Editorial

Losing to Zimbabwe

Pakistan’s bowlers proved to be off-target and struggled to gain momentum against a determined batting line-up.

Editorial August 28, 2013

Zimbabwe batsman Hamilton Masakdza survives a run out attempt as Shahid Afridi watches. PHOTO: AFP

Zimbabwe’s upset seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the first One-Day International (ODI) has brought home the disturbing reality that all is not well with the national team despite some encouraging results against the West Indies last month. It seems that the series win against the West Indies only enabled the team management to ignore the side’s obvious weaknesses, whether it is the brittle batting line-up, the over-reliance on captain Misbahul Haq and on the spinners, or the inexplicable tendency of some batsmen to curb their natural attacking instincts and play defensively.

Tenth-ranked Zimbabwe, which won an international game against Pakistan after a gap of 15 years, were the deserved winners. However, Pakistan did not help their cause with some leading players delivering very ordinary performances. Having batted first, Pakistan’s innings was off to a slow start, despite openers Nasir Jamshed and Ahmad Shahzad being known for their attacking stroke play. Nevertheless having laid a foundation of sorts with Mohammad Hafeez’s help, the collapse of the middle order undid whatever good the top order had achieved. Once again, it was Misbah who helped post a competitive total, which in the ultimate, turned out to be below par for a good batting track.

Pakistan’s bowlers proved to be off-target and struggled to gain momentum against a determined batting line-up. In recent years, Pakistan have been overly reliant on their spinners and rightly so, given their match-winning performances. However, this has also led to them ignoring their traditional strength, which lies in the fast-bowling department. The bench strength here seems thin whenever Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan, along with the spinners have an off day. After this humiliating defeat, it is important that the team get its act together and win the remaining two ODIs in a convincing a manner. Nothing short of this will be acceptable to its supporters.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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