Where to now for Pakistan?

It took visitors a tour match, three ODIs, one T20 and two Tests to register that maiden win

At long last, a win for Pakistan. It took the visitors a tour match, three ODIs, one T20 and two Tests to register that maiden win. On some occasions they were totally outclassed, on others they were the architects of their own demise and on others still, remarkable acts of defiance denied them the win.

The triumph, when it did finally arrive, had come at some cost. A first-ever ODI whitewash against Bangladesh, the eighth and final spot to qualify for the Champions Trophy, the hundred per cent record against the hosts in both T20s and Tests and, perhaps more than anything else, pride and dignity. But for all that they did lose, Pakistan can take back home — along with the second Test that saw them claim the series and retain the third spot in the Test rankings — some important lessons learnt and certain silver linings.

Newly crowned ODI captain Azhar Ali impressed in both the ODIs and the Tests. He was Pakistan’s top-scorer in two of the three ODIs and was named the man of the match for the second Test and the man of the series, capping off a successful tour on a personal level with a double-century in the winning Test.

Azhar can now look forward to improving his record as captain, which stands at 0-3, when Pakistan host Zimbabwe at home — home being Pakistan, not the UAE — something that his predecessor Misbahul Haq could never do.

While Pakistan will claim transitions were the main reason they lost the limited-overs matches in such embarrassing fashion, debutants Muhammad Rizwan, Sami Aslam and Saad Nasim all impressed in one match or the other during the ODI series.

What was painfully obvious, however, was that Pakistan’s batting approach is out-dated; the men in green once again being guilty of clinging onto a relic of the past that worked at some point but hasn’t for a while — something they often do with both players and coaches. Anything less than 300 now stands as below par in ODIs but few, if any, of their batsmen seem capable of contributions that can take the team to such scores.

While the strategy of grinding down opponents has led to almost uncharted success in Tests, doing so is not possible in 50 overs, let alone 20. The dichotomy between the Test and ODI rankings reflects that. The men in green must change according to the times or risk being left behind.

Pakistan are still reliant on the senior trio of Muhammad Hafeez, Younus Khan and Misbah in Tests but others such as Azhar, Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed have shown they are more than capable of filling the void once these three walk off into the sunset; at 34, 37 and 40 respectively, it won’t be very long before they do. Such comforts are not available in the shorter formats of the game.

The priority must lie in reclaiming a top-eight position by September — failure to do so will result in the ignominy of missing out on the Champions Trophy. The three ODIs against Zimbabwe and then five in Sri Lanka should provide ample opportunity to do that but a lot needs to change if Pakistan are to address their worrying slide.

Ahmed Shehzad, Pakistan’s best young opener by far, needs to be reinstated into the side. His confidence may already have suffered — his nervy innings in the T20, where he looked a shadow of his assured self, showing as much — and he needs to be brought back before it is too late; the team can ill afford to lose one of its best talents to the egos of the management.

Yasir Shah’s superb performances in the Tests once again highlighted why he should be included in the limited-overs formats as well; he can rightly consider it an injustice if he doesn’t don the green when Pakistan take to the field against Zimbabwe at the Gaddafi.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, will try and hold onto the all-important eighth spot. It may be a task beyond their means as they host India and South Africa in their next two assignments. But for now they can be proud of sending their more illustrious opponents running back with their tails between their legs.

Pakistan must learn their lessons and the embarrassment that was Bangladesh 2015 should be confined to the annals of history — a history that must never repeat itself.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2015.

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