Former Pakistan Test captain Aamir Sohail has questioned the side’s batting skills after the top order capitulated meekly for the fourth consecutive time on the short tour, with only a seventh-wicket stand between Malik and Yamin resurrecting their innings. PHOTO: AFP
After being denied from one of the most incredible comeback wins in ODI history, the Azhar Ali led Pakistan team is going to look for a series win in the decider at the Harare Sports Club on Monday.
The men in green seemed down and out when their sixth wicket fell with only 76 runs on the board during the 277-run chase in the second ODI. However, Shoaib Malik (96 not out) resurrected the innings with a 111-run alliance with newcomer Aamer Yamin (62).
After Yamin got out, Yasir Shah and Malik added 63 runs for the unbroken ninth-wicket stand when play was called off due to bad light at the end of the 48th over.
Pakistan were five runs short of the Duckworth-Lewis method target at that stage which meant a heartbreak for Malik and Shah, who were close to snatching a most improbable win with the tourists needing a mere 21 runs off the last two overs.
The team management, led by coach Waqar Younis and captain Azhar, drew flak for their decision of resting in-form all-rounder Imad Wasim who, after winning the man-of-the-series award in the T20Is, scored a crucial fifty in the opening one-dayer.
Imad is expected to return to the playing eleven for the decider, with Asad Shafiq or Bilal Asif expected to sit out; in fact both may be benched if Pakistan decide to bring back Ahmed Shehzad as well.
Batsmen need to rely more on back foot: Sohail
Former Pakistan Test captain and chief selector Aamir Sohail has questioned the side’s batting skills after the top order capitulated meekly for the fourth consecutive time on the short tour.
In both T20Is, the tourists lost early wickets, while even in the convincing 131-run win in the opening ODI, the first wickets were lost cheaply.
“The batsmen need to improve their technique in challenging conditions; most Pakistan batsmen are committing to the front foot and getting trapped on these pitches where the ball isn’t coming on to the bat,” he said. “Even in good conditions, one needs to rely more on the back foot since that’s where you score most of your runs whereas one can only drive the ball on the front foot.”
Sohail added that the approach of Pakistan players, especially the batsmen, against a weak opposition has perplexed him greatly. “We need to play positive cricket, we are playing against a weak opposition, our team is richly experienced compared to them, but the batsmen especially appear clueless.”
We keep playing tired and tested players: Latif
Another former Test captain Rashid Latif feels that considering the strength of the Pakistan squad, the defeat in the second game was disappointing.
Latif added that while the pair of Malik and Yamin played out of their skins, the team management needs to make a decisive call on Asad’s ODI future.
“Malik played really well, even Yamin was very impressive,” said Latif. “But our problem is that we are playing the tried and tested players again and again; in my opinion Asad should be given one more chance which would be perhaps his last in the format.”
Latif, regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers of his era, felt that the team management blundered by resting Imad for the second game.
“It was a wrong decision to bench Imad; his confidence must be shaken now. The rotation policy works best in teams where the bench is as strong as the eleven.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2015.
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