Record crushing victory

Pakistan’s 3-0 whitewash win over the T20 world champions, West Indies, has rekindled the hope that a turnaround in fortunes in white ball formats is around the corner.Newly installed captain Sarfraz Ahmed has gone from strength to strength since first leading the team to a crushing nine wicket win over England at Old Trafford earlier this month. Sarfraz’s leadership, tactics and sheer weight of personality all combined into one solid combination as the West Indians were razed in the UAE heat in a format they excel in.

All-rounder Imad Wasim, with his wily left-arm spinners, choked the free flowing Caribbean batsmen in all three games. Imad, supported superbly by Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Nawaz as the trio of left-armers, showcased impeccable skills. The resurgence is refreshing as Pakistan now turns focus on the three-match ODI series where Azhar has the task of sustaining the momentum and turn his own bleak fortunes around at the same time. Hamstrung by petty politics, the West Indians look underprepared for the demanding UAE conditions and Pakistan have every chance of improving their woeful ODI record off late by aiming for a clean sweep in the 50-over format too.

Azhar would need to take a leaf out of Sarfraz’s book and take the bull by the horns in the three-match series that is vital for Pakistan, especially with the threat of confinement to World Cup 2019 qualifiers looming large. A 3-0 series win will give the Greenshirts (Number nine) valuable points which will ensure a swap in position with the West Indies (Number eight) in the ICC rankings. The West Indies haven’t beaten Pakistan in an ODI series for 25 years, the burden of recent history is likely to make life tougher for Jason Holder’s men, especially if Azhar’s men win the first match of the series set to be played in their Sharjah fortress. Pakistan have all to play for as the T20 series should spur the ODI squad to greater things; this is one chance that Azhar Ali shouldn’t let slip.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2016.

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