PAKvENG finale: Anyone can win, say Miandad and Yasir

Batting legend Javed Miandad and former ace batter Yasir Hameed believe it is impossible to predict who will take the seven-match series when Pakistan host England in the seventh and last T20I of the historic series.

Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will be buzzing on Sunday when Babar Azam’s charges take on Moeen Ali and co, with the series evenly poised at 3-3.

England opened the series with a thumping win, but Babar and keeper-batter Rizwan levelled it with a 10-wicket win, only to lose the third T20I chasing. However, Pakistani bowlers joined the party as they gave the hosts a 3-2 advantage by defending two average totals on the trot.

England, on Friday, dismissed all concerns regarding their batting through a hitting masterclass against Pakistan, reaching a 170-run target with more than five overs to spare, and sending the series into a much-deserved final.

‘Anyone’s game’

With both teams vying for the silverware in a see-saw series, Miandad says it is important for Pakistani players to avail whatever opportunity comes their way.

“No one can predict who’ll win,” said Miandad. “When you get an opportunity you will have to avail it. You have to constantly analyse the game and take decisions.”

Yasir, on the other hand, wants Pakistani match-winners to step up.

“You can’t predict a winner in the T20 format. You just have to see how many match-winners and X-factors you have in your team,” said Yasir.

“England played Salt consistently because he is an X-factor for them. He delivered for them yesterday. For us, we have Asif Ali in that role, but he hasn’t delivered consistently for Pakistan. With his current form, he can win us only five matches out of a 100, which is a low percentage. Asif needs to start delivering consistently for Pakistan.”

Winning mantra

When asked what Pakistan should do to take the series from England, Miandad and Yasir both had a different idea.

“All players will have to look at their individual performances and then they’ll have to come together as a team to deliver too,” said Miandad, emphasising that cricket is both an individual and team game.

“The players need to think of playing for Pakistan first. Once you want to deliver for Pakistan, you will automatically put an extra effort whether you’re bowling, batting or fielding.

“Pakistani players need to realise that they are good that is why they’re in the final eleven. The question of whether you’re good enough shouldn’t be there. You are good, now you just have to deliver what you’ve been asked to do on the day.”

Miandad also says that toss won’t and shouldn’t matter on Sunday.

“Play to your strength. If you believe your bowling can do better, then you should defend a target. If your batting is firing on all cylinders, then go for the chase. It is as simple as that.”

Yasir, meanwhile, believes both batting and bowling can win the match for Pakistan.

“It is going to be a good cricket match. That I can say for sure. But we’ve been delivering both with bat and ball and both are our strength at the moment. So, if both fire on Sunday, the trophy is ours.”

The faults in our stars

Miandad praised Babar for his captaincy during the England series, but he believes if the Pakistani star’s batting is suffering due to the load of captaincy, then it is time he and the PCB sit down and talk.

“Babar is a world-class batsman. But the board should ask him if captaincy is taking a toll on him. There needs to be an honest conversation between him and the board. If he feels he can’t perform with both the bat and lead in the field, then the captaincy shouldn’t stay with him. However, the board should clarify to Babar that he is their preferred choice for captain.”

Yasir believes the team management needs to help batters overcome their demons.

“Shan Masood hasn’t yet delivered as expected. I hope Shan can make a comeback because he has a lot of talent.

“Khushdil Shah takes four to five balls to settle. He can only then start hitting big. Haider Ali has been suffering from lack of self-confidence. They both should talk to Rizwan. Rizwan proved with his consistency that he deserves the number one spot in T20Is. So if Moeen Ali is telling England batters to learn to stay on the crease from Rizwan, then why can’t our players learn from him too.”