Pakistan cricket in 2015 — hits and misses

Pakistan spent a busy year in cricket in 2015, participating in 45 international matches. No team played more games during the year (England were next with 44, followed by New Zealand with 41 and South Africa with 40), which puts to rest any suggestion that Pakistan cricket is marginalised or isolated. The truth is quite the opposite. Of course, there is still no regular international cricket within Pakistan, but the UAE is serving brilliantly as an alternative home venue. Besides, 2015 did mark the first time an international series was hosted within our borders since the Lahore attacks of 2009. It may have been low-key (two Twenty20s and three One-Day Internationals against Zimbabwe, under tight security, confined to Lahore), but it represents an important step forward nonetheless.

On the field, Pakistan’s report card for 2015 was rather mixed. In Test matches, the team was outstanding, wining all three series — against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and England, with the first two rubbers played at the opposition’s home turf. After the 2-0 victory over England in the UAE, Pakistan rose to number two in the ICC Test rankings, behind only South Africa.

But in limited-overs matches, the performance often flagged. There was an ODI series defeat in New Zealand at the start of the year, followed by a quarter-final exit in the 2015 ODI World Cup. In April, the team played three ODIs and a lone Twenty20 in Bangladesh, getting swept aside in each game. When Pakistan lost the opening match of this series, on April 17 in Dhaka, it marked the first time since 1999 that the national team had conceded an international encounter to Bangladesh. Understandably, Bangladeshi fans erupted in joy.

The best limited-overs performance came in July when Pakistan edged Sri Lanka 3-2 in the ODI series and 2-0 in the Twenty20 series, both played on Sri Lankan venues. Later on, a return limited-overs visit to Zimbabwe was also successful. Yet the year closed on a dismal note, when Pakistan lost an ODI series 3-1 and a Twenty20 series 3-0 to England in the UAE.

Many questions have been raised regarding Pakistan’s limited-overs combination and approach — from the need for better coaching to more strategically-attuned captaincy, and even the need for more imaginative selection. Azhar Ali, who took over the ODI captaincy starting with the Bangladesh tour in April, has been erratic as a leader, his bowling changes and field placements frequently raising eyebrows. He did hold his nerve well in Sri Lanka, but the UAE matches against England have exposed his limitations.

Meanwhile, in the Test arena, there has been ample reason to celebrate. The highlight of the year surely was Younus Khan becoming Pakistan leading Test run-scorer, stretching past Javed Miandad’s record aggregate, which had been established over three decades ago. Even Younus himself could not have known what would be going through his head when the landmark moment finally arrived, during the first-innings of the first Test against England at Abu Dhabi in October. The delivery was flighted and pitched up and Younus, a highly seasoned player of spin, saw it early and his eyes lit up. Thanks to some excellent TV camera work, we saw a memorable close-up of his face. There was delight and accomplishment written all over it. Younus pounced on the ball with a primal yelp, meeting it straight in the middle of his bat and knocking it over cow-corner for six. He may have taken just a couple of short steps to get to the pitch of the ball, but they were momentous, unforgettable steps, carrying him into territory where no Pakistani batsman had gone before.

Just a couple of months earlier, during the third Test against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in July, Younus had already emblazoned his name in the pantheon when he guided the team to a record fourth-innings chase of 377. Younus was 171 not out at the end, and he had figured in an historic third-wicket partnership of 242 with Shan Masood, who notched up a brave 125.

The year 2015 also further consolidated Misbahul Haq as one of the great Test captains from Pakistan. Towards the end of 2014, he had already amassed the most Test wins for any Pakistan captain, eclipsing the long-held record of 14 wins each for Imran Khan and Javed Miandad. In 2015, Misbah extended his tally to 20, triggering the debate of whether he is Pakistan’s greatest captain ever. Considering the shattered circumstances in which he picked up the reins back in 2010, and the limited talent at his disposal, Misbah does make a solid case.

As we look towards 2016, serious challenges are looming. Key senior players are bound to leave the international arena, but there are no convenient replacements. What has happened to the wellspring of raw talent on which Pakistan cricket has long flourished? The PCB will also have to handle the fallout resulting from recent controversies surrounding the return of Mohammad Amir and the suspension of leg-spinner Yasir Shah on charges of doping. All this will present a pounding headache for the PCB think tank in the weeks and months ahead.

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

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