Fans need to support the team through thick and thin

As Pakistan prepare for their last Pool B match against Ireland, the long gap would do a world of good for our team as they get a much-needed break to focus on the upcoming challenge.

Sometimes when you win a big match against favourites such as South Africa showing this kind of unity and passion, it seeps both your body and mind, making you both tired and complacent.

Thus the gap is helpful on two fronts. Firstly the players would be physically up for it and secondly complacency should not creep in as the adrenaline would have subsided and the players would have gotten time to think of the challenges ahead.

Support the side

Pakistan have bounced back really well despite the barrage of criticism after two early losses against India and West Indies.

As a national player, I can safely say that the players need the support of the nation the most when they aren’t winning. When the team is winning, everything is already on their side so I would urge everyone to support Pakistan in adversity because it lifts the morale of the unit.

No matter how far from Pakistan the team is playing, players get to know what is happening back home through their families and friends.

We are normal human beings and have families as well. Sometimes over the top criticism hurts our loved ones and they tell us what has been making rounds in the media. This ends up putting undue pressure on us.

I am not against criticism but it should be within boundaries and it should be constructive so that players use them to their advantage and improve.

Misbahul Haq is often criticised despite performing consistently for the country for the last four years so it is tremendous to see him keep back in form with some solid performances. No captain has been put under more pressure than Misbah but he has always remained calm and composed in the face of it.

The whole team was under the pump after two losses but since then have bounced back to make it three wins on the trot and hopefully the winning momentum can continue.

Batting first key in Adelaide

Adelaide has been a perfect batting strip with shorter square boundaries. The ball comes nicely onto the bat during the day but moves around under lights so batting first is quite advantageous.

The players

I would like to point out two individuals who will likely come good now as they are big match players — Younus Khan and Shahid Afridi.

I have spent five years with Younus and he will be really hungry for runs and his commitment is always for Pakistan’s cause. He showed signs of regaining form against South Africa and a big knock is likely around the corner.

Meanwhile, Afridi delivers on big occasions — may it be 2009 World Twenty20 or the Asia Cup last year. He is a big match player so our two senior players will in all likelihood come good now.

Touching a bit more on our batting, Umar Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood are yet to fire on all cylinders but are the sort who can destroy any bowler on their day. But for that, they need to spend some time on the pitch and have got a perfect role model in Misbah. If the two can get their eye in, it would easy for them to launch towards the end.

Meanwhile, Sarfraz Ahmed was brilliant against South Africa and Ahmed Shehzad has also done well in patches. If these two can get the opening partnership going against Ireland, it will help the team going into the knockout stages.

Coming to the bowling department, our fast-bowling unit has looked more threatening throughout the World Cup than that of any other side. There is aggression and purpose in how our pacers have been charging in, and they showed that especially against Zimbabwe and South Africa.

I would again ask everyone to support Pakistan because a lot of hard work is put in behind the scenes, by the players and the management, including Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Grant Flower and Grant Luden.

They are all committed to Pakistan’s cause and provide support and guidance to the players when they need it.

The team cannot afford to relax or be complacent as the games will get progressively harder from here on in. The best way to go about it is to take it one match at a time rather than looking too far ahead.

Published in The Express Tribune, March  13^th,  2015.

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