Pak continues to be unpredictable

The Men in Green lost to BD at home but thrashed SA in their own backyard

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KARACHI:

The year 2024 was a defining period for the Pakistan cricket team, marked by an intriguing mix of triumphs, disappointments, and significant changes within the team and in the management.

Pakistan's performances in Test matches, One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals reflected both, the team's potential and the challenges it faced throughout the year.

Test Cricket: Grit and Revival

Pakistan's Test campaign in 2024 presented a rollercoaster of emotions for fans and players alike. The year began on a sour note with a shocking 2-0 series defeat to Bangladesh, which brutally exposed the weaknesses in Pakistan's batting and bowling ranks as well as in tactical planning.

The defeats led to intense criticism from fans and the media, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to rethink its strategies and make key changes to the team composition.

The harrowing innings defeat at the hands of England in the first of the three Tests at Multan prompted Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi to induct former fast bowler Aqib Javed in the key role of chief selector-cum-mentor and that worked wonders for the team's morale.

Aqib, who is also a seasoned coach, straightaway went for a spin-heavy approach, influenced by the subcontinental conditions. His bold moves to prepare spinning tracks for the second and third Tests against England, to bring the experience spin-duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan from the cold and drop out-of-form Babar Azam ad Shaheen Shah Afridi to make way for a few newcomers proved to be masterstrokes for the team.

Pakistan bounced back with a historic 2-1 series victory with Noman and Sajid sharing 39 wickets between them in the last two Test matches.

Their dominance was complemented by the induction of the prolific Kamran Ghulam, who made a memorable Test debut with a century that helped steady Pakistan's innings under pressure.

The series win against England not only restored pride and the team's confidence but also showcased Pakistan's ability to adapt to challenging situations.

However, this success was marred by internal instability. Both the team's red and white ball coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie resigned in succession following disagreements with the PCB over selection policies and exclusion from the selection panel after the Bangladesh debacle.

The abrupt departure of the two foreign coaches, along with that of assistant coach Tim Nielsen, raised concerns about the PCB's management practices and their impact on team's morale.

ODI Cricket: Historic Highs

The ODI format proved to be Pakistan Cricket's highest point in 2024. With Aqib and fellow selectors adopting a refreshing approach by bringing in a bevy of salient performers from the domestic cricket such as Irfan Khan Niazi, Tayyab Tahir, Haseebullah, Sufyan Muqeem and others to the national team, Pakistan gained in strength and confidence to beat the best in the business.

Their standout achievement of the year was the maiden ODI series victory against Australia on Australian soil in over two decades. The team's comprehensive performance in the decisive match saw Australia being bowled out for a mere 140, their lowest total against Pakistan since 2002.

Haris Rauf's lethal pace bowling was instrumental in dismantling the Australian batting order, while young stars like Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique contributed vital runs with the bat.

Pakistan carried this momentum into the series against South Africa, where they secured a historic 3-0 victory in the ODIs.

Mohammad Rizwan's resilient captaincy also proved to be a key factor as the skipper led the team bravely yet astutely to ensure thumping wins against the tough opposition. Contributions from Kamran Ghulam and Babar Azam, along with fiery spells from Shaheen Shah Afridi and the beguiling spin of Abrar Ahmed and Sufyaan solidified Pakistan's dominance in the two series.

However, the star of the entire tour has been Saim Ayub, who scored two centuries and claimed key wickets in the series to bag player of the series award.

Despite these victories, questions over the team's consistency and bench strength remain. While the first-choice players delivered in key matches, the absence of dependable backups raised concerns about the team's depth, particularly in the lead-up to the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled for Feb-March 2025.

T20 Cricket: Disappointment and Reflection

In stark contrast to their ODI success, Pakistan's performance in the T20 format was disappointing to say the least. The team failed to progress beyond the group stage in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, suffering a humiliating defeat against the United States.

This unexpected loss highlighted flaws in Pakistan's T20 strategy, including a lack of flexibility in batting order and an overreliance on star players. The team's inability to produce pinch-hitters and adapt to varying conditions emphasised the need for a more dynamic approach in te shortest format.

The T20 World Cup debacle led to widespread criticism from former players, analysts, and fans. Calls for structural reforms within the team gained momentum, with many emphasizing the importance of grooming younger talent and adopting innovative tactics to remain competitive in the shortest format of the game.

Conclusion

The Pakistan cricket team's 2024 season was a mix of high points and sobering lessons. While their achievements in Tests and ODIs highlighted their potential, failures in the T20 format and off-field controversies underscored the need for introspection and reform. With a robust strategy and cohesive management, Pakistan can build on its successes and aim for greater consistency in the coming years.