The third T20 was dead rubber on paper, but was contested as fiercely as a cup final. After failing to chase down 161 and 173 in the first T20, with decreasing margins, Pakistan would have fancied their chance having been asked to muster 155 for the consolation win. The importance of that victory for Pakistan, despite not impacting the series verdict, is evident following defeat. 3-0 is catastrophic compared to the 2-1 that would have been more reflective of how close the series was.
Shoaib Malik’s highest T20 score (75) and Afridi’s quick-fire 29 (after 2/19 in 4 overs with the ball) couldn’t help Pakistan over the finish line. Pakistan looked like favourites needing 27 off 20 balls with Malik and Afridi on the crease. Over the next 20 deliveries, the match swung like the proverbial pendulum, with both sides taking turns at being shoo-in favourites.
But before Malik and Afridi drove Pakistan towards the target, Pakistan had been 11/3 in the third over, and seemed down and out for all purposes. Mohammed Rizwan and Malik conjured a counterpunching partnership to ensure Pakistan’s comeback in the game.
After the scores were level, the Super Over was anything but the billing it comes with. Many would question Afridi’s decision to go with Umar Akmal and Anwar Ali for the Super Over, along with himself, considering that Malik had just played one of his best international T20 innings and was masterfully stroking the ball. That the Afridi-Akmal duo could only manage 3 runs, in a boundary-less Super Over, further damages the skipper’s case.
Before the Super Over, and the enthralling dead rubber at Sharjah, there would two other well fought games played at Dubai. In the first T20, Pakistan managed to make a meal of a 161-run chase when they were 74-7 (and 100-8). Anwar Ali, Sohail Tanvir and Wahab Riaz tried to vindicate the management’s decision to bat deep by taking the game to the final over. Even so, Tanvir and Wahab disappearing all over the park was one of the main reasons why Pakistan lost the next T20.
While the all-rounders are playing their part, the specialists are letting the T20 team down big-time
Chasing 173 in the second game, Pakistan looked good at 148-6 after 17.5 overs with Afridi and Sarfraz Ahmed on the crease, after having seemingly been out of the game earlier on (the story of Pakistan’s chases throughout the series). The three-run defeat, and Pakistan failing to get over the finish line, was owing to – among other things –the lack of a consistent clutch player, who can deliver when nerves are most tested.
While the 3-0 score line does not reflect how the series was played out, any postmortem ahead of the T20 World Cup next year would have to reconsider Pakistan’s selection for the series. In this space, last week, we discussed T20 all-rounders as Pakistan’s strength. These are players who can bowl their four overs and get you 20-odd quick runs as well. The fact of the matter is that the likes of Anwar Ali, Wahab Riaz and Sohail Tanvir managed to do precisely this. Afridi and Malik were great with the bat and ball as well. But what Pakistan crucially lack are specialists – especially with the bat at the top of the order – and maybe with the ball as well. It would be hard to ignore Mohammed Amir in 2016.
Even though the bowlers didn’t bowl particularly well throughout the series, some of Afridi’s decision-making and bowling changes were quite baffling as well. That Malik only bowled two overs in the third ODI is inexplicable.
But it’s safe to say that the series was lost primarily due to the lack of a strong start up top, which is crucial whether you’re chasing or setting the target.
As heartwarming and encouraging as Rafatullah Mohmand’s story is, the 39-year-old clearly was out of his depth in international cricket. Inconsistency has been Ahmed Shehzad’s Achilles ’ Heel throughout his career, and it’s not helping his – or Pakistan’s – cause that he is still failing to string together two meaningful innings in a series.
Mohammed Hafeez’s failures throughout the series, punctuated with yet another shambolic run-out in the third T20, was possibly the biggest setback for Pakistan, coupled with Umar Akmal – who had been in good form in T20s this year – scoring a grand total of 26 in three matches. It’s evident that while the all-rounders are playing their part, the specialists are letting the T20 team down big-time.
Pakistan definitely need to find a stable and consistent top 3 if they are to leave any imprint on T20 cricket next year. With the ODI team suffering a morale-denting loss and the T20 side being whitewashed, Pakistan’s limited-overs line-up has a lot of catching up to do.