Pakistan head into the fourth and final ODI of the ongoing series against England, with a highest score of 217 in the first three matches. Granted that 217/4 was scored in 43.4 overs, while chasing England’s 216 in the first ODI, but it doesn’t make Pakistan’s overall batting show any less abysmal.
As discussed in this space before the ODI series began, Pakistan’s batting was always going to be crucial – especially the successful transition from Tests to ODIs. At the time of writing, Pakistan have just concluded their first innings in the third ODI. They were bowled out for 208, that too courtesy a late Wahab Riaz blitz. Barring a bowling masterstroke – which of course Pakistan are perfectly capable of – England should be going into today’s match 2-1 up. Either way, Pakistan’s batting would have to show up for a change, if Azhar Ali’s team is to get the desired result from today’s game.
Mohammed Hafeez
Of course, the circus surrounding Younis Khan’s retirement didn’t help, after he announced his retirement in the build up to the first game. That was followed by a constant shuffle in the batting order, with everyone barring Azhar Ali playing in multiple batting positions throughout the course of the first three ODIs. An unsettled batting order represents an unconfident batting line-up that isn’t quite sure what its best combination is.
Azhar Ali himself isn’t among the runs, which always makes the job tougher for a batsman captain. With scores of 8, 22 and 36 up top, Azhar hasn’t been able to give Pakistan the positive start that he has done throughout his young captaincy – and opening – tenure. It was his stable aggression that helped Pakistani batting to perform well against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, both home and away. But in the ongoing ODI series, he has neither been positive, not provided any stability. The run out in the third ODI involving Mohammed Hafeez was the second time the two had combined for a shambolic dismissal, after Azhar’s run out in Pakistan’s second innings in the final Test against England.
The Pakistan team that showed up in this ODI series has displayed the mediocrity that the weakest Pakistani sides could muster
The Hafeez-Babar Azam partnership in the first ODI was the only noteworthy display by Pakistani batsmen in the series, with Sarfraz Ahmed’s 64 in the 2nd ODI coming when the game was already lost. But Hafeez (102*) and Babar (62*) had the luxury of chasing 216 in the first ODI, and could hence, play with ease.
Bilal Asif, who made 2 in the first ODI partnering Azhar up top was dropped, which meant Babar Azam opening the batting in the second and third ODIs. Babar scored 4 and 22 respectively in those two matches.
Shoaib Malik, who has been our ODI middle order mainstay post-Misbah-ul-Haq, has been especially disappointing in the series with scores of 26, 13 and 16. Not only that, his strike rate was around 50 in the second and third matches, highlighting a failure to capitalise after consuming time and deliveries to get set. Malik’s experience and overall positive brand of cricket was always going to be crucial for Pakistan’s chances in the series. His failures have left a void for a middle order fulcrum who knits the whole innings together, without compromising on any positive intent.
Mohammed Rizwan, who inexplicably made way for Younis Khan in the first ODI, didn’t get runs on the board either. His consistent showings at the number 6 position have been another reason behind Pakistan’s impressive ODI results this year. Rizwan’s dismissal in the third ODI was one of the three run outs from the Pakistani side, and probably the ugliest. The other two were Azhar and Malik, as three of Pakistan’s top six gifted England their wickets.
Younis Khan
Of late Pakistan seemed to have improved their fielding and running between the wickets, which have for so long been their Achilles’ heel. But despite a comprehensive win over England in the first ODI, the Pakistan that showed up in this ODI series has displayed the mediocrity that the weakest Pakistani sides could muster. There’s a lot for Pakistan to play for today, lest the side wants to undo months of good work that saw Pakistan qualify for the Champions Trophy in 2017 from the brink of elimination.
In addition to the batsmen’s failure, there is a clear lack of ability on show as well. Pakistan clearly need to unearth progressive batting talent in the next 12 months or so, for any chance of a strong showing in the Champions Trophy and the World Cup in 2019, with both tournaments being held in England. Not getting the right result today would mean going back to the drawing board for Azhar Ali along with the management and selectors. Not that the right result should discourage them from doing so.
