With the priority being a successful and ‘incident-free’ conclusion of the Zimbabwe tour, few seemed to focus on the fact that the ODI series was an absolute must-win for ninth-ranked Pakistan. While it wasn’t quite ‘incident-free’, as Information Minister Pervez Rasheed confirmed ‘too soon’ for the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) liking, the alleged suicide blast didn’t tarnish the success both on and off the field. Or so we hope.
While the T20 series, generally deemed the ‘lesser meaningful’ format among the ‘purists’, was all about cricket returning to Pakistan, the ODI series gave the on-field matters the status of at least a subplot. Following the whitewash against Bangladesh – hardly the ideal start to Azhar Ali’s captaincy tenure – Pakistan had fallen a point below seventh and eighth ranked Bangladesh and West Indies, with nothing but an unbeaten series triumph threatening to result in a further slump in the ranking. The hosts managed to do the needed, thanks largely to security officials, Shoaib Malik’s return to form, Azhar Ali and a combination of rain and dust storm that halted Zimbabwe’s blistering start to the chase in the final ODI.
As far as the on-field matters are concerned, Pakistan managed to put a promising batting show throughout the series, most notably in the first ODI, creating a new record for the highest total at Gaddafi Stadium by posting a mammoth 375. All four batsmen who came to the crease scored 79 runs or more, with Shoaib Malik making the most of the flat track to bully the opposition with his eighth century – third at Gaddafi Stadium. Zimbabwe’s 334 in reply, thanks largely to captain Elton Chigumbura’s maiden ODI century, meant that the 709 runs scored in the match created the record for an ODI played in Pakistan, beating the 693 that India and Pakistan scored in Karachi 11 years ago.
While Malik’s successful conversion of domestic form into runs in international cricket bodes well for Pakistan’s middle order in the very near future, it is skipper Azhar Ali who might have found the answer to the most perplexing question hampering the batting for the past generation and a half. Azhar’s appointment as captain was met with acquiescence at best and downright pessimism at worst among the Pakistani cricket aficionados. The primary reason being scepticism vis-à-vis his strike rate and in turn the ability to lead Pakistan to a more aggressive brand of cricket and keeping pace with the modern game.
A Pakistani captain being scrutinised for his batting strike rate gave everyone one as much a sensation of déjà vu as the appointment itself. However, unlike his predecessors Azhar took the bull by the horns and promoted himself up the order to a position he wasn’t exactly accustomed to.
A leg-spinner turned middle-order batsman with a staunch defence, Azhar continued his cricket evolution by deciding to bat in the slot that has been the butt of divine retribution from sporting gods since the halcyon days of Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail. The decision to open the batting speaks volumes for the intent that Pakistan’s new captain wants to instil in his side. The performance in the six ensuing games highlights his ability to transform intent into results.
Since becoming the captain, Azhar has scored 436 runs, with four scores of 50 or more, at an average of 72.67 and an impressive strike rate of 90.08. While stiffer oppositions and sterner playing conditions are to come, Azhar’s aggressive intent has generated the right vibe. His stroke play hardly generates the eye candy that subcontinent sides traditionally expect from their frontline batsmen, but its effectiveness can’t be questioned as things stand.
As the relatively stable and conservative Pakistan of the past five years mirrored Misbahul Haq’s persona, let’s hope Azhar’s Pakistan resembles the skipper as well with dogged determination that compensates for lack of skill or flair.
Even though the sight of Anwar Ali and Mohammad Sami opening the attack for Pakistan was hardly awe-inspiring, if Azhar can take care of the batting end, the country’s infinite pool of talent can vouch for the bowling department. Life without Saeed Ajmal has made Shoaib Malik and Mohammed Hafeez even more pertinent to Pakistan’s bowling side, especially in the sub-continent and the UAE, which despite the euphoria surrounding the Zimbabwe series will in all likelihood host more matches than stadia in Pakistan.
Whether it was the start of the return of international cricket, or an anomaly, the 2-0 win – Pakistan’s first ODI series win for two years – against Zimbabwe is the turning point for Pakistan. As Azhar’s Pakistan looks to climb up the ICC rankings to qualify for the Champions Trophy in England in exactly two years’ time, the PCB is dedicating much of its energy to ensure that cricket permanently comes home.
It’s a new start for Pakistan cricket in more ways than one. And after prolonged flirtation with international isolation and limited-overs mediocrity, Pakistan only has one way to go. Or so we hope.
While the T20 series, generally deemed the ‘lesser meaningful’ format among the ‘purists’, was all about cricket returning to Pakistan, the ODI series gave the on-field matters the status of at least a subplot. Following the whitewash against Bangladesh – hardly the ideal start to Azhar Ali’s captaincy tenure – Pakistan had fallen a point below seventh and eighth ranked Bangladesh and West Indies, with nothing but an unbeaten series triumph threatening to result in a further slump in the ranking. The hosts managed to do the needed, thanks largely to security officials, Shoaib Malik’s return to form, Azhar Ali and a combination of rain and dust storm that halted Zimbabwe’s blistering start to the chase in the final ODI.
As far as the on-field matters are concerned, Pakistan managed to put a promising batting show throughout the series, most notably in the first ODI, creating a new record for the highest total at Gaddafi Stadium by posting a mammoth 375. All four batsmen who came to the crease scored 79 runs or more, with Shoaib Malik making the most of the flat track to bully the opposition with his eighth century – third at Gaddafi Stadium. Zimbabwe’s 334 in reply, thanks largely to captain Elton Chigumbura’s maiden ODI century, meant that the 709 runs scored in the match created the record for an ODI played in Pakistan, beating the 693 that India and Pakistan scored in Karachi 11 years ago.
While Malik’s successful conversion of domestic form into runs in international cricket bodes well for Pakistan’s middle order in the very near future, it is skipper Azhar Ali who might have found the answer to the most perplexing question hampering the batting for the past generation and a half. Azhar’s appointment as captain was met with acquiescence at best and downright pessimism at worst among the Pakistani cricket aficionados. The primary reason being scepticism vis-à-vis his strike rate and in turn the ability to lead Pakistan to a more aggressive brand of cricket and keeping pace with the modern game.
A Pakistani captain being scrutinised for his batting strike rate gave everyone one as much a sensation of déjà vu as the appointment itself. However, unlike his predecessors Azhar took the bull by the horns and promoted himself up the order to a position he wasn’t exactly accustomed to.
A leg-spinner turned middle-order batsman with a staunch defence, Azhar continued his cricket evolution by deciding to bat in the slot that has been the butt of divine retribution from sporting gods since the halcyon days of Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail. The decision to open the batting speaks volumes for the intent that Pakistan’s new captain wants to instil in his side. The performance in the six ensuing games highlights his ability to transform intent into results.
Since becoming the captain, Azhar has scored 436 runs, with four scores of 50 or more, at an average of 72.67 and an impressive strike rate of 90.08. While stiffer oppositions and sterner playing conditions are to come, Azhar’s aggressive intent has generated the right vibe. His stroke play hardly generates the eye candy that subcontinent sides traditionally expect from their frontline batsmen, but its effectiveness can’t be questioned as things stand.
As the relatively stable and conservative Pakistan of the past five years mirrored Misbahul Haq’s persona, let’s hope Azhar’s Pakistan resembles the skipper as well with dogged determination that compensates for lack of skill or flair.
Even though the sight of Anwar Ali and Mohammad Sami opening the attack for Pakistan was hardly awe-inspiring, if Azhar can take care of the batting end, the country’s infinite pool of talent can vouch for the bowling department. Life without Saeed Ajmal has made Shoaib Malik and Mohammed Hafeez even more pertinent to Pakistan’s bowling side, especially in the sub-continent and the UAE, which despite the euphoria surrounding the Zimbabwe series will in all likelihood host more matches than stadia in Pakistan.
Whether it was the start of the return of international cricket, or an anomaly, the 2-0 win – Pakistan’s first ODI series win for two years – against Zimbabwe is the turning point for Pakistan. As Azhar’s Pakistan looks to climb up the ICC rankings to qualify for the Champions Trophy in England in exactly two years’ time, the PCB is dedicating much of its energy to ensure that cricket permanently comes home.
It’s a new start for Pakistan cricket in more ways than one. And after prolonged flirtation with international isolation and limited-overs mediocrity, Pakistan only has one way to go. Or so we hope.