South Africa vs. Pakistan: A brief comparison of the two competitors’ top players (Part 3)
(Continuing from the discussion in
http://www.senore.com/South-Africa-vs-Pakistan-A-brief-comparison-of-the-two-competitors-top-players-Part-2-a36744, regarding the difference of cricketing atmosphere in T20 cricket and the South African cricketers to look out for)
Among Pakistani T20 cricketers to look out for is ODI and T20 skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, who is rarely seen spending more than 10 minutes at the crease (case in point: the first T20I against South Africa:
25 runs off 7 balls, and then, surprise, surprise, he’s caught out). However, if this dangerous batsman
does spend 10 minutes at the crease successfully in the middle of the innings, he can single-handedly destroy any world-class bowling attack. Afridi has played 19 T20 matches and tops the ICC world rankings for bowling in this format. He has taken
27 wickets, at an average of 19.00. The skipper strikes after every 17 deliveries and has successfully maintained an economy rate of 6 runs per over. His bowling best is 4 for 19.
Next in line to the skipper is fast bowler Umar Gul, whose in-swinging full-length deliveries have been much of the reason for the Pakistani team’s success in T20 cricket. Gul has taken 26 wickets in 14 matches, at an average strike
rate of 12.00. He holds an exceptional bowling best of 5 for 6.
Among the several reasons for Pakistan’s T20 success is the depth and variety in their bowling power-play. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal makes it extremely difficult for batsmen to settle down. Ajmal has taken 23 wickets from his 13
T20 appearances, with a best figure of 4 for 26. He has an average of 14.00, and a commendable strike rate of 13.00.
The batting line-up of the Pakistani team is also formidable, including top scorers such as wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal (397 runs), newly-appointed test captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 (368), ODI skipper Shahid Afridi (358), Shoaib Malik (339),
and the controversial former skipper Younis Khan (265). All these superstars are popular for their crucial batting power-play in intense cricketing moments.
Unfortunately, wicketkeeper and opening batsman Kamran Akmal will not be taking part in the tournament due to an injury he is recovering from, and will be replaced with the young talent of Zulqarnain Haider, who dazzled English
bowlers in Pakistan’s recent tour of England. Haider was, by far, the only batsman among the Pakistanis able to make a firm impression on the hosts.
During Pakistan’s controversial English tour, the Asian cricket team also employed the services of veteran batsman Mohammad Yousuf, but by the time he made it to the tour, it was too late for him to make any major contributions.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown some maturity in its selection for the upcoming tournament, as it has re-employed the services of former captain Younis Khan and appointed the experienced Misbah-ul-Haq as Test captain. The two would surely
make a difference in the batting order in the limited and longer format of the game.
T20 success for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 has dominated the longer
and shorter versions of the game in the year 2010, whereas Pakistan’s performance has been disappointing.
(To be continued)
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