After winning the test series against New Zealand Pakistan are being considered as favorites against New Zealand in the six match Odi series. The recent results for both the teams in Odi’s also suggest that Pakistan are the favorities, New Zeland lost all five matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan had two closely contested series against South Africa and England on both occassions they lost the series 3-2.
The last time these two teams faced each other in Odi’s it was in Dubai in Nov 2009, Pakistan won the series 3-2. On paper Pakistan looks a much weaker side than the side which played in 2009 they are without Salman, Butt, Khalid lateef, Malik, Mohammad Yusaf and Aamer. But if we look at the averages of these players in that series then it is safe to say that this weaker looking side is much better. New Zealand has only one noteable ommission and that would be of Shane Bond.
New Zealand won the T20 series quite confortably, if the result of that series is of any indication then it would be a closely contested series. Pakistan cricket team lately has played better cricket despite facing some serious controversies and distractions but since the trouble makers and tainted superstars have been axed from the test team the unpredictability has been eliminated to some extent, the team and the players more or less perform as is expected of them.
But in the Odi’s and T20 the team is still quite unpredictable, the performance of key players like Razzaq, Afridi, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal and Umar Gul has been completely inconsistent. All these players are highly aggressive players the calmness which Younis, Malik and Misbah used to bring to the middle order is missing, the team plays instinctively and apparently there is no planning or strategy in pacing the innings as a result when one or two of these players churn out a spectecular performance we win but when we lose quick wickets due to flashy stroke play there is no one who can stabilize the innings.
Younis Khan has always been a great test player but in Odi’s he hasn’t been able to perform according to his stature, the inclusion of Misbah should bring in some maturity and calmness in the middle, obviously this time he would not be playing as a late order pinch hitter his role will be that of an anchor,
Pakistan has too many flashy player in their line up who can only play in one style and cannot play a grinding innings if the situation requires this is the main reason Pakistan hasn’t been as successful in Odis as it should have been.
Afridi’s leadership has also been poor, the calmness and maturity which is required from a leader is totally missing, he has never been a great tactician of the game, raw aggression has been the only highlight of his game which more than often proves to be handicap. He is under enormous pressure by the PCB management to change his game and play a more mature role in the team, his back is against the wall at the moment and in my opinion he throughly deserved this criticism, he is one of the most talented limited overs allrounders in the world with a small adjustment in his game he can do wonders for pakistan cricket.
PCB’s managemnt usually gets criticised and blamed for every turmoil the team gets into but when things move in the right direction the media fails to appreciate them. I think dropping Yousaf and Malik was necessary as both players were consistently underperforming and creating cliques in the team. Akmal brothers also needed to be disciplined and by sidelining both brothers during the last two series PCB has sent them a strong a message.
Pakistan should win this series 6-0 but given the nature of our batting line up I would say that 4-2 sounds more realistic.
The bowling won’t be a worry in this series but Afridi, Ajmal and Gul should regain their full form between the first match of this series and the quarterfinal of the world cup.
Pakistan might rest Wahab Riaz in the first two or three matches and play Sohail Tanvir.
New Zealand has always been a good Odi side but their recent form has been dismal, their key players , Guptil, Taylor, McCullum and Styris will have to play oout of their skins but even then they don’t have depth and quality in their bowling which will make it hard to win matches.
New Zealand: 1 Jesse Ryder, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Ross Taylor, 4 Scott Styris, 5 James Franklin, 6 Brendon McCullum (wk), 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Nathan McCullum, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Hamish Bennett
Pakistan (probable): 1 Kamran Akmal (wk), 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shahid Afridi (capt), 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Abdur Rehman / Saeed Ajmal, 10 Wahab Riaz / Sohail Tanvir, 11 Shoaib Akhtar
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