The recently concluded series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe was a – pardon the cliché – turning point for Pakistan cricket in more ways than one. While the return of international cricket is well documented, the return to winning ways in limited overs cricket was also extremely important. The 2-0 ODI series win was the first for Pakistan in two years.
The limited-overs whitewash in April against Bangladesh was a crucial rude awakening – something that might have left the newly appointed ODI captain Azhar Ali sleepless for a while. Azhar would want to convert restlessness into results against a ‘top’ side that is traversing crossroads of their own.
As Pakistan begins getting used to life without Misbahul Haq and Shahid Afridi, who retired after the World Cup, Sri Lanka themselves have to cope with the retirements of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara – the latter hung the proverbial boots at the prime of his ODI career.
Hafeez and Afridi's experience will be crucial for Pakistan in the lead up to the T20 World Cup
Only a series win over Sri Lanka will ensure eighth spot or higher in ODI rankings
For Pakistan the challenge has been laid out by coach Waqar Younis: qualify for the Champions Trophy in 2017.
“Targets have been set for Tests and ODI series. I hope that the team does well on the Sri Lankan tour and achieves the targets. I am confident that we will qualify for the Champions Trophy,” he said during a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday before the team took off for Sri Lanka.
“Our ODI team is definitely not weak. But it isn’t as strong as the Test side. We’ll do our best to win as many matches as we can against Sri Lanka in order to qualify for Champions Trophy” he added.
“Sri Lanka have lost some of their senior players and we have also lost some seniors so it will take time to rebuild the one-day teams but a tour to Sri Lanka is always tough,” said Waqar.
Azhar Ali would look to carve out his legacy
Pakistan are currently ninth in the ODI rankings. Only a series win over Sri Lanka will ensure eighth spot or higher ahead of the September 30 cut-off date for Champions Trophy qualification. Before that, however, is the Test series where Pakistan would look to build on their recent results.
The three-Test series will get started at Galle on June 17 and with the final test concluding on July 7. The second Test will be played at Colombo from June 25-29 and the third at Pallekele from July 3- 7.
With a potential Test series against India later this year, this will be a great opportunity for Misbahul Haq’s team to stamp their authority away from home – and the adapted home – and take the game to the Lankans. They would once again rely on Misbah and Younis Khan to steady the batting line-up, with Azhar Ali revelling in the additional responsibility of being the vice-captain of the Test side – all set to take over from Misbah in the Tests once the most successful Test captain in the history of Pakistan cricket decides to call it a day.
Is Saeed Ajmal's career over?
Here’s the Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka: Misbah-ul-Haq (Captain), Azhar Ali (Vice Captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil.
Meanwhile, for Azhar’s ODI side the task is simple: emulate the skipper.
As discussed last week, Azhar Ali seems to have decided to silence his brigade of critics by playing aggressive cricket from the top, in turn providing the team a dependable and yet attacking start – something we aren’t accustomed to –, making the most of his skillset and playing to his strengths.
The two-match T20 series, under Shahid Afridi’s captaincy, that will follow the 5 ODIs will be all about finding the right balance ahead of the T20 World Cup next year. While the T20 series against Zimbabwe – the curtain raiser for the tour – was played amidst euphoria of cricket returning to Pakistan, the matches against Sri Lanka will be a lot more competitive.
Pakistan’s T20 squad will be centred around Afridi and Mohammed Hafeez – two cricketers tailor-made for the shortest format. But with Hafeez and Afridi being in the senior bracket, and the latter having retired from ODIs, there’s a need to groom genuine all-round talent for all forms, starting off with T20. Hammad Azam, Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar Ali have been threatening to step up, without actually making any mark.
The bowling line-up in all formats will have a Saeed Ajmal-shaped hole. Many fear that the remodelled action, which prevents him from bowling the trademark doosra, could be the curtain call on his career. But for someone who started his international career when most begin packing up their bags, maybe there’s still a second life to come.
Pakistan’s tour to Sri Lanka will provide hints to many long-term questions for both who take the field and those plying their trade elsewhere vying for a comeback to the national side.
