A million thanks to the Sydney rain that helped prevent a whitewash of the still number one ranked T20 side in the world. Not only have Pakistan never been this comprehensively beaten in a T20 series, one can’t think of any other instance where a clash between the traditional top 8 of world cricket – let alone one between the top 2 – was this lopsided.
As we’ve discussed in recent weeks, Pakistan’s T20 side has been struggling throughout this year and along with the Test team it has just begun a transition process. However, that still doesn’t justify a clean sweep by Sri Lanka at home last month and now a mauling Down Under.
Imad Wasim with Steve Smith
There were scores of reasons why Pakistan faltered like they did in the three match T20 series. First and foremost, as is the case with any struggling side, there just isn’t a fixed lineup.
Barring Babar Azam – one of the major reasons why he was made the captain – Imad Wasim and Mohammed Amir, there was not a single permanent fixture in the Pakistani T20 side. After the series one can add Iftikhar Ahmed’s name to the list, but everyone else has been absolutely struggling for form.
Mohammed Amir
Those in disarray include players that helped take Pakistan to the summit of the T20 game, with the likes of Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan completely off colour for a while now. Hasan Ali who also helped take Pakistan to the top in the T20 format had his own struggles with the form earlier this year and more recently a back injury to cope with.
Needless to say, something that has been reiterated in this space many a time, a major reason behind Pakistan’s T20 successes was the captaincy of Sarfaraz Ahmed. While his no-shows with the bat eventually had to result in his exit, his replacement, Mohammed Rizwan, isn’t an upgrade in any way whatsoever – barring perhaps more agility behind the stumps.
Iftikhar Ahmed
In T20s, Pakistan need to unearth a wicketkeeper who has the power-hitting ability in the middle order. Abid Ali’s name is being floated, but he’s a purely top-order player, and looks more suited to the longer formats as well – like Rizwan.
Babar Azam, of course, has only just started his captaincy tenure, but he didn’t quite maintain a presence in the field or take any decisions that stood out. One positive is that his batting appears to be at the same level as it was before he took over as captain.
Arguably, another massive factor behind Pakistan’s struggles in the T20I series – one that they should look to shrug off ahead of the Tests – is just how the national team has traditionally felt under the cosh the moment they enter Australia.
Babar Azam and Aaron Finch
No matter the format or the sides’ strengths, Pakistan against Australia Down Under is a one-sided affair
No matter the format or the respective strengths of the two sides, the moment Pakistan face Australia Down Under it becomes a one-sided affair in favour of the hosts, for the past two decades now.
Challenging Australia on their home turf requires as much mental strength as it needs cricketing prowess. And that would be required more than ever in the upcoming two Test series.
The team’s performance in the 3-day match against Australia A in Perth this week depicted some of what is needed when the Test series begins. Babar Azam and Asad Shafiq scored impressive centuries in the first innings, before Imran Khan rattled a strong Australia A lineup with a five-for to bowl them out for 122.
Azhar Ali’s lack of runs has been a concern for a while, but even more so now that he has taken over as the captain of the Test side. However, the current top six featuring Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed is the best on paper, and the most settled, since MisYou’s retirement two and a half years ago. Let’s see if they can battle it out against Australia in the Test series.
