, they never allow a drop catch to affect rest of the match. Often you 'll see AUS, SAF, SRL take a stunning catch to get one of the major batsman out, while you 'll be surprised to count the amount of runs, Sanga, Viru, Panting, Kallis, Gilchrist or Tendulkar has scored after being dropped by a PAK fielder.
And I keep telling that problem is in the amount of importance PAK as a whole puts on fielding is the root cause. See, by this time probably most posters do realize that I read a lot. This summer, IND had a pathetic catching tour in ENG & that has been blasted all over IND, in every article, every forum, every blog. I am sure something is going to happen in Indian catching or few people 'll loose their job. TRUST ME, compared to what PAK fielders did in 2010 NZL, AUS & ENG tour (when Asif & Aamir were bowling good enough to blow a side in a session) this Indian side were saints. I can safely bet, Indians didn't drop that many in 5 Tests, what PAK fielders did in 1st & 3rd Test in NZL 2010 individually - yet I never heard/read of anything regarding PAK catching!!
PAK senior cricketers keep blasting the bowlers, batsmen & the poor fellow KAkmal, but I have never heard any expert blaming catching. From PM at Islamabad to Karachi street beggar, everybody kept blasting YK & Misbah for the loss at Mohali; but buddy, you don't win a WC SF dropping 5 dollies of a man who finished with 49 ODI Hundreds & 18,000+ runs (& that man 8 years back blasted once more at Centurian, after being dropped of a dolly on 20 or so). I have heard former PAK greats (don't want to put names) spouting idiocy like, "do, tin catches to gir saktay hai, girna nahi chaiay jarur but uo to part of game, lakin bowlers ko....karna ..., batsman ko..."
I can recall one more instance - Aisa Cup 2010. PAK put 267, which is a difficult target at Dumbula on D/N. But this target was cut 30 runs short by 3 outstanding piece of fielding by Indians (Viru & Kohli took 2 stunning catches at slip & Butt on 70+ was ran out brilliantly by Jaddu). During Indian chase, 2 dollies were dropped of MoM Gambhir & Rohit; later someone missed a run out from 4 yards with batsman (Reina ??) 3 yards short. Akhter was unfortunate to be slogged a pair of SIX by Bhajji & I heard the jokers after match for at least 30 min. - they kept blasting Akhter, Aamir, even Ajmal for bowling poorly & UAkmal, Malik for getting out wrong time. But, can't recall anyone ever mentioning once that the gap of that match was 2 teams' fielding (& these people played over 10/15 years of International Cricket).
Unless, after defeats like the Gale Test, along with inept batting, Misbah's Captaincy, bowlers failure, DROP CATCHES of Sangakara isn't blasted equally, PAK 'll remain the fielding laughing stalk of world cricket.
Sorry for my long post.
)Nice one.He is one of the worst.
