It took a major reshuffle to bring the Pakistan Test cricket team back on the winning streak. After a humiliating 2-0 rout – the first-ever in history – at the hands of minnows Bangladesh and an innings and 47-run defeat, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi came into action.
Enough is enough. The selection committee was reshuffled and Captain Shan Masood and Jason Gillespie were divested of selection duties. An umpire of all people – Aleem Dar – was drafted into the selection committee.
Aaqib Javed took control and gentlemen players like Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq were also notable for their honest contributions.
Above all, a difficult decision to drop Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah was made in a jiffy. Two forgotten spinners were brought as snippers.
A recycled pitch was used to play the second Test in Multan and big industrial fans were used to dry the pitches in Multan and Rawalpindi.
As a result of these significant interventions, Pakistan won the series 2-1. Babar Azam’s replacement, Kamran Ghulam made a debut to remember by scoring a match-turning century.
More importantly, Pakistan reinvigorated the Test team and the forgotten winning recipe — use spinners on turning pitches — was recalled.
It was a sort of alchemy for Pakistan cricket, a much-needed one.
As the fans savoured the series win, the PCM (read Mohsin Naqvi) took another bold decision. Mohammad Rizwan was appointed skipper of the white-ball team.
It took some while but it was like, ‘better late than never.” A sort of metamorphosis, much needed since the failure in the ODI World Cup in India.
Rizwan proved to be a fighter. He has been like this, showing his qualities as a skipper in the Pakistan Super League, lifting Multan Sultan to titles in 2021 and runners-up spots in the following three years. Once again, the team selection saw some bold decisions.
Two established batters — Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq — were left out in bold steps that showed no compromises would be made on fitness and discipline.
Pakistan had not won an ODI series in Australia since 2002. No one was ready to give Pakistan a chance. But Rizwan, like he always believed, asserted that if Pakistan had not won in the past, it was not necessary that they would not win this time too.
With that belief combined with the resolve and fight to win, Pakistan upstaged Australia 2-1 in the ODI series. Pakistan could have won 3-0 but for a brave innings from Australia skipper Pat Cummins the first match did go to the hosts.
But taking Australia to the last two wickets in the defence of 204 highlighted the fighting qualities of Rizwan. Pakistan dismissed Australia for totals of 163 and 140 in the last two games and won.
Pakistan’s bowling was refreshing. The spearheads like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf were rested and came to the series refreshed and recharged. It was a wise step, taken by the selection committee and backed by the PCB.
Despite losing the T20 series the tour Down Under proved if there is a will, there is a way. Pakistan did lose a match each in both the formats in Zimbabwe but it wasn’t upsetting as some new players were tried. The same can be said about the T20 series in South Africa.
Both the T20 series losses are part of the process and they will pay as Pakistan prepares for the 2016 T20 World Cup.
One more surprise was in store in South Africa. Pakistan routed South Africa 3-0 which is more notable and praiseworthy as no team had ever whitewashed the Proteas in ODIs in their backyard.
Both the ODI wins in Australia and South Africa are a precursor for the Champions Trophy. Pakistan are surely amongst the favourites for the eight-nation event.
While we praise PCB’s efforts that are producing results, work still needs to be done in women’s cricket and at the Junior level.
The lacklustre showings by the women and Junior teams are a matter of grave concern. We need to unearth new talent in both the departments and for that talent hunt schemes are a solution.
PCB is holding event after event and with more and more matches we will definitely find some good talent. The standard of these events needs further improvement. The grounds and pitches are also anathema. There too work is needed.
As we always say, there is always room for improvement, the biggest room in a house. Pakistan teams need to be amongst the top-ranked teams in the world. That is the only way we will get attention and recognition.
Off the field, PCB showed firmness in its stance on the Champions Trophy. The stance forced the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the International Cricket Council to accept a conditional hybrid model. PCB stressed on a legally binding resolution on the agreement.
If India does not come to Pakistan, they will also not be able to host Pakistan in ICC events they host until 2027. Accept it or not, it was a win for Pakistan.
Unfortunately, the performance of the PCB is judged by how the national teams are doing. In this incumbent set up the on and off-the-field showings match and Pakistan cricket is heading for exciting times, provided this set-up continues.
Pakistan cricket needs shape and direction — both on and off the field. With time and more concrete efforts, it will be attained.
