This time its turn of Pakistan to be previewed. Pakistan, the most controversial, most unpredictable team of the top 8 teams in the world cup. They are just jolted from the lengthy bans handed out to the 3 idiots of England tour, but then that was anticipated and the team seems to have moved on from that.
Trivia:
- Pakistan have not reached beyond 1st round in last 2 world cups : 2003 and 2007.
- After they won in 1992, they reached QF in 1996 and ended 2nd best in 1999. Since then its been a downhill for them.
- After 1999 they have not played with a same captain in 2 consecutive world cups. Wasim Akram in 1996 and 1999 was last one after Imran Khan in 1987 and 1992.
- Waqar Younis, the current coach was a flop in the world cups. He missed 1992 edition to injury, was off color in 1996, injured in 1999 and had a disastrous outing as captain in 2003. Lets c how does he fare as coach in 2011.
- 2007 was most tragic world cup for Pakistan, they lost to Ireland and West Indies and then they lost Bob Woolmer forever and Inzamam retired from ODIs after world cup and from tests later in 2007.
- They have not yet beaten India in 4 world cup appearences to date. They lost out in 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2003. 1999 was most anticipated game as it was played during Kargil war backdrop and 2003 game was first one after the asia cup game in 2000. If they play in this world cup, it would be first in a year and just 3rd in 3 years.
- They have never lost to SL in the world cup and we'd expect them to do the same this time too.
Team composition:
Afridi, Younis, Hafeez, Misbah, Razzaq, Rehman, Gul, Junaid, Kamran, Umar Akamal, Ajmal, Wahab, Akhtar, Shafiq, Shehzad
Opening Pair
They had good opening partnerships in their last series before the world cup. Shehzad and Hafeez might not have flair, but they are solid and if one of them sticks around and plays over, they could go long distance. Kamran Akamal is other option to go with the opening as he has had decent success with bat in that position. Many times he has had batted at no 3 as well and many times lower down the order.
Middle Order
Younis Khan at 4 and Misbah at 5 provide the stability and cool head when needed. Umar Akamal at 6 and maverick Afridi at 7 followed by Razzaq at 8. Batting seems long and dangerous untill they dont self implode or explode on their own.
If anybody out of Razzaq and Afridi gets going in the final 10 overs then the team could be expected to notch high scores. But the main problem is consistency. You never know which Pakistan side would turn up on a given day, which player would be a hero one day, villian the other day and flown the other day and banned the other some day. Shafiq has been replacing Umar off late though.
Bowling:
They dont have Asif and Amir, but they have Gul and Akhtar. Gul is one of the best bowlers today with the old ball and he has had good success in ODIs off late (England tour he took consecutive 4-fors). Akhtar, if fit can deliver 140 + balls consistently, can go for runs and also implode with wickets. Junaid Khan is unknown commodity. Wahab Riaz has had decent success with the ball too.
Abdur Rehman, Ajmal and Afridi along with Hafeez form the spin department. Ajmal is the trump card of Pakistan and if he is conquered then it wont be long to demoralise the others in the pack.
Expectations
Controversies apart and given that Ijaz Butt keeps his butt away from the team and there is no other controversy, the team should find easy way to go through to the quarters. Hopefully they would beat Sri Lanka big time.
Game Changers :
Already covered in other post.
Negative Influence:
1. Kamran Akamal
2. Shoaib Akhtar
3. Younis Khan
and
Ijaz Butt
