Time to learn from mistakes and rebuild
on February 6th, 2010 at 1:19 amFinally the deeply demoralizing and disheartening tour of Australia came to an end, Pakistan lost all 9 matches. Even though the score line looks horrible for them but they came close to winning one test matche, two Odis and lost the only T20 by just 2 runs. It clearly shows that the team has the talent and the ability to compete but there are a few grey areas which are preventing it from winning close matches.
Leadership
Pakistan team changed three captains in one month during the tour but neither of them could lead them to victory.
Mohammad Yousaf’s captaincy became from bad to worse as the series progressed, he never recovered from the loss at Sydney. A win in that match could have silenced his critics for some time, but Pakistan lost that match only because of Kamran Akmal’s wicket keeping and Yousaf’s captaincy, he couldn’t performed with the bat either, in the field he was unimaginative and non inspiring for his troops.
During the test series on several occasions he allowed the opposition to survive whether it was through poor fielding, poor field placement, or strange batting collapse or negative bowling he always found a way to lease new life to the opposition.
His defence of Kamran Akmal created a row between him and the PCB management, his public criticism of his own players ruined the unity of the team and demoralized the team completely by the third test. His team selection was also questionable in the first and the third test. But still it would be unfair to blame him solely for the losses as poor ground fielding and poor performance by the main batsmen were the main cause of our defeats.
Shahid Afridi was given captaincy in the fifth Odi after a huge public outcry, he lead the team well and almost came close to winning the match but toward the end of the match he wasted all the good work by committing ball tampering. There was no need for such an act he already proved that he was capable of leading the team, a win or a loss at that moment was not relevant, Why he did it? Nobody knows, we can only speculate but his action was highly immature and caused great harm to the credibility of Pakistan team and it’s bowlers, and also created doubts about Afridi’s level of maturity.
Shoaib Malik replaced Afridi in the T20 match, he did a fine job of restricting Australia to 127, but failed to win the match. Pakistan should have won this match but again their batting couldn’t withstand the firepower of Australian pacers. Malik again failed as a batsman today he should have lead from the front. It has been established thatYounis and Misbah are out of form but Malik and Yousaf they looked good whenever they came to bat but strangely never showed the commitment to bat long just because of this lack of commitment Malik has no place in the test team especially when the big three are not performing, he is not reliable to play the role of the main batsman.
In contrast Australia won the series 9-0 mainly because of the leadership skills of Ricky Ponting he was under a lot of pressure at the beginning of the series, struggling to score runs but held his head high and showed a lot of courage and determination to regain his form. His field placements and bowling changes were clinical, the way he backed Hauritz as a bowler in itself is a lesson for Yousaf. Pakistan should learn from Australia the way they integrated new players and backed them through out the series, Marcus North failed in all three test matches but was neither dropped nor was criticized like Pakistani media criticized their own players each player was under tremendous pressure as if they were playing the match for their life. There was immense competition between different Australian players and in the end Pakistan and probably the whole cricketing world got surprised by the amount of talent they unveiled during this series. Every player exactly knew how many games he was going to play and what was expected of him in terms of performance. No dirty politics, no leg pulling of each other and in the end they white washed a strong Pakistani team.
Coaching
The biggest reason for the failure of Pakistan team in both New Zealand and Australia was their fielding almost 30 catches were dropped and many run out chances were missed, the main culprits were Imran Farhat, Misbah Ul Haq, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal and Mohammad Yousaf. Pakistan were completely unprepared in this important department of the game.
Their batting has not improved since Jeff Lawson left, their main batsmen are going through a major slump in form and looked completely unprepared for the conditions in Australia and New Zealand . Their coach Intikhab Alam is more than 70 years old and apparently plays the role of a manager rather than of a coach, Pakistan should appoint a professional coach who has the capability of video analysis, Intikhab Alam should be fired and should not be hired for any other job with PCB in future.
The performance of Pakistan’s bowlers was also inconsistent through out the series, the form of Umar Gul was questionable, all the pacers failed to reverse the ball through out the series, something which has been the forte of Pakistan bowlers in the past. It seemed as if the bowling coaches Waqar and Aaqib never handed over a plan to the bowlers to deal with Katich, Watson and Hussey who tormented Pakistan team through out the series.
The line and length of Pakistan bowlers with the exception of Mohammad Asif was not disciplined they bowled negatively too wide or too short to keep their econ rate in check and didn’t attack the batsman to take his wicket, the bowling coaches should have checked this negative strategy. But if the dropped catches were taken the figures of Asif, Kaneria, and Aamer would have been much more impressive, Why Sami was sent home early is still a mystery. Whosoever made that decision should get fired.
Time to rebuild
Since last few years the core of Pakistan’s test team comprised of Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousaf, Misbah Ul Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Umar Gul.
After this series Pakistan will have to rebuild around Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Asif, Aamer, Kaneria and Ajmal. Malik and Afridi can still play the limited overs cricket but they can’t play test cricket, out of the big three Mohammad Yousaf can still play test cricket but it will only depend on how he reacts when he is removed from captaincy. It is high time that Pakistan should replace their middle order as the current group of senior players are consistently pulling each others leg, causing friction in the team and on top of that their performance do not justify their selection.
The top management and the vulture group
It’s high time that the patron in chief steps in and puts an end to this fight between the vulture group (ex cricketers, ex administrators and politicians) and PCB.
Ejaz Butt and Miandad both should get fired both of them haven’t done any good for Pakistan cricket. Miandad reportedly is drawing Rs 1mil salary/ month and has worked only nine days in his office during this year, he was supposed to reform the domestic cricket but has done nothing so far. Ejaz Butt is too old and dumb to run the affairs of PCB. The committee for sports in the National assembly should be disolved we do not want corrupt politicians controlling the finances and state of affairs of PCB. These politicians are only after the finances of PCB they do not have any knowledge of the game and will ruin what ever is left.
PCB should be governed by a technocrat and it’s cricket affairs should be governed by somebody like Muddassar Nazar or Majid Khan people who are non controversial and possess a good track record and have never been involved in power struggle.
Wasim
Miandad accusing the board of promoting it? Is he feeling alright? We’re so blessed with talent and apart from match fixing and regionalism associated with our cricket, nothing upsets me more than nepotism. Utterly disgraceful.
Just imagine you were a highly talented youngster hoping to break into the side and some administrator’s/selector’s/coach’s son is chosen ahead of you for every other reason apart from cricket?
Not only does this not happen in every other country, but it is far from ever happening. Disgrace.
123
Younis’ problems are that he stopped playing cricket a long time ago and started worrying and getting involved in trivial rubbish. Rise above it man and just play cricket with a clear mind. Watch the difference.
123
If we look at India they in contrast to the Aussies are still sticking with their big three. They supported both Sachin and Dravid when they were out of form but their case is different from Pakistan. First of all in Sehwag, Gambhir, Dhoni and Yuvraj they had other players who could lift the burden even if the seniors failed secondly their seniors all three of them are not in competition with each other for captaincy. If we had a good supporting cast for the seniors and the seniors were not invoved in politics I would have also supported the idea of persisting with them. In the current scenario not only that we are losing games because these players are out of form but also we have become a laughing stock in world cricket because of the egos of some of these players.
123
We have a tendency of extending a players career by two to three years. Look at Miandad, Inzamam, and many others, we worship them like idols and just live in denial and hope that they would score in the next series. Look at Australia they made a tough decision and now they are back in contention for the WC2011 and they accomplished this transition within one year.
I would rather invest in a player who have 10 years left rather than the one who have at max just one or two years of cricket left in him.
You are also ignoring the fact that even if they return to form these guys will continue to pull the legs of each other and we have seen how helpless is our board in that situation.
I think it’s time to move on. What you are saying also makes sense the new players will not give instant results but atleast some of them will mature in a years time so the sooner we start is the better.
I just get that feeling that Younis’s problems are just down to form. Of course, there is absolutely no reason to throw away your wicket, but sometimes when you’ve been moved around so much in your career on a regular basis at international level, sometimes it is hard to see what your role is in the team.
I agree with you on averages. Openers and number 6 need to have at least 40. Middle order (3-5) 50+. Number 7 – 35+. But I think to achieve this, we need to have players with experience. For me, the best three middle order batsman are Younis, Malik and Yousuf and are the ones most likely to score like this consistently. Butt would be a solution to as an opener. Umar Akmal is suited to number 6. Kamran Akmal would fulfill number 7.
We have to be wary of making too many changes to the side. Pakistan A have a number of games coming up against UAE A, England lions and also Pakistan’s first team and if any players impress, then they should be called up.
Stani
You are absolutely right. Did you read that interview of Miandad in which he accused the board of promoting favoritism and nepotism in the team may be he was pointing toward Faisal Iqbal.
123
Younis was having difficulty in seeing the ball, he couldn’t play any shot on the front foot, he couldn’t pull or cut any ball, I was also of the view that he should have been recalled for the test matches instead of the Odis but after looking at his form I don’t think he would have made any difference.
He failed in the domestic matches in easy conditions if that doesn’t tell us about his form then I don’t know what will.
Misbah
Had similar problems to Younis many times he just got un nerved by the pace.
Malik
His test average is ok but that is only due to the few big scores the consistency is not there he failed completely in New Zealand. In Australia he couldn’t capitalize when he looked well set.
In ODis he kept on getting out after getting set. I agree with you that the captains have been shuffling him up and down the order but that should no tbe not an excuse for throwing away the wicket.
The main three batsmen should have at least an average of 45-50 during a series and #6 and #7 should have an average of 35. Only then we will be able to compete good teams.
Same players will produce same results, the team needs new players for better feilding and batting the sooner we do it is the better.
I agree Younis and Misbah are out of form and that Malik and Yousuf got out playing shots.
Younis
I would still play Younis in Tests and ODI’s. I do not have any concerns about his ability in tests. There is no doubt he has played poorly in ODI’s since the champions trophy. But I would remind you he scored 244 runs @ 48.8 in the Sri Lanka series in the summer at a strike rate of 67. That strike rate is slightly low because I think you need over 70, but thats because in one of the matches he made 23 off 73 when Pakistan were struggling. His scores were 12, 23, 44, 89 and 76. He has since struggled in the Champions trophy, NZ series and AUS series. In those matches he has scored 142 runs @ 12.90 with a highest score of 46. But I still think that his experience is key and that these averages are just because he is out of form. For example, in the AUS series, I would say that in the 3rd and 4th ODI’s he was unlucky because he got some very good balls in his innings. He is also one of our best fielders.
Misbah
I would drop Misbah from Tests and ODI’s completely. He has not been convincing enough and is too old. I would however, consider him for T20′s – i’m not saying he is a definite but at number 5/6 he may be a useful player in T20′s. For example, since Jan 09, he’s highest score in 9 tests has been 65* with an average of 24.07 from 337 runs. His ODI scores since Jan 09 have been a average of 33.33 with a highest score of 76* in 13 matches and 300 runs. That’s ok, but I think we have better options in ODI’s.
His T20 scores since Jan 09 have been a average of 27.75 from 9 matches, 111 runs with a highest score of 31*. This is from a position where he normally batted at around 5/6, and thats not too bad. So i would consider him for T20, but not in the other formats because he is close to retirement and in the other formats we have to consider younger players.
Malik
Since Jan 09
Batting:
Test – 36.75, 8 matches 441 runs, HS 134
ODI – 26.44, 20 matches, 476 runs, HS 128
T20 – 19.33, 12 matches, 174 runs, HS 34
Bowling:
Tests – 8 matches, 96.3 overs, 6 wickets @ 55.00, econ – 3.41
ODI – 20 matches, 88.3 overs, 7 wickets @ 60.71, econ – 4.80
T20 – 12 matches, 18 overs, 5 wickets @ 26.40, econ – 7.33
These stats may not look too good, but I think thats because he’s not used properly. For example in tests, he batted 1 innings at number 4 and made 56. At number 6 he has an average of 34.70 in this period and once he batted number 7 and has an average of 38. I wont write out more figures, but its the same story in ODI’s, he batted from number 2-7, and his highest averages are in numbers 4 and 5. in T20, he has batted at 3, 4, 5 and 7 with his highest averages at 3 and 4. Basically, my point is that he is being moved around too much and he has to bat higher up the order. His bowling is more than useful in ODI’s and T20′s and he is also a good fielder.
Wasim,
It shows that the selectors/administrators are not thinking rationally or making decisions on merit. It’s the nepotism, favouritism and the rest of it that has caused this. No structure, no policy, no professionalism.
123
Fair argument, and I have not disputed that the dropped catches would not have made any difference.
Australian’s also dropped a few catches but the point is that look at the New Zealand series ,look at the SriLankan series these players performed similarly just one above 50 score and then a bunch of 10′s ,20′s and 30′s.
You are also not accounting for the fact that multiple times the Australian’s declared their innings, even if Pakistan had scored some more runs even then we can’t say that they could have won.
That 300 was scored a year ago. If you want to compare Clarke or Ponting with him then see how they performed during the whole year.
I know our bowlers tried really hard and they made us look good in the last three series, but you will agree with me that Younis and Misbah are completely out of form and perhaps they are too old to play international cricket. Yousaf and Malik they looked good scored some attractive boundaries and then threw away their wickets there was a clear lack of commitment. How long we are going to tolerate that?
Don’t you think that these guys should get punished they get paid for their services but they are not delivering.
We can only improve from here we can’t do any worse than 9-0 even if we play an entirely new and young team.
Wasim,
Thats a fair point but Australian averages are high due to dropped catches and not good batting.
E.g. Here are some major straightforward drops:
Katich dropped 1st test – made 90 extra runs
Watson dropped 1st test – 50 extra runs
Watson dropped 2nd test – 79 extra runs
Hussey dropped 2nd test – 107 extra runs
Ponting dropped 3rd test – 209 extra runs
If you take these into account, here are the averages:
Clarke 5 inn 255@ 63.75 Butt 6 inn 280 runs @ 46.66
Watson 6 inn 217 @ 36.17 Malik 2 inn 77 runs @38.5
Katich 4 inn 121 @ 30.25 Khurram 2 inn 77 runs @38.5
Ponting 6 inn 169 @ 28.17 Akmal 6, 199@33.66
Hussey 6 inn 150 @ 25.00 Yousuf 6 inn 178 runs@ 29.66
Hughes 2 inns 37 @ 18.50 Misbah 4, 76 @ 25.33
Haddin 5 inn 70 @ 14.00 Faisal Iqbal 4 inn 97 runs @24.75
North 4 inn 41@ 10.25 Farhat 6 inn 148 @24.66
Kamran Akmal 4 inn 67 runs @ 16.75
If you compare these, there is a good argument to say Pakistan’s batting was better. Also, there were more drops that cost less runs that I have not included.
Your point about Younis and 1 big score can also apply to Clarke – if you take his innings of 166 out, his average is 22.25, so I dont think thats fair on a player to say if we take this score out, then your average drops.
123
The averages of players during the last year do not reflect their form and ther contribution in a particular series.
Butt 6 inn 280 runs @ 46.66
Khurram 2 inn 77 runs @38.5
Malik 2 inn 77 runs @38.5
Misbah 4 inn 76 runs @ 25.33 with HS of 65*
Yousaf 6 inn 178 runs@ 29.66
Umar Akmal 6 inn 199 runs @ 33.66
Kamran Akmal 4 inn 67 runs @ 16.75
Faisal Iqbal 4 inn 97 runs @24.75
Imran Farhat 6 inn 148 runs @24.66
Australia
Watson 6 inn 346 @ 69.20
Hussey 6 inn 267 @ 66.75
Clarke 5 inn 255@ 63.75
Ponting 6 inn 378 @ 63
Katich 4 inn 211 @ 52
You can’t compete with a team like Australia if your main batsmen are averagin in 20′s. Younis Khan’s average is in 60′s because of that 300 if you look at his after that it will be in 20′s.
We are only going to play outside subcontinent so don’t expect these averages to go higher these players have consistently failed in the last year.
The problem is that they come and play some attractive shots and then throw away their wicket which gives us a false hope that may be next time they will score big. But I think if we wasted any more time with these players we might regret in the WC 2011.
How many times Pakistan scored 350 in last one year?
The averages are based on just one big score and a lot of small scores.
To be honest, I think there are only a couple of selection issues. I think its more to do with the way in which players are utilised. For example, in tests I would have:
1. Salman Butt
2. Fawad Alam
3. Shoaib Malik
4. Younis Khan
5. Mohammad Yousuf
6. Umar Akmal
7. Kamran Akmal (wkt)
8. Mohammed Aamir
9. Umar Gul
10. Mohammad Asif
11. Danish Kaneria
This is basically the team from AUS, just a couple of changes. But moving Umar Akmal to 6 and Malik to 3 are key changes. Umar Akmal generally doesn’t play to the situation, he plays his own aggresive game so thats why I would put him in at 6. Malik, Younis and Yousuf play to the situation and so its better to put them in the key positions. Yousuf’s position should be 5 in both tests and especially ODI’s where he is a key player in the middle overs.
I think Wasim has highlighted a key point in that our team is always changes whereas AUS kept pretty much the same team, giving players a chance. Here are the averages of the players since Jan 09:
Butt – 8 matches @ 35.78
Alam – 3 matches @ 41.66
Malik – 8 matches @ 36.75
Younis – 5 matches @ 63.42
Yousuf – 9 matches @ 36.72
Umar Akmal – 6 matches @ 48.16
Kamran Akmal – 10 matches @ 40.40
This adds up to around 303 runs. Add on the tail and on average it would be about 350. Also, these averages would be better if players such as Butt, Alam and Malik were not dropped but given a good chance because they would have been more accustomed to conditions.
Aamir – 8 matches @ 42.38
Gul – 10 matches @ 41.72
Asif – 6 matches @ 23.31
Kaneria – 7 matches @ 36.67
The bowling averages look a lot worse but I would put some of this down to dropped catches.
Stani
Since the time we removed Malik from captaincy what have we gained, since then we have only gone downhill.
Why did we kept him in the team when it was established that his place in the team was questionable?
Why we appointed Younis Khan as captain when he was also in a miserable form?
We again removed YK and appointed Yousaf as captain and still kept Malik and Younis in the team.
This clearly shows that the selectors and administrators are totally confused.
Now as regards Afridi his performance has been no better than Malik ,Yousaf or Kamran Akmal.
He also averaged in 20′s in the Odi’s and except for one match in which he was captain his bowling was also not exceptional.
Same players will produce the same results this is what I said when Younis Khan was appointed as captain. By changing four captains in last one year and keeping the Ex captains in the team the administrators have divided the team these guys will continue to pull each other’s leg and try to embarrass each other. This confusion will only end if each one of them is kicked out of the team.
Like you said they score a few boundaries and then throw away their wicket all of these guys have more than 10 years of experience nobody tried to bat long in nine matches neither one of them has any big score to their name, whether it is lack of commitment or underperformance either way this will become a never ending story if all of them played together and we persisted with the same players
The core of the team has to be replaced. Along with the top management of PCB.
Wasim,
We’ve been at this crossroad many a times before and have not taken the chance by appointing people wisely. I fear the same.
If you drop 30 catches, by that alone you will make your captain look bad and the opposition one look good because they’re not 30 drops, but 30 chances.
I would still give Afridi another go in Tests, just for his break-through attacking bowling. We needed that badly in NZ and Aus.
SP
More than likely the top PCB management will be sacked within the next few days. It’s not clear yet who is going to replace Ejaz Butt if it is Miandad or any other Ex cricketer who in the past has been involved in power struggle then we might again get old wine in new bottle. But as long as the core is changed it might have a positive affect on the team. The senior players have given nothing except dirty politics.
unfortunately if the same people are involved in the ‘rebuilding’ process (the chances of which are more than a probability) nothing will happen…