Team Pakistan continued its form into the T20 games against South Africa, winning the three-match series 2-1 and rising to the fourth slot in the ICC ranking. Pakistan beat the visitors in the decider on Sunday and became the first international team to win 100 T20 international games. Pakistan’s victory in the series also stripped South Africans of their record of never losing a series of the shortest version of the game on Asian turfs. Before that, Pakistan had whitewashed the touring party in the two-test rubber. Job well done, indeed! That, however, is not just a victory for Team Pakistan. It’s also a victory for the efforts of the cricket board for revival of the sport in the country. It’s a victory for the efforts of the government and security forces to promote Pakistan as a safe place to visit and do trade with.
Back to cricket, things now appear to be moving in the right direction. There are now enough players available in the pool to cater to teams for all three formats of the game. Wicketkeeper batsman Mohammed Rizwan and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf have cemented their place and can be equally useful in tests and limited-over games. In tests, Fawad Alam has returned as a formidable force in the middle-order. Fawad has the ability to play a sheet anchor role and provide a good support to Babar Azam. However, we need to find a few more players to dispense with the services of veterans like Muhammed Hafeez, Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali. While the PSL has brought up a few good hard hitters, we need to nurture them into dependable batsmen for one-dayers and T20Is. Our fast bowling department is, however, an enigma. Despite most of our pacers being genuinely quick and world beaters, they have mostly failed to lead Pakistan’s victories.
Meanwhile, coming up next is an away series against South Africa comprising three ODIs and four T20Is. And this where the team’s real test lies.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2021.
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