As low as it gets

Contrary to popular perception, nothing is unpredictable about Pakistan’s batting under pressure — the top order caves in almost immediately at the prospect of chasing a huge total, making an already difficult task impossible to achieve. So in hindsight, as soon as the West Indies crossed the 250-run mark in Pakistan’s second group match of the 2015 World Cup in Christchurch — after being shockingly asked to bat first by captain Misbahul Haq — the writing was on the wall. Even so, the enormity of the batting disaster would surely take some extended head-scratching before the effects of the huge 150-run loss can be comprehended fully.

The first four batsmen had returned to the pavilion with only one run on the board, the worst start in terms of wickets lost for the least number of runs in One-Day International history. Even after some repair work had been done by Sohaib Maqsood and Umar Akmal, the two found the task beyond the limits of their much-bandied about ‘talent’, throwing away promising starts.

The effort with the ball and in the field was appalling as well. Pakistan dropped at least five catches, while Sohail Khan and Wahab Riaz were dealt with utter disdain by the West Indian batsmen in the death overs. Pakistan now face the real prospect of an ignominious exit in the first round of the most coveted limited overs tournament in the world. The damage to the net run-rate after the hammerings against the West Indies and India is huge and can pin Pakistan further unless they wallop Zimbabwe, the UAE and Ireland in their remaining games. If the weather intervenes and any of these three games is rained off, then Misbah’s battered men would need to defeat South Africa too, which in the present state and form of the players would be nothing short of a miracle. The West Indies, who have been caught in a myriad of issues leading up to the World Cup, must be thanking their lucky stars for running into a lacklustre Pakistan team. The win has put their World Cup hopes back on track while Pakistan are left in a do-or-die situation to remain in contention at the mega event.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2015.

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