http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket - a story of u-turns as Misbah returns to the beleaguered squad
The hallmark of unpredictability has choked Pakistan cricket. Nobody knows what is going to happen in Pakistan cricket as the administration, which runs cricket is a bag full of surprises.
Recently, the last Australian tour wasn’t an exception as controversies hit Pakistan cricket team in terms of their performances in Australia. Pakistan was hammered by Australia in every outing in each format of cricket. Sometimes, it looked like that they
had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Doubts were raised about their performances in Australia. Had they been beaten by Aussies or due to some other uncertain reasons?
An inquiry committee was brought in to investigate the reason of under performance in Australia. The tribunal then looked into the matter as it was evident from the results that some of the players were harming the integrity of team, and were deliberately
underperforming to fail the captain with their internal politics.
As a result, four players were handed bans and three were fined heavily. Senior members Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan acquired a life ban, and Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved resulted in a one year ban. In addition, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, Umar Akmal and Kamran Akmal
received heavy fines.
However, the deciding body took a 180 degree turn and to everyone’s surprise, Shahid Afridi was made the captain of the team for future tours. Shoaib Malik was inducted in the squad for Asia Cup and England tour, revoking his one year ban due to political
pressures on Ijaz Butt.
Kamran, the wicket keeper was dropped for the third Test against Kangaroos at Hobart on the last tour to Australia, regarding his dismal performance with gloves, giving away five chances in the disastrous Sydney Test. In the end, his performance cost Pakistan
their first test victory in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, in 15 years. Results on the inquiry showed that he had done it deliberately. He still is first choice wicketkeeper for Pakistan.
Moreover, Umar Akmal, the younger of the two Akmal’s wasn’t interested to play the Hobart. He protested that if his brother will not play, he will not feature in third Test. He should have been sent back home, regarding his protest. He has been a continuous
member of the squad without paying his fine.
Mohammad Yousuf was then called back in the middle of England tour after the first Test, regarding the dismal batting display of Pakistan’s batsmen in first Test at Trent Bridge.
To everyone’s surprise, Pakistan cricket has taken another u-turn by selecting an aging and out of form http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in U.A.E, rather than giving a chance to a youngster. Misbah has struggled to make runs
in any form of international cricket from the last year or so.
He hasn’t Played an ODI, since 30th September 2009, though his overall record suggests that he has been effective in shorter version of the game. In 56 ODIs, Misbah has scored 1523 runs at an impressive average of 39 with a best of 79.
Furthermore, longer format of the game has been a real struggle for Misbah. In the last year, he has played 9 Test matches, gathering just 337 at a poor average of 24 with a best of 65.
Even he hasn’t done anything decent with the bat in T20 cricket. In the ICC World T20, Misbah featured in 6 matches, striking just 68 runs at an average of 13.
Though, by looking at his current statistics, nobody was expecting Misbah-ul-Haq to be back in the side, but this is Pakistan cricket’s unpredictable nature.
The need of the hour was an exciting young player, ahead of the 2011 world cup, but dummy selectors and team management has decided against it. They wanted to induct a senior player to give strength to their middle order, but it should been a credible senior
player instead of a struggling Misbah.
Well, we can expect anything from Pakistan cricket, especially in the reign of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128.
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