7th September 2007, 14:23
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First Class Player
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Debut: Jul 2007
Venue: down under
Runs: 1,519
Wickets: 84
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T20 preview: Pakistan, Your Guess Is As Good As Ours
Quote:
T20 Preview: Pakistan
September 06 2007
If Pakistan are generally inconsistent and unpredictable, then the assessment of their Twenty20 chances must surely bring us to the word 'incalculable'.
With a new coach and a new captain at the helm, a new era of Pakistani cricket begins, but whether it can shake off the troubles of the old one remains questionable.
The late Bob Woolmer was one of the best international coaches in the game, but even he couldn't keep a lid on the side's indiscipline at times.
And the fact that Shoaib Akhtar has already been hauled before a displinary hearing since the confirmation of his selection makes one wonder whether anything has changed. He may have subsequently been cleared of the charges, with the Board putting the problem down to a case of "mis-communication", but the fast bowler continues to attract controversy.
Nonetheless, the Rawalpindi Express' inclusion is a boost for Pakistan given the impact that express pace can have, while Mohammad Asif remains one of the world's top fast bowlers and was superb on South African soil at the beginning of the year.
However the omission of Mohammad Yousuf is rather baffling, even if he is better suited to Tests than limited overs, and could prove the worst decision in Pakistan's recent history should Yousuf stick with his decision to join the Indian Cricket League.
Overall there are six changes to the squad that exited the Caribbean under circumstances that could not have been predicted by the world's worst pessimist.
Talented young all-rounder Fawad Alam is the newest face and is selected on the basis of an excellent domestic Twenty20 run last year that included a half-century and a five-wicket haul in the final, while Misbah-ul-Haq returns after three years in the international wilderness.
Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman seems a handy pick, while the squad is not lacking all-rounders despite Abdul Razzaq being left out.
While Pakistan will arrive in South Africa fresh from a warm-up series involving Bangladesh, Uganda and hosts Kenya, their only serious international cricket since their consolation victory over Zimbabwe in Jamaica on March 21 was a mini-tournament in Abu Dhabi.
So while they will touch down with a slight confidence boost courtesy of some minnow-bashing, it's anyone's guess as to how they will perform in Durban. After the shambles in the Caribbean, even victory in the opening game against Scotland is less than assured.
Key Player
It has to be Shahid Afridi, who can hit the ball as sweetly as anyone when he's in the mood. He generally doesn't waste time, and will either butcher the opposition into submission or get out of his teammates' way, while his slow drifters and agile fielding are a valuable asset to the side.
Wildcard
It could go either way for young Alam, whose domestic Twenty20 record is nothing short of phenomenal - he averages over 40 with the bat and just 11.42 with the ball. However his international career spans a single match, in which he was out first ball and was not given a chance to bowl, leaving him with plenty to prove in South Africa.
Likely To Flop
For all his talk, it seems that Akhtar's best days are behind him. He arrived in South Africa at the beginning of the year having weathered the drug scandal back home, duly took 4-36 in the first innings of the second Test, got injured and went home. Expect a similar whirlwind showing this time around, rather than a sustained performance of the highest order.
What Could Have Been
He refused to criticise and brow-beat about his omission in the manner of his teammate Razzaq, but there's no doubt that Yousuf had reason to be bleak. Currently one of the world's top three batsmen, his presence would have brought class and experience that will instead be sorely missed.
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nice article, its a few days old
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