http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 - Pakistan’s preference of Experience over youth - A move for short-term success – Opinion
Experience over youth – the inclusion of Imran Nazir, Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal has again caused a stir, where passionate Pakistani fans are left to criticize the selectors’ move. While throwing in a surprise or two has been a trademark of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 cricket,
the current gamble might not be as bad as many fear.
However, first of all, one will have to sympathize with the youth, the likes of Ahmed Shahzad, Hammad Azam and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Junaid-Khan-c77037, all of whom could have been valuable assets to the side.
While Shahzad and Azam had little to show in terms of international performances – the former playing just two T20Is against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, while the latter making no appearance during the same tour – one must feel sorry for Junaid, whose performances during
the lost Test series merited a place in the preliminary squad, and who knows, he could have had an impact like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Amir-c76675 in the 2009 World Cup.
These youngsters should have been included for the upcoming Australia series, which would have helped selectors pick the best, inform group for the T20 event this September. For now, one wishes them well in their future struggles to get a permanent reckoning
into the national team.
Now putting an argument forward regarding the inclusions of some tried and tested hands, national selector, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and in the T20 World Cup, that is why we have also recalled Kamran (Akmal)
and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yasir-Arafat-c98241."
Whether he truly means his aforementioned words is a debate for another day but analyzing the inbound players, one may think that such a gamble could pay-off. The problem currently with Pakistan cricket is that there is no emerging Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib –
apart from the now discarded Amir – nor there is a genuine batter, who could duly surprise anyone and become a familiar face in no time.
The best the current side could offer is less unpredictability and that too in the Test format. Relying on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 to deliver the goods all the time has simply halted the Green Shirts’ progress in the limited overs format this year and now they might
need experience and some old hands to emulate 2009's success.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, Australia, both known for their Test exploits, have assembled much better all-round squads, and therefore, Pakistan needs some old guns who can bring short-term success, despite giving birth to irregularities, which have been associated with Pakistani
cricket in the past.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 Premier League as a benchmark, as done by the Pakistani
selectors when picking up http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-Nazir-c64248 as well, who will make his fourth comeback.
Recalling http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Razzaq-c84421 is justifiable to an extent. He is a proven match-winner and has plenty of experience with facing a variety of bowling attacks. However, his last International game came in 2011 and he was recently excluded from the central contract list.
While the rationale behind including the senior players still up for debate, little doubt remains over their talent and ability to provide the team with a swift – but again 'short-term' solution. The argument might have a clearer picture when the Men in
Green conclude their series against the Aussies.
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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