On Sunday, the future of international cricket in Pakistan perhaps finally came full circle at that very spot with the return of that very team a little over eight-and-a-half years later. And yet, perhaps the most promising aspect of it all was how an international cricket match is increasingly getting closer to feeling normal.
The West Indies would be playing a three-match T20 series in Lahore later this month as well, which would further enhance that feeling, eventually making way for spreading to another city, with Karachi being suggested as the venue for the PSL 3 final early next year.
While there cannot be any development more positive than the increasing return of international cricket, with Sunday’s win Pakistan have ensured back to back whitewashes against Sri Lanka in both the limited-overs formats.
Shoaib Malik
Granted, Sri Lanka are hardly world beating in any format these days – even though this didn’t stop them from whitewashing us in the Tests – but with the ODI and T20 sweeps, Pakistan are firmly establishing themselves in the shorter formats of the game.
One feels that the West Indies – with T20 their strongest suit – would pose a bigger challenge than Sri Lanka, in the three matches. But Pakistan should come out on top, and continue the run of successes they’ve experienced in the coloured jerseys since Sarfraz Ahmed has taken over as the skipper.
The ODI and T20 series in New Zealand in January would be a stiffer challenge, and in many ways a true test of where Pakistan stand against top sides outside home, and in the UAE. But considering the constant struggles of the recent past, especially in the ODIs, there is absolutely no doubt that the Champions Trophy win has finally removed the limited-overs shackles for Pakistan cricket.
Fakhar Zaman
In that sense Pakistan has come full circle both on and off the pitch, with most kinds of transitions behind us – even if we might be traversing the rather difficult one in Tests, as things stand.
Even so, on both the fronts Pakistan has a lot of work to do. As far as international cricket is concerned, all relevant authorities need to make sure that the state’s situation is normalised to a point where the city doesn’t have to be on a standstill – unavoidable as things stand – just to host a cricket match on a particular day.
Sustained peace, coupled with the increasing frequency of international tours to Pakistan, will bring further events to the cricket-starved country.
As far as on-field matters are concerned, while there clearly is everything to cheer for, there remain a few chinks that need to be addressed.
Fakhar Zaman’s graph seems to be going downhill following the Champions Trophy, with Ahmed Shehzad continuing to remind the selectors why he will perhaps never be the long – or short – term solution to Pakistan’s seemingly perpetual opening woes. And even though Imam-ul-Haq and UmerAmin have varyingly impressed in their stints, the question marks over Pakistan’s opening combination have returned, even if Azhar Ali’s expected return to fitness might address some of them.
Hasan Ali
Pakistan have clearly lacked a reliable enforcer up the order, which eventually led to Pakistan beating India in the Champions Trophy final. Sharjeel Khan seemed to have filled that void, only to be banned in spot-fixing. And now Fakhar Zaman looks increasingly out of place, despite setting the world afire in the Champions Trophy.
Even so, despite the sample size being negligible, Pakistan might finally have found a proper all-rounder – one that can hit big lower down the order – in the shape of Faheem Ashraf. He is looking increasingly sharp with the ball – with the hat-trick doing him a world of good – and should play that blitz that he’s threatening, and expected, to pull off any day.
The on field positives are, of course, in abundance. Babar Azam continues to get runs, while Shoaib Malik continues to reiterate his importance to the batting order. Hafeez’s potential bowling ban, and Sarfraz not being among the runs might be a worry, but Pakistan have Faheem and Shadab Khan as the low order batsmen that they’ve been missing for a while.
Pakistan are spoilt for choice in the bowling lineup. Mohammed Amir got a 4-for following his return to the lineup, in his first ever international match in Pakistan, replacing Usman Khan Shinwari who has made his mark already. Hasan Ali is the quickest Pakistani bowler to fifty wickets, and the current leader of the bowling back, while Rumman Raees and Junaid Khan impress as well. Shadab Khan is also growing into a potentially world class spinner.
Pakistan’s juggernaut is only headed in one direction. Next stop: West Indies.
