Pakistan’s inconsistency is their biggest enemy. South African conditions will suit their aggressive style of play.

By Joshua Nath

Pakistan, no doubt, are one of the most talented sides in world cricket. They have all the ingredients of being a champion side, a proof of which was seen in the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June which they won.

Pakistan boast of an amazing mix of batsmen. They have stalwarts like Mohammad Yousuf and skipper Younus Khan, master technicians like Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq and flashy shot-makers like Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi and the Akmal brothers. On any given day, their fearless batting can tear apart any bowling attack.

The batting power is well supplemented by the bowling division. With one of the most talented seam bowlers in the world, Mohammad Asif, eager to put his dark days behind, the attack looks promising. The perennial wicket-taking ability of the hit-the-deck seamer Umar Gul, the raw pace of left armer Mohammad Aamer, the guile of Rao Iftikhar Anjum and Rana Naved can never be counted out.

And, something that has made Pakistan a force to reckon with in limited overs cricket is their spin bowling in the middle overs, headed by Shahid Afridi, who now boasts of a prolific record as a bowler. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, whose well disguised change of deliveries troubled Australia in Abu Dhabi, South Africa and Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup, adds a lot of muscle.

Pakistan haven’t been successful at the Champions Trophy. Out of the 11 games Pakistan have played in the championship between 1998-2006, they have lost 6 and won 5 to have an ordinary success rate of 45.45.

Pakistan open their Champs Trophy campaign against West Indies on September 23 at Johannesburg in a group A encounter. Arch-rivals India and defending champions Australia complete the group.

STRENGTHS

A potent bowling attack: The Pakistan bowling looks more or less settled especially with the return of Asif. The quartet of Gul, Aamer, Afridi and offie Ajmal is a heady mix.

A balanced batting line-up: A solid middle order in Mohammad Yousuf and skipper Younus Khan and the favourable form of the Akmal brothers, especially the younger Umar, brings a refreshing outlook to a batting line-up. The humiliating loss in Sri Lanka in both Tests and one-dayers could just work as a stimulant to fire up this talented bunch of cricketers.

WEAKNESSES

An unsettled top order. This has been one big concern for Pakistan in any form of cricket since the retirement of their prolific opener Saeed Anwar. Right-handed opener Imran Nazir can only be regarded as a dasher, who lacks a solid defensive game.

Fielding remains a big problem for Pakistan. Not many in their ageing side can be considered as brilliant fielders.

Application: Pakistan’s age-old ability to self destruct. The following statement sums up the side best: “On their day, they can play like tigers and devour the opponents, but can also give in meekly like sheep.”

WATCH OUT FOR:

Mohammad Yousuf – The former rebel player has a lot of experience behind him and has been the side’s more prolific run scorers after his return to international cricket for Pakistan. In a total of nine matches in the ICC Champions Trophy, Yousuf has scored 284 runs at an average of 47.33 with a strike rate of 63.39 and a best score of 81 not out.

Shahid Afridi – The experienced all-rounder has worked tremendously hard on his bowling in the last couple of years to develop into a dangerous customer in limited overs cricket. His bowling record in five Champions Trophy 5 matches is 9 wickets, at an average of 29.00, with best of 5 for 11 against Kenya in Nairobi in 2000.

As a batsman, Afridi is always a big wicket for the opposition. He has not done well in Champions Trophy, scoring a total of 127 runs at 15.87 with a highest score off 55 not out. Afridi also boasts of a strike rate of 149 runs per hundred balls for this event.

Umar Gul – can easily be regarded as the most dangerous of Pakistan’s seam bowlers. He hits the deck and has the ability to extract extra bounce and lateral movement. Of late, skipper Younus has entrusted him the task of snapping wickets in the middle overs where he gets to bowl in short spells. On bouncy tracks at Centurion and Johannesburg, he will be quite a handful.

FULL SQUAD: Younus Khan (captain), Shahid Afridi (vice-captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Umar Gul, Rana Naved, Rao Ifthikar Anjum, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Fawad Alam, Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Shoaib Malik.

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