Brittle batting poses problems to selectors
Pakistan's recent successive victories in international cricket is indeed a commendable feat
Salahuddin Sallu
17-Feb-2002
Pakistan's recent successive victories in international cricket is indeed a
commendable feat. The credit largely goes to Waqar Younis whose
leadership qualities are improving.
Waqar's declaration against West Indies in the first Test at Sharjah was
daring and reflected the skipper's confidence in himself and his team.
Pakistan is now steadily emerging as a fighting and mature force. But our
batting line-up is still brittle and the selectors have to ponder this problem.
We do not lack talent provided it is given chance and exposure
persistently. This is particularly important in the case of opening pair. We
should not harbour under any delusion after victories against out of sorts
Bangladesh and West Indies on easy paced wickets. The quest for better
and better should be an unceasing effort. Team spirit has surely returned
and Wasim Akram's come-back will reinforce the combination.
Our bowling has been pretty impressive. But let me first deal with batting.
Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Abdur Razzaq have been consistent and
brilliant. When Inzamam, who has been having a lean patch, regains his
form our middle order will become formidable. The opening slot, however,
though has problems.
Ever since Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail got separated no pair has settled
down, a role Majid Khan and Sadiq Mohammad also discharged with
distinction.
If Shahid Afridi gets due and sympathetic treatment, he could be the
answer. He has been branded by certain quarters as a one-day specialist.
It is just like Saeed Anwar, who was also branded, early in his career as a
one-day specialist and then dropped after scoring three consecutive
centuries.
Saeed later on proved his critics wrong, establishing himself as a world
class opener. Dropping Afridi from the first Test by the tour selection
committee was a blunder. It should not be forgotten that he is a valuable
utility all-rounder. As regards his batting technique he believes in the
dictum that attack is the best defence, a motto approved by none other
than Garfield Sobers while coaching the Sri Lankans.
There are two types of openers - one enterprising and motivated and other
constant and steady. If in the opening overs an outgoing delivery is bowled
to say Geoff Boycott, Hanif Mohammad or Sunil Gavaskar they will leave it.
The same if offered to Gordon Greenidge, Roy Fredericks or Sanath
Jayasuriya they would have square cut it.
Rashid Latif deserves due praise for his showing, despite a long absence in
between. He is an outstanding wicket-keeper and is also establishing him
as a dependable batsman.
Pakistan is lucky to have two competent keepers of calibre. Of course Moin
Khan is a magician with bat. His memorable record of 257 victims in oneday cricket, three Test centuries and eight hundreds in first class cricket
speak for themselves. His impressive showing in the last World Cup with
fractured little finger is still fresh, the way he hammered Australia's Glenn
McGrath in English conditions was marvellous. Allan Donald also received
caning at his hands.
Coming back to our bowling Shoaib Akhtar was amazing with his express
deliveries on unresponsive surface. In short spells he is virtually unplayable.
Michael Holding's adverse comments were torn to shreds by his
performance with the same weight and action.
Waqar, of course, is an established operator with the new as well as the
old ball, Abdur Razzaq, in between, was remarkable with his medium pace
accuracy. If Wasim Akram comes up to his reputed fame we will have a
formidable bowling attack.
In the spinning department Danesh Kaneria has much to learn. He should
give a little flight and his deliveries will have a loop only when he takes a
slow start. He should follow Shane Warne. Besides his bowling Kaneria must
improve his fielding.
One feature about Pakistan bowling is specially noteworthy and striking.
We have produced some of the finest fast bowlers on the heart breaking
slow wickets. The names of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar and Shoaib
Akhtar are inscribed in the Hall Of Fame but we have not been able to
produce a high quality left-arm leg spinner since Iqbal Qasim.
As regards West Indies their overall performance was below par. Lara's
absence was a big blow. Their fielding was uncharacteristically shoddy.
Besides all that the umpires rubbed their wounds. Darrel Hair of Australia
gave two most shocking LBW decisions against Darren Ganga and
Shivnarine Chanderpaul. The ouster of the former proved a turning point as
he was batting beautifully in the second Test.
Hair is the same person who questioned Shoaib Akhtar's action. If such
poor judgments had been made by a Pakistani umpire he would have been
dishonest while an Australian was guilty of human error.
This was the first series where both the teams were aliens and instead of
batsmen getting benefit of doubt bowlers were reaping the benefit, why?
The umpires can only tell. Now before concluding a few suggestions for
Waqar who undoubtedly did a good job. But he should concentrate on
game and refrain from uncalled for statements and interviews with the
media.
My sincere good wishes are with Waqar and the team.
(This article was written before the one-day series).