At a press conference to announce the name of Azhar Ali as the man to replace Misbah ul Haq as captain of the Pakistan cricket team in the One Day format, Shaharyar Khan was, unsurprisingly, a bit defensive. Because it was a bolt from the blue and he had to justify this astonishing decision. He stated that all the concerned people had voted and Azhar had gotten the most votes. So it was a committee decision then it seems. A horse designed by a committee emerges as a camel or something to that effect.
Azhar Ali is, by all standards, an exceptional cricketer. He has all the right statistics, batting averages of above and around 40 in both five day and one day formats. The strike is understandably low, because he plays the anchor role more often than not. He has a very good technique that regularly gets him well set against the best of attacks. But then, the whole country asks, where was Azhar Ali during the World Cup that concluded recently, where Pakistan needed batsmen to shore up a batting lineup that seemed to be erected on sand? Something is surely amiss.
Where was Azhar Ali during the World Cup, when Pakistan needed batsmen to shore up a batting lineup that seemed to be erected on sand?
The problem here might be that the people who run PCB do not have very well developed instincts as far as cricket is concerned. They are undoubtedly intelligent and gather all the statistics to make an informed decision, a decision where, most importantly, their six is covered. If things do not work out, the blame can be easily shifted to the usual suspects. But then, it is said that statistics are like a lamp post to a drunken man, more for support than for illumination.
On the flipside, a cricketer, with years of experience in the fortunes and vagaries of the sport, would make a more instinctive decision. He would look at which player was calmer under pressure. Who could combine the team into a synergistic mass where the sum of the whole would be greater than the individuals themselves. Who could inspire, cajole and motivate his players into feats of extraordinary achievement. But then these leaders are very few and far between. We had Kardar and Imran. It might be too early to say, but Misbah might belong in that category as well. He has led a team with limited resources, crippled by all manners of bans and more importantly, led from the front. Whether Azhar Ali can fit into this mould is a million dollar question.
Firstly, he has to merit a place in the side. If he is to anchor the side, he must come in at number three, the pivotal position
Firstly, he has to merit a place in the side. If he is to anchor the side, he must come in at number three, the pivotal position and lead from the front, something that even the admirable Misbah could not bring himself to do. Should he perform, only then can he ask his players to follow him. In the one day game, there is no place for a specialist captain a la Mike Brearley. Every player has to excel in at least two aspects, be it batting, bowling and fielding. Azhar is not known for his fielding, so he might want to roll his arm over in the nets with his leg spin, something that can be useful against teams other than India. Because that is what he started cricket as – a leggie.
This captaincy decision is one coming from a man who has been a career bureaucrat and a very good one from what one hears. But he has the instincts of a bureaucrat, where every avenue is covered, every loophole patched up. The problem is that the instincts are all wrong. There is no inspiration in the choice. The Pakistan team needs an inspirational captain who can take the team by the scruff of its collective neck and lift it to great achievements. That is where Azhar Ali might be found wanting. But then is there anyone currently who could be considered inspirational?
Sarfraz might come closest. He is an excellent wicketkeeper, a gutsy batsman, who will not be intimidated by the challenge. He will also not have the pressure of keeping his place in the team. But it might be too early for Sarfraz.
Massive shoes to fill
Misbah led a team with limited resources, crippled by all manners of bans and led from the front. Whether Azhar Ali can fit into this mould is a million dollar question
Regardless, we should all get behind Azhar and support him for a long term. He will grow into his job. He will make mistakes but he should not be afraid of making them. He should hate to lose but should not be afraid of losing. If he can, in the words of Kipling, take victory and defeat and treat both imposters the same then he has a chance. But Pakistanis have a very small appetite for defeat. A couple of bad series and everyone will be baying for his blood. Good luck Azhar Ali. You will most certainly need it.
