Pakistan must keep their consistency (30 May 1999)

30 May 1999

Pakistan must keep their consistency

Mark Baldwin

LONDON, May 29: Pakistan's cricketers had prepared for their match against New Zealand by having a day out on the rollercoasters and big dippers at Alton Towers, a fun park in the English Midlands. But, at Derby's Racecourse Ground 24 hours later, it was the New Zealanders who got that sinking feeling in their stomachs.

Stephen Fleming's side were many peoples' outside bet for the 1999 World Cup, and quite clearly they are a team not to be underestimated. Packed with all-rounders, the Kiwis are in many ways a watered-down version of South Africa.

But what New Zealand lack is class - and that is a commodity which Pakistan have by the bucketful. Their 62-run win, which gave Wasim Akram and his players a fourth consecutive success and made sure they would top Group B, was yet another huge statement of intent to the rest of the World Cup field. New Zealand simply weren't in the same league.

Wasim said he gave his side their day off, instead of practice, because he felt it was the right time to ease off the training. What he didn't say was that the fun outing was designed to keep that all-important team spirit bubbling - because Wasim knows there is still a long way to go.

If Pakistan are to win the World Cup they have to keep their consistency on the field, and their enthusiasm and freshness off it. With three weeks left before the final, and the prospect of five tough games following the group matches, attitude and preparation is likely to be as important as maintaining concentration and performance-levels.

The format of the competition is intriguing, with the points gained against fellow-qualifiers from your own group being carried forward into the Super Six stage.

Pakistan know they will now proceed with the maximum four points, giving them a massive advantage over all but South Africa in the second stage. And the clash with the South Africans is due up first, on June 5, meaning that Wasim will have no trouble keeping his men motivated and focussed during the coming few days.

Monday's meeting with Bangladesh, at Northampton, is largely irrelevant - but that too will suit Wasim fine. He can rest those players he feels will benefit for some time off before taking on South Africa - and he can also give a game to his reserve bowlers Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed at just the right stage of the tournament.

Waqar and Mushtaq may yet have to play an important role in Pakistan's quest for glory, and the opportunity to get them out on to the field in the days leading up to the Super Six is perfectly-timed.

Shahid Afridi and, to a lesser extent, Saeed Anwar could also do with the chance of some time in the middle. Big scores for both against the Bangladeshis would mean all of Pakistan's top six entering the important second stage with significant amounts of runs behind them. In the current conditions that is vital, for there are a number of sides who still have specialist batsmen badly out of form.

Yousuf Youhana missed the New Zealand game with a hamstring strain, but he can use the Bangladesh match as a training exercise. It does not matter, in fact, if he has to miss this game too because he is in such fine touch. Salim Malik and Wajahatullah Wasti, the reserve batsmen, might also benefit from another game - just in case they are needed in the second half of the tournament through injury to any member of the first-choice top six.

The real bonus from the New Zealand match - apart from good runs for Ijaz Ahmed and the overwhelming nature of the result itself - was the way Azhar Mahmood performed with the ball.

Wasim, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain and Abdur Razzaq have all been consistently outstanding in all four of Pakistan's matches so far, but Azhar has struggled - in comparison - for rhythm. His three wickets, at lowish cost, will lift his confidence markedly and, by the time they begin their Super Six campaign, Pakistan should have their entire attack bowling with enormous self-belief.

It was Azhar, after Shoaib's initial blast with the new ball, who broke the back of New Zealand's resistance. His dismissals of Chris Cairns and Adam Parore from successive balls were both achieved, too, with movement back off the seam into those right-handers.

In previous matches Azhar had failed to maintain a consistent line. Azhar also managed to have a bit of fun with the bat, too, at the end of Pakistan's innings. He must be vying with Lance Klusener as the best number nine in the tournament.

Finally, a word about dear old Inzy. The hulk from Multan is fast becoming one of the stars of this World Cup, and the way he destroyed Cairns in the final over - taking 14 runs from it to reach 73 not out - merely added to his near-cult status in England.

The English love a genius who seems not to have much of a clue about how he does it. They love his bulk, his strength, his dislike of running, and the comical scrapes he gets himself into when trying to communicate with his batting partners over what constitutes a single.

If Pakistan do reach the World Cup final on June 20 - and, the way they are playing, anything less will be a painful disappointment - be sure that one of the biggest cheers from the English at Lord's that day will be when Inzamam comes wandering out to bat looking like he has just woken up!

Source :: The Dawn (www.dawn.com)