Pakistan all set for the African Safari

Taha Noor

October 31, 2002

The Pakistan team is on the way for their campaign in Africa, the final opportunity to get their act together before the World Cup. The timing of these tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa could not have been more opportune and is an ideal chance to get acclimatized to the conditions. One can hope this will give them a head start over other teams in the competition. The downside is the fact Pakistani cricket is currently in total disarray with the selectors and management struggling to find the ideal balance between youth and experience.

The two teams named for the Test series and One-Day Internationals look to be brilliant on paper, but unfortunately the game of cricket can only be won on the field. That is the problem that has been plaguing the side, while having no shortage of talent, they just can't seem to deliver the goods consistently. Inzamam and Youhana will definitely add some stability to the very fragile batting order, but Saeed Anwar's exclusion is mind-boggling. He is still the best opener Pakistan has, and deserves to be given the opportunity to play in the World Cup, most likely his last as age catches up with this great player. Saleem Elahi has made yet one more appearance right out of the cold, and one really wonders what thought process went in behind that decision? Kamran Akmal in preference over Moin Khan as a reserve wicket keeper is also very strange, as these tours are too crucial to be testing new players.

To preserve Wasim Akram for the One-Dayers exclusively was a very sensible one, as the last thing we need is to have him unfit during the World Cup. It will most certainly be his last World Cup campaign, and one hopes that this great servant of Pakistan cricket will bow out in style. The inclusion of speedster Mohammed Zahid is most heartening and must actually be 'allowed' to play rather than again sit on the bench as one of the reserves. There is little doubt the bowling attack looks in great shape and has been the only solace for Pakistani fans for quite some time.

That leaves us with only one problem and that is, very obviously, the batting line up. The batting order has not been established with any degree of certainty; with many players unsure of what role to perform. Shahid Afridi, if played in the ODI's must be assigned a specific role which must be to play his natural game and take the opposition apart early. He is likely to fail on more occasions than one, but asking him to curb his aggressive instinct and play cautiously is a waste of his abilities. In Test matches, Taufeeq Umar and Saleem Elahi are a better proposition at the top of the order. The one-down slot has been experimented with too long with Abdul Razzaq too often being asked to be the sacrificial lamb. Razzaq is a far better player against the old ball, and this position ought to be reserved for Yousuf Youhana. Inzamam, Younis Khan and Faisal Iqbal must be the other sureties in the middle order. Hasan Raza too showed quite a lot of character in his last two knocks and deserves to be given a fair chance to prove his mettle against Zimbabwe.

The team management needs to give all the young batsman a full go in Zimbabwe, and then pick the most proficient ones for the highly important tour of South Africa.

With little time at hand and a lot of hard work to be done, one can only hope the Pakistanis can turn around their form in the twin series to enter the World Cup on a high note. It will be an uphill task after the extremely poor showing against the Aussies. The Board and team management must go all out to help this young team show guts and grit if they are to get things back on track.

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