At the start of 2016 Pakistan faced a tough ODI series in New Zealand at the back of disappointing results in limited-overs formats in the UAE against England, after comfortably winning the Test series against them. The start of 2017 has seen a bit of a reversal in that the Test team has lost six games on the bounce, while the ODI side is on a four-game winning run going into today’s first ODI against Australia at the Gabba.
In many ways the Pakistan ODI side has nothing to lose in this five-match series. They’re expected to lose after their more illustrious squad was whitewashed by an Australian side that had been downed by South Africa at home. The ODI side has the small matter of taking on the World Champions on their own turf.
Babar Azam
The Pakistan squad originally announced:
Azhar Ali (c), Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Rahat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Sharjeel Khan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz
Despite struggles in the ODI format over the past couple of years, the Pakistani side finally has a settled look to it. The squad announced for the series has a decent balance, even though it has been impacted by unfortunate news on the players’ personal fronts. Mohammad Irfan has had to go back following his mother’s death and the news is that Sarfraz might have to leave as well, after his mother was admitted to the ICU.
Junaid Khan has been announced as Irfan’s replacement and there’s a chance that Kamran Akmal might replace Sarfraz, after top-scoring with 1035 runs at 79.61 in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy this season. But it would mean ignoring Rizwan, who has for long been Sarfraz’s understudy, expected to be given a chance whenever Pakistan’s first-choice wicket-keeper wouldn’t be available.
Imad Wasim
The fast bowlers need to step up to the plate if Pakistan wants a prolonged turnaround
In addition to replacements for the players going back home, Mohammad Hafeez has also been called to join the squad following a special request by Azhar Ali and Mickey Arthur. Hafeez, who can now bowl as well, had been an integral figure in Pakistan’s limited-overs sides before the bowling ban eventually eased him out of the side.
The presence of Hafeez and Imad Wasim effectively means that Pakistan need to play only three frontline bowlers in their starting 11, with Shoaib Malik also available as a bowling option. With one of those three expected to be Mohammed Amir, Pakistan would be batting deep - with the likes of Wahab Riaz and Hasan Ali useful with the bat as well.
Sharjeel Khan, Azhar Ali and Babar Azam give Pakistan’s top order as good a look as it has had for a while. Babar is coming fresh from back-to-back-to-back ODI hundreds against the West Indies and has already established himself as Pakistan’s key player. Sharjeel’s explosive batting up top has been central to Pakistan’s recent run in limited-overs and his stay on the crease is crucial for the tempo that the team sets early on, with Azhar and Babar taking their time to get going.
Azhar Ali
The middle and lower-middle order might see some reshuffling, especially if Hafeez plays and if Sarfraz is out of the series. A lineup featuring Azhar, Babar, Hafeez and Asad Shafiq (if slotted in) would have an overkill of anchor, with Malik the only one capable of using the longer handle frequently.
Rizwan was played as a specialist batsman in the West Indies series and couldn’t quite get enough time in. He should be given an extended run, even if that would mean Umar Akmal hogging the sub’s bench. Of all the middle and lower-middle order batsmen in the squad, Akmal has the most acceleration in him. His consistency, as always, remains a question mark. For Imad Wasim to truly establish himself as an all-rounder, he would have to back his impressive bowling displays with runs down the order as well.
Fast bowling has been letting down Pakistan in the recent past, and the pacers need to match the impressive displays of the spinners. While the latter seemed to have formed the backbone of Pakistani limited-overs bowling for the past 6-7 years, the seamers need to step up to the plate if Pakistan wants a prolonged turnaround.
A lot has to go right for Pakistan for the start of 2017 to be better than the backend of last year. And it all starts today at the Gabba.
