The recent defeat of Pakistan’s cricket team at the hands of New Zealand’s so called C team in the fourth T20I has sent shockwaves through the cricket fraternity. The loss, albeit a close one, has raised serious concerns about the team’s preparedness and performance under the leadership of Babar Azam, especially with the ICC World Cup just around the corner.
The defeat to a relatively weaker New Zealand side has exposed the cracks in Pakistan’s armor, highlighting issues that need to be addressed urgently. The team’s struggle to chase a modest target of 179 runs, despite having a strong batting lineup, is a cause for concern. The failure of the top order, including captain Babar Azam, to fire consistently has put additional pressure on the middle order, which has often been the team’s savior.
Moreover, the team’s inability to adapt to different playing conditions and opposition has been a recurring issue. The lack of depth in the bowling department, particularly in the absence of experienced pacers like Shaheen Afridi, has made it difficult for Pakistan to contain opposing teams. The reliance on spinners has not yielded the desired results, and the team’s inability to take wickets at crucial moments has cost them dearly.
The defeat to New Zealand’s C team is an eye opener for Pakistan cricket, and it’s a wake-up call for the team management and selectors to re-evaluate their strategy and team composition. With the World Cup just a few months away, Pakistan needs to regroup and refocus if they hope to make a meaningful impact in the tournament.
Babar Azam, as captain, needs to take responsibility for the team’s performance and make tough decisions to ensure that the team is well-prepared for the challenges ahead. The team needs to work on its batting and bowling departments, and the selectors need to consider injecting fresh talent into the squad to bring in new ideas and enthusiasm.
Furthermore, the team’s poor fielding and sloppy catching have been a persistent problem, and it’s essential to address these issues through rigorous training and practice sessions. The team’s fitness levels also need to be improved, as evident from the number of injuries that have plagued the team in recent times.
In addition, the team’s mental preparation and mindset need to be reassessed. The ability to handle pressure and perform under stress is crucial in high-stakes tournaments like the World Cup, and Pakistan’s recent performances have raised doubts about their mental toughness.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also needs to take a hard look at the team’s preparation and training schedule. The lack of competitive matches and inadequate preparation have been cited as reasons for the team’s poor performances, and it’s essential to ensure that the team gets sufficient opportunities to prepare and fine-tune their skills before the World Cup.
It’s worth noting that the team had a training camp at the Kakul Military Academy before the tournament, which was expected to add some much-needed discipline and toughness to the team’s performance. However, the results on the field have not reflected this, and it seems that the camp has failed to have the desired impact.
In the tournament opener, Pakistan had a strong bench strength and bowled out New Zealand for just 90 runs in the second T20I, after the first match was washed out. However, subsequent performances have been disappointing, and the team has looked weaker than the New Zealanders.
Moreover, Pakistan’s scoring rate in the middle overs (7-15) in T20I cricket has become a matter of concern, with a rate of 7.30, which is only better than Afghanistan. Australia leads the pack with a scoring rate of 9.75, followed by South Africa at 9.35, and India at 8.97. This is a worrying trend, especially considering that Pakistan has players like Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, who are two of the fastest players to complete 3,000 runs in T20I cricket.
In short, the defeat to New Zealand’s C team is a reality check for Pakistan cricket, and it’s time for the team to introspect and make necessary changes to avoid a disappointing World Cup campaign. The team has the talent and potential, but it needs to be harnessed and channelized in the right direction to achieve success at the highest level. The PCB, team management, and players need to work together to address the issues plaguing the team and ensure that Pakistan cricket regains its rightful place among the top teams in the world. With only 39 days to go before the World Cup, the time for action is now.
