There is a saying that God helps those who help themselves. That saying proved correct during the first Twenty20 International between Pakistan and New Zealand, where one side got the help from God, whereas the other hoped to get the help that never arrived.
The New Zealand cricket management may be saluted for opting for John Wright as coach after the team lost as many as 11 international matches in 2010. They went for the winning cause than the players’ concerns and the result was positive as the Kiwis outclassed
Pakistan in all departments. Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 got back in form, Tim Southee took a five for including a hat trick and Martin Guptill scored a match winning half-century against a quality bowling attack. All this would go on and help New Zealand in the longer run,
something the Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam was heard saying after the match.
Both John Wright and Intikhab Alam have been friends for the past 40 years. They both turned out well in the English county cricket and know each other well. Sadly, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 manager failed to realise that the shrewd Kiwi will transform the side in a matter
of minutes. Had he known that, he would have conveyed it to Pakistan coach Waqar Younis who would have thought of a strategy, because there was not one when the men-in-green went out to play.
Pakistan was the side in the match that kept looking at God for help. The coach and captain told the world media in Lahore during the training camp that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 announce to the world that
Nathan McCullum would open the bowling in limited overs cricket before he did so? Did http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 disclose that Yusuf Pathan will bat higher in the order if needed? They did not and that is why the move paid well for them.
Sadly, Pakistan has not been discreet in its so-called strategy making and the decision to send Afridi up helped Kiwi bowlers keep Tim Southee for the middle-order. He not only took 5 wickets in a matter of 8 balls but also took the third hat trick (after
Brett Lee and Jacob Oram) in Twenty20 internationals.
Similarly, Pakistan should realise by now that Fawad Alam is one of the most useless cricketers they have ever produced, or used for that matter. Barring a century on Test debut, he has not done much in international cricket and it is about time that he should
be axed for good. Due to his personal relationship with the captain, he is likely to stay in the side for the whole tour and beyond. He might even make it to the World Cup squad at the expense of a deserving cricketer, but if he is dropped from the side, it
will help Pakistan induct someone dependable.
The main concern for Pakistan should be the form of Abdur Razzaq. He is one player who can bat well in the middle-order and bowl well when required. Instead of opening the bowling, he should come as first or second change while Wahab Riaz should open the bowling.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Razzaq-c84421 can also be used somewhere in the middle-order rather than the lower order if Pakistan wants to win. The visitors should play two regular spinners like Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman since the Kiwis are not comfortable against them. They can use Mohammad
Hafeez sparingly but not as a regular bowler. Pakistan played Umar Akmal as a wicket-keeper so that they can have an extra bowler, but now they should think twice and induct Asad Shafiq in place of Umar Akmal. Younis Khan has kept the wickets in one days for
Pakistan and if he wants to be in the side, he can keep the wickets and save his place.
Pakistan should play Tanvir Ahmed in one of the matches as well in place of Abdur Razzaq because he can bat and bowl, something Razzaq hasn’t done in recent years.
Shoaib Akhtar is a four-over spell bowler and the captain should not have brought him back in the first place, especially since he had 2 overs of Umar Gul, 3 of Wahab Riaz and 3 of Abdur Razzaq remaining.
Saeed Ajmal was economical and had Abdur Rehman played, he would have been economical as well. There was no logic in playing with so many bowlers in the side, and if Pakistan needs to level the series and win, they should at least get rid of one extra bowler
and play a genuine batsman. Otherwise, John Wright will write them off for good!
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