Sports

Imran, Wasim want revised strategy for the quarter-finals

Former captains call for Ajmal’s inclusion.

Express March 21, 2011

KARACHI:

Despite Pakistan’s victory over defending champions Australia, former captains Imran Khan and Wasim Akram believe the team management is not utilising the resources optimally and need to make amendments in their strategy in the knockout stages of the World Cup.

Pakistan ended Australia’s winning streak of 34 matches to top their group but both the members of 1992 World Cup winning team were not convinced by some of the decisions made during the triumph against Australia.

‘Batting order should change’

Khan, who led Pakistan to victory in 1992, stressed on the need for a change in the batting order in the quarter-finals. Despite Pakistan calling up Asad Shafiq at one-down and his defiant 46-run knock, the former captain felt the team’s experienced middle-order batsmen should be sent up the order instead.

“Pakistan need to change their batting order despite their momentous win over Australia,” said Khan.

“Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq should come up the order and Shahid Afridi should come after Abdur Razzaq.”

The legendary all-rounder was also not convinced by the decision to prefer Abdul Rehman over Saeed Ajmal.

“The strategy to use Rehman to stop the flow of runs is incorrect,” said Khan.

“Ajmal should be used in place of Rehman as he is a wicket-taking bowler. The runs stop automatically once you start taking wickets,” he insisted.

Khan, however, lauded Afridi’s captaincy tactics during match against Australia.

“Afridi led the team well and made wise decisions during the match,” he said before praising Umar Akmal who was named the man of the match for his clinical innings of 44 runs.

“None of the sides in the tournament have a player of Umar’s calibre as he possesses huge natural talent.”

Wasim unhappy with Afridi’s batting

Meanwhile, former captain Akram also echoed Khan’s comments over the team selection.

“I think Ajmal should replace Rehman in the upcoming matches as he is a strike bowler,” said Akram.

The former captain was not happy with Afridi’s batting display who was dismissed at a crucial stage in the match after playing an irresponsible shot.

“What can one say regarding Afridi’s batting? He’s doing this since the last 15 years. Razzaq should come before Afridi.”

Akram, however, felt the victory against Australia was a huge morale boost which will help Pakistan in the knock-out stages.

“No doubt a win against the Aussies is always special and it will definitely boost the team’s confidence in the coming matches.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2011.

COMMENTS (18)

ali | 13 years ago | Reply this should be the bating order for today's match either bat first or ball first :- 1.Kamran Akmal 2.Asad Shafiq 3.M.Hafeez 4.Abdul Razzaq 5.Younis Khan 6.Umer Akamal 7.Misbhulhaq 8.Shaid Afridi 9.Umer Gull 10.Abdur Rehman 11.Wahab Riaz

Hassan | 13 years ago | Reply Ajmal is a great bowler, But boy doe's he concede runs when you don't need to be conceding them, Even though i have the most love and respect for both Wasim and Imran, let the current captain get on with it, Ultimately he will be judged by those desicisions in the not to distant future. Good luck Pakistan

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Muhammad Ismail | 13 years ago | Reply As per my openion batting order of last match against Australia was fine but need one change i.e. Razzaq should come at no-3, as he is a very good utility cricketer, Abdul Rehman should be in the team in the quater final as there is lot of lefthanded batsmans in west indian team, rest thing are going fine, best of luck pakistan Ismail

Bilal Soomro | 13 years ago | Reply I think afridi should go opener...the way he plays

Muhammad Iqbal | 13 years ago | Reply I think Ajmal should be in eleven. He is wicket taking bowler. Batting order should be changed Younus and Misbah on 3 and 4 number respectively. they are our main batsmen. Afridi will come after Abdul Razzaq in next games. Umar Akmal doing his job well. I think Saeed Ajmal will play the vital role if he will be selected in eleven.

abcdefghijk | 13 years ago | Reply Shoaib Akhtar is playing his last world cup...Surely this is his last tournament in cricket and quarter finals will be his one of the last 3 matches, considering if pakistan reaches finals.....Waqar younis needs to forget his own bad relationship with Shoaib and let him play. Akhtar is a wicket taker and a match winner and as Wasim Akram said earlier than Shoaib will put his energy and complete knowledge and experience in the remaining last matches of his career. Wahab riaz is inexperienced and Shoaib is way better than him.

Hasham | 13 years ago | Reply I think you guys did not watch the real conversation between these two on geo super and express tribune did not publish the whole conversation. What both of these legends said that to open with Kamran Akmal and Asad Shafiq as they will bring stability to our opening partnership and we will not lose any wickets till we score 60 odd runs or more and replace Hafeez with Ajmal because he is a wicket taking bowler and West Indies do not play spin bowling really well. The batting lining they proposed was Kamran Akmal, Shafiq, Younis, Misbah, Umar Akmal, Razzaq, Afridi and so on. We will still have 7 batsmen and 3 specialist bowlers against West Indies and their only good bowler is Roach and others are just average or just little more than average not good. They said to revise their strategy just for this match not the whole tournament. That is what planning is all about, thinking about the opposition's weaknesses and strengths and work accordingly.

Msidd | 13 years ago | Reply I think with all due respect for imran and wasim .. they should stop criticizing for the sake of criticizing Pakis have finally got the winning combination settled mashallah and we should support whatever afridi and co decide on ... go give your best guys.. dont worry it will always be enough ;)

Faisal | 13 years ago | Reply Don't agree with Wasim and Imran, rule of thumb is that u don't fix what is not broken. If Ajmal replaces Rehman for WI QF due to the number of Left-hand batters in their team then it makes sense but for QF only. Reman is doing much better job. Ajmal recently has gone Saqlain's way... Itna DOOSRA karaya k pehla bhool gaya hae.

md asif | 13 years ago | Reply I am also agree with two legend for case of Rehman ,But i think Afridi should open the match.1)Shahid Afridi,2)Kamran Akmal,3)misbah haq,4)yunis khan,5)shafiq,6)U akmal,7)Razzak,8)M hafeez,9)Umar gul,10)shoib akhtar

Dr. Asad Sadick | 13 years ago | Reply Include Junaid and drop Rehman. Ajmal not required. Praise to Kamran who kept well. I knew he would redeem himself, which he did. Do we still need to bring in Wasim Bari or the deserter (forget his name).

riaz | 13 years ago | Reply We should listen to Ian Chappel, a biased Australian view at cricinfo describing faults in Afridi 's leadership i.e. showboating and insane crazy manner like batting. How can a man like this lead his team. Umar showed leadership, Aftridi showed lack of any brain from a captain. I agree with batting. Afridi should come at 8 number to give away his wicket or he should be last to bat it seems he always works for the opposition when batting. At current form kamran, hafiz, younus, misbah/umar, razaq, and ...,Afridi. Even Riaz can bat better then Afridi. Riaz seems to be another planet when bowling, a liability at present.

Syed Shabbir Hussain | 13 years ago | Reply This not the time to start experimenting with batting order and spin bowlers. The team is gelling well and hopefully have peaked at just the right time. All they need to do is make a strategy for each match and have various contingency plans worked out for all types of situations that could occur during the match. Afridi is doing well as a Captain, and the team respects him immensely cuz he has led from the front. So what if he hit one odd stupid shot. Lots of greater batsmen have also played stupid shots in their careers, which they regret later on. The team only needs to focus , focus and focus on winning the remaining three matches to bring the cup home. Asad Shafiq is excellent at the current position. Bringing Younis and Misbah up the order would slow down the scoring rate and break the impetus of a batting attack or counter attack. Let the hitters hit in the early overs and if situation becomes bad then Younis and Misbah can come to stabilise the innings. Jo tum may hai dum, voh kissi may nahin! Chalo agay chalo, kahay Pak Zamin!!!

Idrees | 13 years ago | Reply Wiki bahi is very rigid... Our current lineup is not at all reliable.. The two legends are absolutely right on track

Amer | 13 years ago | Reply I think it's really too late to experiment at this stage now. Bring Ajmal on now would be a huge risk, at least Rehman is stopping the runs, we have alot of others who are wicket taking bowlers like Afridi, Gul and Hafeez. The team should not be changed, they should keep Rehman in the team, he can also bat if needed at the end of the innings, and Ajmal can't hold. The only reason that I see for any change is if someone is injured. Otherwise there is no room for Ajmal, Shehzad, Junaid or Shoaib Akhtar in the team at the moment. Pakistan do need to think about the batting order, Afridi should come after Razzaq for sure otherwise Razzaq is being wasted.

khurr | 13 years ago | Reply i certainly dont agree with imran and wasim here... i think rehman is doing a splendid job! in the last few matches ajmal has been hit all over the park for sixes and fours. we cant afford to give runs in the knock-out stage... and i am surprised, the 2 greatest players of cricket are pinpointing afridis batting again n again where as he is the leading wickettaker, consider him as a bowler now. We won against Australia breaking there unbeaten run, at the moment just Praise the green machines. Go Pakistan GO!

azad | 13 years ago | Reply Dear Imran, No one can give life to Pak-cricket like u. U proved it.. U know to select players. U hunt for talent.. Not like the guys who are doing it now just like Fools. Imran / Wasim / Waqar & Anwar are Masters of the game... Just look at the players now.. Real fools... Specially Afridi... Send him Last or send him opening... Let him commit sucide or distroy the bowlers in the opening overs. Imran, You should take ove the team as Manager & coach.. Do it for your country...

jaffar afridi | 13 years ago | Reply i think rehman is doing great he is taking wickets and stoping the runs , he is very difficult to hit as compared to ajmal............

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