The cricket board and the team management must pay urgent attention to rectify the situation
LAHORE: The Pakistani cricket team had a good start for the 1st Test match against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. They did not play well and the entire team was out for 153. Williamson, the skipper, scored 63 off 112 balls with the help of five boundaries. Pakistani bowlers bowled really well to restrict the tourists to 153 runs. All Pakistani bowlers were among the wicket takers. In reply, Pakistan started off well, but two wickets fell in quick succession. But later, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq and Haris Sohail played well to lift Pakistan. But those taking the crease later fell cheaply and Pakistan were all out for 227, gaining a lead of 74.
When New Zealand came back for its 2nd innings, Latham was clean-bowled on the very first delivery. However, a partnership between Nicholls and Watling helped New Zealand advance. But the Pakistani bowlers did not allow the New Zealand batsmen to score freely, restricting them to 249 runs all out. Credit goes to Hassan Ali and Yasir Shah as both took five wickets each. Pakistan were thus set a 176-run target to win the match. Pakistani batsmen started off well and ended the 4th day with 37 on board without loss. Pakistani batsmen played well for much of the final day, but a middle-order collapse saw the Sarfaraz men lose the match. All credit goes to the Kiwi bowlers. The way they bowled and restricted Pakistan to 171 runs was commendable.
It was embarrassing to see our team perform so badly on the final day and failing to chase a partly target of 176 runs. The cricket team management is answerable for the debacle in Abu Dhabi. Sarfaraz Ahmed, the skipper, again failed to perform with the bat, and also as team leader. There is a debate on whether Sarfaraz should continue as skipper and be replaced. The cricket board and the team management must pay urgent attention to rectify the situation.
Abdul Wadood
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2018.
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