Well, it is just less than a month before the big even is about to start and one should be hapy to hear that Pakistan is still yet to select a captain for its team. May be the PCB is still awaiting the comeback of Imran Khan, Inzamam or Wasim Akram, failing to realize that they have retired from all forms of cricket long back. There might have been cases here teams would have headed to a tournament without a full time coach like it happened in the inaugural edition of the world T20 tournament in 2007 where India headed with a stand in bowling coach-Venkatesh Prasad.
But, can there ever be a team without a captain or can there be a team which decides who should captain just moments before calling the toss? The PCB has made a debacle by dropping fellow players like Mohammed Yusuf and Salman Butt, both of whom could have borne the responsibility, captaincy has to be an issue whatsoever. Moreover, if the squad that the Pakistan team will be heading with to the world cup is taken, the issue gets even more bigger and may be even bigger than the one haunting its captaincy issue. Captaincy can be borne by either Afridi or Abdul Razzaq keeping in mind the experience of both.
It looks like Inzamam Ul Haq is worried regarding who will captain his side with so many of them being shown the doors in the 15 member squad. Afridi has though not done a fab job as a player, his statistics suggest that he has played more than 200 matches in limited overs cricket but, keeping in mind his carelessness in selecting shots, he has to be kept out of discussion. However, Abdul Razzaq can be a good choice keeping in mind both his experience and sense of responsibility when it comes to both batting as well as bowling. Other names that strike are Kamran Akmal and Younus Khan.
With Younis Khan opting out, another choice would be Misbah Ul Haq who has shown to me rather responsible and with no other member of the 15 member squad seeming to do the job, Misbah can well be an option. But, if the squad itself is considered, it looks like Pakistan is bound to do an Australia for the wrong reasons. If Pakistan fail to go past the 1st stage of the tournament, they will be failing to do so for the 3rd time in a row like Australia winning the world cup since 1999. There was no reason to include Shoaib Akthar when Yousuf was denied entry.
Showing posts with label Kamran Akmal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kamran Akmal. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Aussies Do What They Could Best Do
After the third one day match between Australia and Pakistan, Australia must be feeling a lot more comfortable for clinching the series, when a part of the odds favored the opposition team namely Pakistan who were also facing the same drought that the Australians were facing. But, that was indeed a welcome vitory for Australia after enjoying their dominating position for almost a decade. Well the news of the Australian team declining in standards of the cricket comparatively, is a stale one I suppose. But, who on earth intends to lose something they have enjoyed for almost a decade? Even Ricky Ponting is no exception.
This could be the only reason for Australia to consider themselves lucky enough. They have at last won a one day international tournament in 2009, after losing twice at the hands of the Proteas and then leveling the series with New Zealand in the later part of the Common Wealth Bank series. This was another match that the Australians just managed to lose once again. For, they had the Pakistani batsmen well in their control when the Pakistani batsmen were found reeling at 56 for the loss of three wickets at the end of the 16th over, with the target being 250.
Occassionly, both the teams out there viz Pakistan and Australia had one of their batsmen scoring an unbeaten 116. For Pakistan, it was Kamran Akmal and for Australia it was the opner Shane Watson. It was fantastic to see the Pakistani batsmen not losing any more wickets after their initial loss. Of course, in the recent past, Pakistan has been doing it commonly in most occassions. I still remember the Pakistani batsmen losing all their wickets for a score of 312 on the first day itself and the next step was India putting up a total of 516, empowered with Virender Sehwag's 173. But, Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt came back strongly in the second innings and ensured that the match never went to India.
However, had this come a match prior to this, things would have been seriously different for both the teams. They could have well won the third one day match when Australia were destroyed for a modest total of just 198 on the board. If a team like Pakistan cannot chase down 198, it is a wonder as to who is to be blamed. Of cpurse, not much could be expected from the second and third ODI where in Pakistan imposed a total of just 207 in the second and ten runs lesser than this in the fourth one day. Finally, the Australian players can play in the IPL peacefully without any blasting from their board.
This could be the only reason for Australia to consider themselves lucky enough. They have at last won a one day international tournament in 2009, after losing twice at the hands of the Proteas and then leveling the series with New Zealand in the later part of the Common Wealth Bank series. This was another match that the Australians just managed to lose once again. For, they had the Pakistani batsmen well in their control when the Pakistani batsmen were found reeling at 56 for the loss of three wickets at the end of the 16th over, with the target being 250.
Occassionly, both the teams out there viz Pakistan and Australia had one of their batsmen scoring an unbeaten 116. For Pakistan, it was Kamran Akmal and for Australia it was the opner Shane Watson. It was fantastic to see the Pakistani batsmen not losing any more wickets after their initial loss. Of course, in the recent past, Pakistan has been doing it commonly in most occassions. I still remember the Pakistani batsmen losing all their wickets for a score of 312 on the first day itself and the next step was India putting up a total of 516, empowered with Virender Sehwag's 173. But, Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt came back strongly in the second innings and ensured that the match never went to India.
However, had this come a match prior to this, things would have been seriously different for both the teams. They could have well won the third one day match when Australia were destroyed for a modest total of just 198 on the board. If a team like Pakistan cannot chase down 198, it is a wonder as to who is to be blamed. Of cpurse, not much could be expected from the second and third ODI where in Pakistan imposed a total of just 207 in the second and ten runs lesser than this in the fourth one day. Finally, the Australian players can play in the IPL peacefully without any blasting from their board.
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