ASIA CUP 2010: Can Pakistan cricket show unity?
After coming through a circus of events, the Pakistan team will finally be taking over centre stage in their opener against hosts’ Sri Lanka. Pakistan cricket has once again shown to the world that they feed on controversies. There is hardly a year which has passed that the team wasn’t put under the hammer for losing outrageous matches. The moment the team loses a match, the board or the players play a circus right in front of the world to show how unprofessional their team is. Will Asia Cup be a similar story, only time will tell?
The playing eleven that will open the tournament for Pakistan is a balanced one, but whether they perform or not is another story. The bowling department is further strengthened with the inclusion of controversial and injury hit pace man Shoaib Akhtar, but looking at his recent history, one can’t count on him to play an entire match without injuring himself. It has almost been fourteen months that Shoaib has played international cricket. During that time he, has gone through a major knee injury and a weight reduction surgery. His fitness will always be a question mark. Another important question is whether he is able to produce the pace he is so famous for.
Another new inclusion is that of controversial middle-order batsman Shoaib Malik. After being thrashed by his teammates in various PCB inquiry committee meetings, he was handed a one year ban by the board. After the appeal against the decision was filed, the ban from the Sialkot captain was lifted and he was straight away drafted in the squad for the Asia cup. Although Malik is a solid middle order batsman and a part time bowler, his form is a mystery for all.
An unseen youngster by the name of Umer Ameen has also been added to the playing 11. His credits are also ambiguous to all. What will Shahid Afridi produce through his captaincy and how the team would fight in the one day attire is the thing to look out in the match against Sri Lanka.
Overall the batting of Pakistan raises a question while the bowling is looking good. Left-armed Mohammad Aamir and Pakistan’s very own McGrath in the shape of Mohammad Asif will lead the bowling attack along with the experience of Akhtar and Afridi. Razak and Malik can also contribute their services towards Pakistan bowing prowess in the field.
Sri Lankan side on the other hand is much more stable and has depth in both the bowling and the batting department. The likes of Dilshan and Sangakara are always reliable with the bat in their hands, while Malinga and company can provide the flair with the ball. The experienced brilliance of the captaincy of Sangakkara will also play its part in deciding the winner for this match.
The Sri Lankan’s are also fresh from their recent heroics in Zimbabwe where the young guns fired for them. Players such as Chandimal are always going to be important once the experienced duo is done with their business. The spin department is crucial on Dambulla pitches because of the heat and humidity. Sri Lanka would also have an edge with their young spinners filling the shoes for Murli and Mendis.
Thus the opener of the Asia cup surely seems an interesting affair with Sri Lanka being the clear cut favourites. But all cricket fans know that if there is one team that can beat anyone on their day is Pakistan.
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