Every World Cup is preceded by turmoil in Pakistan cricket. And, incidentally, every World Cup is either followed by upheaval or inquiry. Before every World Cup, we see chaotic preparations, losses and changes of personnel. After every World Cup, we hear: Pakistan cricket team is passing through a transition phase and that “we are preparing for the next World Cup.”
World Cup 2023
The picture remains the same ahead of the World Cup 2023 in India. Pakistan Cricket Board management committee has summoned a high-level meeting next week to investigate the two defeats in the Asia Cup. The Cricket Committee headed by Misbah-ul-Haq will hear from chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez and some other former players on why Pakistan came a cropper in the Asia Cup.
Pakistan Cricket Board
But what will the PCB or Pakistan team achieve from this meeting? Teams suffer defeats but their boards do not react like the PCB is doing. It seems the panic button has been pushed, and some heads are likely to be rolled. But would that be appropriate with the World Cup just three weeks away?
It is an old cliché that “no team is good or bad after one loss,” and that is true for the Babar Azam-led Pakistan team that failed to qualify for the final of the Asia Cup and abjectly surrendered to arch-rivals India. They suffered the largest defeat by a whooping margin of 228 runs. There was confusion ahead of that crucial match. Should we bat first or field first? The rain factor prompted the team management to consider the DLS, and under good batting conditions, Pakistan decided to bowl first.
Pakistan Vs India
Much to their bad luck, the bowlers were not up to the mark, and India’s ploy to attack them paid off. Indian management was clear in their minds. They had faced vociferous criticism after the rained-off match, where they were bowled out for 266. Indian batters were accused of being scared of Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf. To negate that impression, Indian batters came down charging and plundered 357-2 — highest total against Pakistan in all ODIs.
India were allowed to put 209 in 25.5 overs on day two as Virat Kohli and KL Rahul went berserk. To their advantage, Babar Azam was kowtow in his approach, never attacking the batters. He was short on arsenal as Haris Rauf pulled up with discomfort in his flank.
Unfortunately, when Pakistan batted, the conditions were different and Indian bowlers bowled a better length — back of the length to push batters on the backfoot. It was a timid approach by Pakistan batters. Consequently, Pakistan were bowled out for 128 in 32 overs. Abject surrender; no one tried to nudge for a better total to improve the net run-rate.
To rub salt into the wounds of a humiliating defeat, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah also fell injured. Naseem was ruled out of the Asia Cup, but Rauf still stayed with the team but could not play the must-win game against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan had to make six changes to the squad for the Sri Lanka match. Initially, there were five, but Imam-ul-Haq pulled out at the last minute to give Abdullah Shafique a chance. Pakistan put up a good total of 242 in the rain-reduced 42-overs-a-side match. It was defendable, but Sri Lanka’s young team took the fight to the Pakistan bowling attack. Once again, Babar’s captaincy left a lot to be desired. After getting the second wicket at 77, Babar opened the field and allowed Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrema to stitch a 100-run stand.
But there was a late twist to the match as once Mendis fell, with 42 still needed to score, Sri Lanka lost their way. Shaheen Shah Afridi handed Pakistan a good chance by conceding just four runs and fetching two wickets.
Asia Cup failure should serve as a wake-up call
It came down to eight runs in the final over, and who better than Zaman Khan was summoned to do the needful. Zaman had defended the same number of runs in the Pakistan Super League twice, and he was well on course to do the job again as just two came off the first four balls. But poor captaincy once again cost Pakistan the match. Not realising Sri Lanka needed a boundary and that line should have been protected, Babar did not go for a deep third man. Charith Asalanka miscued a drive, and the resulting edge went for a boundary. The match and Asia Cup were done, and dusted the very next ball as Asalanka pushed a slower one for two, much to the joyous celebrations of a packed Premadasa stadium.
Pakistan team failed in an event where they entered as favourites. The world number one team was exposed badly. There are some key points which need to be addressed. That too very quickly, or else we would be ordering another inquiry after the World Cup 2023. Babar is passive in captaincy. He needs to be proactive, must take the fight to the opponents, choose the best eleven, ask his batters to show a positive intent and try to take wickets even if he has a cushion of 350-plus total. Pakistan’s spin attack is not strong, not taking wickets in the middle overs and is the weak link. Shadab Khan was made indispensable. Usama Mir should have been tried. Fakhar Zaman is not scoring runs, so why not try him in the middle order and use Shafique at the top of the order.
Team director Mickey Arthur was missed in the crucial India game. He was in the UK on his county assignment. He will be with the team during the World Cup and must make some strong decisions. Asia Cup failure should serve as a wake-up call.
