Changes required: Pakistan missing Irfan, say former cricketers

Basit, Rashid condemn batsmen for making Adil Rashid seem like Shane Warne

KARACHI:

Former Test cricketer and junior chief selector Basit Ali has urged the team management to bring back rested Mohammad Irfan as soon as they can, after Pakistan once again felt the lanky paceman’s absence in their narrow  three-run defeat to England in the second T20I that gave the visitors an unassailable 2-0 lead.

“Pakistan need a quick bowler who can push the batsmen onto the back foot,” he said, while talking to The Express Tribune. “They are already playing Anwar Ali so they don’t need Sohail Tanvir. Instead they should go with Irfan.”

Pakistan failed to prevent England from posting daunting totals in excess of 150 in both T20Is and Basit feels the team could do with another pacer in the mix. “Pakistan’s bowling line-up would perform better with another quick pacer,” he said. “We shouldn’t rule out a return for Bilawal Bhatti because he has pace, while Umar Gul is still a very good option if he can remain fit.”

2nd T20: England clinch T20 series as Pakistan surrenders after nail-biter

The host batsmen, especially Sohaib Maqsood and Mohammad Rizwan, struggled to pick up leg-spinner Adil Rashid and Basit felt that was embarrassing for a team renowned for their prowess against spin.

Pakistan have also struggled to find the right opening combination before the World T20 and Basit feels a gamble can be taken on either Shahzaib Hasan or Sharjeel Khan. “It won’t be a bad option to try one of the two because they can be very destructive,” he said.

Afridi should promote himself, says Latif

Former captain Rashid Latif also felt embarrassed by the way Pakistan made Rashid seem like Shane Warne, while also questioning the decision to not play Irfan.

1st T20: England trounce Pakistan by 14 runs

“If you have Irfan in the side, play him unless he has an injury,” said Latif. “Irfan creates a different impact with the new ball and doesn’t allow the opposition to dominate. In addition, I think we’re lacking a power-hitter in the middle-order.”

The 47-year-old felt Afridi should have promoted himself up the order. “Afridi should have batted in the middle because we need someone like him in there,” he said. “I would have liked to see him come at five or six, not below that. Pakistan need a powerful hitter. The selectors should also consider Khalid Latif as he has the ability to hit the ball out of the park.”

Our fielding must improve

Pakistan’s bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed blamed poor fielding and a lack of fitness for the loss, adding that they need to improve ahead of next year’s World T20.

England's Roy relishes Mohammad Irfan's tall order

Mushtaq, a former leg-spinner, said modern cricket requires fitness and better fielding. “Modern cricket and its protocols have changed,” he said. “We were sitting at number two in T20 because we have skilled players but maybe we are lacking in fitness and fielding.”

If Pakistan lose the series 2-1 then they will join the West Indies and Australia in a three-way battle for second position behind Sri Lanka in the rankings on 118 points.

However, when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point, then Pakistan will be ranked fourth.

If England win the series 3-0, then they will jump to fourth position on 117 points, while Pakistan will drop to sixth.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2015.

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