Pakistan Vs West Indies – Pakistan’s Defensive Strategy

West Indies has defeated Pakistan by 7 runs in a T20 match of Pakistan tour to West Indies  2011. Overall it was a good match. Both teams have included young players in the squads. It was expected that Pakistan will enter with a new aggressive strategy by inducting 4 fast bowlers like in the past, but by mind Afridi is still playing in sub-cotenant on slow pitches, that’s why he included only two fast bowlers.

This is an obvious fact that Pakistan had won most of the matches by playing aggressive cricket with three to four fast bowlers over the years. The strategy of playing with two fast bowlers in sub-cotenant was good but now team should comeback to original strategy. After the tragedy of Aamir and Asif Paksitan has to look for real fast bowlers in domestic cricket. Pakistan has never been short of fast bowling talent, therefore, only deductive eyes are required.  

Though Pakistan gave chance to Junaid  but more fast bowlers like Anwar Ali should be included. The induction of Salman as wicketkeeper is also good step.

In batting the current talent comprising on Ahmed Shezad, Umer Akmal and Asad Shafiq is good package. Let them give full chances to develop like a unit. Let them gain experience, let them bear responsibility. Let them not drop after failure in some matches.

World Cup 2011 – Some Positive Aspects for Pakistan

Although after recent controversies, experts are not considering Pakistan as favorite for World Cup 2011, but still there are some positive aspects for Pakistan team. The first positive aspect is venue of World Cup. Bangladesh has defeated South Africa on a slow pitch in lost world cup. Record of Australia in Sri Lanka is not good also, where even Arvinda Desliva was enough to control Australian in Sri Lanka. So, therefore, because of conditions, Pakistan will enjoy edge on these favourite teams.  The second aspect is spin bowling. After exclusion of Asif and Amir  fast bowling attack of Pakistan is not looking strong  as Shoaib Akhtar is not fully fit, Junaid Khan is inexperience and Wahab Riaz is an average bowler. Only exceptions are from Umar Gul who can change situation in minutes through his reveres swing.  But spin bowling attack of Pakistan is looking good. Saeed Ajmal is a match winner bowler; Abdul Rehman is also quality bowler. Shahid Afridi and Hafiz have record of providing break through in crucial times. So according to conditions spin bowling attack of Pakistan is looking good and can provide positive results. In batting field, some batsmen of Pakistan team have good record on Asian wickets. Shahid Afridi can provide extra ordinary inning in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh any time.  So is Abdul Razaq. But the most crucial role will be of Kamran Akmal and Umer Akmal. Both are fighting players, especially Kamran Akmal has good record of playing in pressure as well as playing on Asian wickets. Young Ahmed Shehzad is also in good form and has the potential to rise like Inzamam Ul Haq through this world cup, so as Asad Shafiq. Hafiz is also in good form and he can provide some crucial wickets besides scoring runs. Younis Khan and Misbah Ul Haq are specialists batsmen of these conditions, therefore, Pakistan cricket fans are expecting anchor role from them during this world cup.

Although experts are not considering Pakistan as favorite, but infact ground realities are in favour of Pakistan. If Pakistan’s players concentrated on game and played their natural cricket, no reason that Pakistan can even win this world cup as she has done by wining T20 World cup in similar worst conditions.