The predictable Unpredictability of Pakistan
After the third day Pakistan only required 97 runs to win, I wrote a post in anticipation of a Pak victory but decided not to post it because Pakistan team only wins when the odds are not in their favor and always lose when the odds are hugely in their favor. I kind of smelled a collapse, Butt and Yousaf threw away their wickets, Malik got a good delivery but wasn’t something which he couldn’t have handled, whenever Pakistan loses Misbah always find a ridiculous way to get out, it seemed as if he didn’t wanted to get back into his crease, Kamran Akmal followed Mohammad Yousaf completely missed the line of the ball like a club cricketer.
It was a whole team effort, it was like all the players barring the debutants were just following a carefully orchestrated plan. The concentration and determination with which Misbah and Yousaf batted in the first innings was not there anymore, the typical shameless carelessness crept up on the fourth day and all of a sudden professional players started playing like street cricketers.
The Vultures of Pakistan cricket i.e the Ex cricketers and some jingoistic element in the media found a perfect opportunity to score some points. They criticised the team selection immediately after the loss can somebody ask these players why they didn’t enlightened us with their thoughts on on the 1st, 2nd or the third day why they only become wise after the game is over.
The Jingos sensing a perfect opportunity pulled their knives out and only attacked Malik, Misbah and Akmal. Can anybody ask these idiots what has Khurram Manzoor, Younis Khan and Umar gul done in this match. Other than Aamer, Rauf and Yousaf I think the whole team underperformed and is responsible for the loss.
Salman Butt and Khurram Manzoor should be dropped in the next match. I have criticized their selection on different blogs before the match and will say it again both are just nothing players and can only bat on flat tracks. Malik and Shahzad should open and if Malik can’t perform in the next match he should be shown the door, Fawad Alam should be given a chance a head of Razzak so that the jingos can find some peace. Lets see what he can do we already know he is a nothing bowler I hope he delivers with the bat.
None of these changes will happen only Khuuram will be dropped and Shahzad will come in his place.
Pakistan will win one test and the series will draw 1-1.
exactly wasim…they were attacking team coz of some ‘agendas’ and not for anything else…
i am against making wholesome changes after this loss in which they dominated match for three consecutive days which is no mean achievement given pak was playing test after 17 months…the collapse can not be given as excuse for the wholesome changes coz i have seen pak collapsing with better batsmen in their ranks…
of all the players in the team i am most baffled about the role of malik in the team…coz his bowling is not test class…and he bats too low for being a specialist batsman…he is needed to given more responsibility and if he does not responds positively to that should be dropped then…but not before…
i had a lengthy discussion with Q on fawad at my blog to know him better…but i think pak urgently need accomplished opening batsman more than a middle order bat…
Shehzad is not in the squad so Salman and Khurram will continue to open, unless YK decides to open with Akmal or Malik… Akmal may not be a good idea but Malik can be good while opening.. that would also allow Fawad to come in at 6. Fawad is not a bowler.. he is a batsman and quite a good one at that..
SP
The problem in batting lies with the openers and not the middle order, the openers are doing nothing.
Either Younis or Malik will have to open, Akmal can’t open because his keeping will get effected. I think.Razzak will get a call a head of Fawad as he is a better player and # 6 position belongs to an all rounder unfortunately Fawad is not an all rounder. I think more than anything the 11 selected should show a bit more determination to finish the match.
And btw way it was Yousaf who was playing test after 17 months Pakistan played a test series with SriLanka last Dec.
Q
Right now I think the team will be better off with Razzak than Fawad, if Malik is dropped then probably Fawad can get a chance but I think one of the openers will get dropped to make way for Razzaq.