Misbahul Haq should let Umar Akmal and Bilawal Bhatti to bat before himself.
KARACHI: Pakistan lost the second One-Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka on December 20, but there is no shame in going down fighting. However, if seen in an objective perspective, our team didn’t lose; the match was lost by the team management. We only scored 43 runs in the first Powerplay in the first 10 overs when only two fielders are out of the circle, which is unacceptable. In fact, I would say this was one of the main reasons singular for our defeat in the second ODI. As a rule, we should aim to make 80 runs in the first Powerplay of the innings.
What is the benefit of having batsmen like Umar Akmal sitting in the pavilion without getting a chance of showing their attacking prowess? And if his batting is not required, then why not play a specialist wicket-keeper and drop him altogether?
Our planning, strategy and execution of the game, which includes selection of players, batting order, decision whether to bat or bowl first, batting strategy and plans during the Powerplay and other segments of the game, bowling plans and field placings must be based on the premise ‘offence is the best defence’. Furthermore, Misbahul Haq should let Umar Akmal and Bilawal Bhatti to bat before himself.
Syed Nayyaruddin Ahmed
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2013.
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