Looking back at CWC ’15

WC 2015 edition proved that the national team has fallen to wayside, especially in batting and fielding departments


Editorial March 30, 2015
Pakistan cannot afford to only rely on the talent of their bowlers to bail them out time and again. PHOTO: AFP

Australia made a mockery of their opponents in yet another World Cup final, brushing aside New Zealand in front at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to lift their fifth World Cup trophy. The final turned out to be a drab contest after New Zealand were dismissed for just 183 with the hosts chasing down the target with ease. Australia captain Michael Clarke ended his glittering One-Day International (ODI) career with the World Cup trophy in his kitty, emulating Imran Khan, who in 1992, captained his team to a World Cup victory and retired from the game at the same venue.

The 2015 edition has been full of memorable moments and provided for some riveting cricket. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India were the form teams and the rest of the pack generally struggled to make an impression against them. The bat dominated the ball yet quality bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult, Wahab Riaz and Mohammed Shami made life difficult for batsmen. Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Brendon Taylor, Clarke and Daniel Vettori are not going to don their team’s ODI kits anymore. Pakistan have also bid farewell to the impactful duo of Misbahul Haq and Shahid Afridi. Another aspect that the mega event highlighted was the entertainment value that the modern ODI game now brings with it. As big scores have become the norm, attacking, wicket-taking bowlers now have more space to excel. Containing batsmen is not an option anymore. Going forward, the ICC must invest its time and energy in the ODI format as this still has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment. The next World Cup is to be staged in England and Pakistan must make a long-term plan and not merely make decisions for satisfying aggrieved cricket critics in the country. The 2015 edition proved that the national team has fallen to the wayside, especially in the batting and fielding departments. Pakistan cannot afford to only rely on the talent of their bowlers to bail them out time and again.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2015.

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