A team that has always performed better in its trying times is Pakistan. What we learn from history is that when the chips are down and the lights are out, the Pakistan team surprises everybody by playing some really good cricket. The 1992 World Cup really showed the world what they are capable of. They won that tournament after a tough start and that’s what they have been doing in almost all tournaments since then. The word “unpredictable” is what they really personify and that is their biggest strength and weakness.
I watched the Pakistan team complete a series win today against New Zealand and I said to myself “Nobody can count them out.” In the first ODI they were hammered and nobody gave them a chance for this series let alone the World Cup. Then again they did what they do best, surprise and stun everybody. The last year has been one of the toughest ever for Pakistan Cricket. The spot fixing controversy robbed them of two fantastic fast bowlers and a dependable batsman. They were further rocked by wicket-keeper Haider’s departure to the UK. However, they have managed to win some remarkable ODI games. The Abdul Razzak game in Abu Dhabi is still fresh in my memory and I don’t think any cricket fan would forget it for a long time.
Unpredictability is Pakistan’s greatest strength and weakness. They can stun the cricket world by some fantastic performances but at the same time they can go down from a winning position. In the current series in New Zealand they have shown good consistency with both bat and ball and the key for them would be to carry it to the World Cup. With the exception of Tanvir Ahmed, the rest of the touring party to New Zealand is on the plane to Sri Lanka. The Pakistan squad for the World Cup is:
1. Abdul Razzak
2. Shahid Afridi
3. Misbah-ul-haq
4. Ahmed Shehzad
5. Mohammed Hafeez
6. Younis Khan
7. Asad Shafiq
8. Umar Akmal
9. Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper)
10. Abdur Rehman
11. Saeed Ajmal
12. Shoaib Akhtar
13. Sohail Tanveer
14. Umar Gul
15. Wahab Riaz
The most intriguing thing is that a captain has not been named. Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-haq are considered the top contenders for the post as the former has managed to win the ODI series while the latter managed to lead his side to a test series win. Currently, it is most likely that Shahid Afridi would lead them in the big tournament as the coach Waqar Younis indicated the same in a press conference today.
There were no major surprises in the squad as 15 out of the 16 touring New Zealand were expected to make it to Sri Lanka. The only suspense was who would be left out. With abundant fast bowling options in their roster, they decided to leave out Tanvir Ahmed. They did not pick their stalwart Mohammed Yousuf as they are happy with the younger group of players. I think it was a tough call but a right one as fielding would be a major factor in this World Cup and the youngsters would do a much better job than Yousuf on the field. The pace attack looks really strong with Gul, Riaz, Akhtar and Sohail Tanveer in the squad. The spin department will be handled by Abdur Rehman, Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal.
The playing XI for Pakistan is almost settled as the series in New Zealand would indicate. Hafeez and Shehzad have provided them with good starts and will open the batting in the World Cup. The middle order would include Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul Haq and Afridi. In the current series, they have gone with three specialist fast bowlers and one spinner in the form of Afridi. With most of their matches in Sri Lanka they must play a specialist spinner. Ajmal or Abdur Rehman should play in place of one fast bowler as it would provide the right balance to the side. Abdul Razzaq can be the third fast bowling option for them. Thus, the two fast bowlers will bowl their quota of 20 overs, Afridi and the other spinner would bowl their 20. The last ten can be split between Razzaq and someone like Mohammed Hafeez.
STRENGTHS:
1. Unpredictability: On a given day the opposition cannot really predict what the Pakistan team can come up with. They can stun you with some really great individual performances that can turn matches heavily in their favour.
2. Good form of the batsmen: Hafeez, Shehzad, Misbah, Younis, Afridi and Umar Akmal have shown good form in New Zealand. If they can gel well in the World Cup, runs are on offer.
3. Presence of match winners: They have some fantastic match winners who can take the game single handedly away from the other team. We know how lethal Afridi can be with both bat and ball but having Razzaq and Misbah in the same team makes this unit even more dangerous.
WEAKNESSES:
1. Unpredictability: This is their biggest strength and weakness. Sometimes their performances can get really below par and this is something they will look to avoid in the World Cup.
MY PREDICTION:
Quarterfinals surely. Whoever faces them in the quarterfinals will have to play really good cricket to get past them as we know they tend to play their best in knock out games. Being such an unpredictable team I really can’t say how far they will go in the tournament. They will reach the quarterfinals no doubt about that but after that it has to be seen. Who knows they may go to semis or even the finals.
WARM UP FIXTURES:
1. Versus Bangladesh at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka. On February 15 at 02:30 PM Bangladesh Time (02:00 PM IST).
2. Versus Pakistan at Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah, Bangladesh. On February 18 at 09:30 AM Bangladesh Time.
GROUP FIXTURES:
1. Versus Kenya at Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota, Sri Lanka. On February 23 at 02:30 PM Sri Lankan Time (same as IST).
2. Versus Sri Lanka at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. On February 26 at 02:30 PM Sri Lankan Time.
3. Versus Canada at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. On March 3 at 02:30 PM Sri Lankan Time.
4. Versus New Zealand at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele, Sri Lanka. On March 8 at 02:30 PM Sri Lankan Time.
5. Versus Zimbabwe at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele. On March 14 at 02:30 PM Sri Lankan Time.
6. Versus Australia at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. On March 19 at 02:30 PM Sri Lankan Time.
RECORD IN PREVIOUS TOURNAMENTS:
1975: Eliminated in the first round.
1979: Semi Finalists. Lost to West Indies in the semi final.
1983: Semi Finalists. Lost to West Indies in the semi final.
1987: Semi Finalists. Lost to Australia in the semi final.
1992: Champions. Beat England in the final.
1996: Quarterfinalists. Lost to India in the quarterfinal.
1999: Runners-up. Lost to Australia in the final.
2003: Eliminated in the first round.
2007: Eliminated in the first round.
MOST RUNS: Javed Miandad. 1083 runs in 33 matches at an average of 43.32.
MOST WICKETS: Wasim Akram. 55 wickets in 38 matches at an average of 23.83
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