Given the volatility of Pakistan cricket, it is not possible to know what the exact team would be, but looking at the recent performances of the team against South Africa, one can glean a bit of insight into the probable players for these upcoming assignments.
Opening has traditionally been the weakest suit of Pakistani cricket teams throughout history. Recently though Mohammad Hafeez with his stylish, aggressive style of play, has impressed in both forms of the game in England and the United Arab Emirates. He does seem to give away his wicket cheaply on many occasions, but that is a weakness that can be overcome. Additionally, he is a fine fielder and also gives the team another bowling option, so he should be a definite choice as one of the two openers.
In case Salman Butt remains suspended, which does look likely at this point in time, the two promising youngsters Khalid Latif and Ahmad Shahzad should be given a go, instead of returning to tried and tested players like Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar, who have never really impressed in the past.
In the middle order Pakistan does look unexpectedly settled. With Yousuf and Younis a certainty in the middle order in both premier forms of the game, provided they stay fit, the team shall have no problems in that department. In One Day matches, Shahid Afridi will also be a clear-cut choice, and the other middle order spots should go to Umar Akmal and Asad Shafiq, who have both got the ability to play at a quick tempo and are thus suited to the shorter formats of the game.
In test matches, Captain Misbah ul Haq is probably the way to go instead of Asad Shafiq, as long as he stays captain at least. Fawad Alam who it has to be said is not the favourite of many Pakistani fans due to his slow and deliberate style of batting, has got the goods to make it big at this level, and must be persevered with.
Kamran Akmal’s exclusion due to whatever reasons has posed a certain dilemma for Pakistan in the batting department, because the other wicket keepers who are currently available to Pakistan, like Sarfraz Ahmad and Kamran’s younger brother Adnan Akmal, are not impressive with the bat compared to Kamran Akmal. His clearance issues with the ICC and his fitness problems, if solved, should make him an automatic choice.
Pakistan’s bowling too has suffered pretty badly due to the alleged involvement in the spot-fixing issue and subsequent suspension by the International Cricket Council, of Pakistan’s two premier pace bowlers, Mohammad Asif and the prodigious Mohammad Amir.
They certainly were Pakistan’s best options, and remembering the way they had annihilated both Australia and England in recent series, most teams would have hated facing them. Now that they seem to be out of the picture for the foreseeable future, Pakistan must look elsewhere to find leading pacemen.
Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul are available, although both of them perform better with the old ball, if need be they can certainly be utilised as starting bowlers. For backup Pakistan can go to Mohammad Sami and Sohail Tanvir, who even though are far from ideal choices can at least be used as stop-gap options.
Shoaib Akhtar is definitely in no shape to play 5-day games, however he has shown fine bowling form recently and if he does stay fit till the World Cup 2011 it would be a big bonus for Pakistan.
As far as spinners go Pakistan have got two dependable ones in Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rahman while Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez can always chip in when required, so there is not much to worry in that department.
Pakistani fans are yearning for some stability in performances after another tumultuous few months in our cricketing circles in which they have witnessed a wealth of controversies, let us hope that that stability can at least be provided in team selection.
