Obviously, Pakistan’s preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup are not giving very satisfactory signs but it is not surprising that it has been the history of Pakistan cricket team that it has twisted great results when it was not expected. Every time a strong team has been fielded, it has disappointed in the finals or semi-finals due to bad luck.
That’s why there is nothing wrong with saying these things, anything can happen. So we should encourage our players instead of criticizing them at meantime. If the experience of our team is taken into consideration, a good team has been formed which may not have clicked before the World Cup but hopefully it will come into rhythm during the World Cup. Although the Pakistani team has lost the series against England before the ICCT 20 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas, the morale of the players is high that they got a good practice.
As for the series against England, Pakistan lost 2-0 against England in the four-match series, two of which were lost due to rain without a ball being bowled – meaning that Pakistan’s thinking Tank is still struggling to make a winning combination. Defending champions England won both the second and fourth matches of the series quite comfortably. With just two days to go for Pakistan’s first match of the World Cup, the playing XI is still a matter of debate as to what will be our opening pair Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman and Usman Khan are still not sure. Which of the four fast bowlers, all good Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Amir will sit out is really difficult. Whether leg-spin all-rounder Shadab Khan, one of skipper Babar Azam’s close associates who is out of form at the moment, should make it to the playing XI is still an open question.
The same is true for young Azam Khan, whose flare suits the contemporary style of batting but who is yet to prove himself. However, the situation of green shirts in not so bad for chances of winning the world title because traditionally team Pakistan is known for playing with passion rather than technique, so the players in green are capable of defeat any team.
We sincerely hope that the 2009 cup winner and the runner-up team of the inaugural World Cup held in 2007 will not disappoint the nation. It is not right to troll Azam Khan or any player on our media and social media. Analysts or ex-players who sit down and analyze each player knows very well that anything can happen in big tournaments. You win after losing, as it has been happening with our team in the past that we have lost matches even against easy teams in the presence of star players and we have defeated very difficult teams.
Therefore, instead of despair, the team should play in the spirit of fighting till the end according to Imran Doctrine. There are experienced players like Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah and Mohammad Amir in the existing Pakistani squad, who should be depended on while taking full advantage of their presence and let them play without fear of dropping from the team so they can win tough matches.
Especially, there is a lot of criticism on the Pakistani batting line, which the team management should reply by support of their star players. For the opening, there should be a single plan for the entire tournament as a result the players can play with an open mind. If Muhammad Rizwan is not feeling well as opener, Usman Khan along with Fakhar Zaman should open in the entire tournament. Muhammad Rizwan and the captain Babar Azam should play in the middle order so that the youngsters can attack without fear. If the top four score 100 or 80 quick runs, then Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam and the tail enders can easily get to the double hundred mark. On the other hand, in Pakistani bowling, Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Shah should be fed in the squad thus the opposing teams remain under pressure. They are putting their full effort and must be depended on in the whole tournament. Shadab and left arm all-rounder Imad Wasim are essential in the spin department who can also score big. Therefore, we should enter the field with a full mind-set, the talks of hopelessness are not respectable.
