After all the downs and ups, relentless drama, futile but persistent comparisons with 1992, Pakistan managed to finish fifth in the 10-team World Cup, the final of which will be played on Sunday. Many feel that the Pakistani side was ‘unlucky’ to miss out on the semifinals on Net Run Rate, especially since they had beaten eventually fourth placed New Zealand in the pool match. However, none of these would want to take away the 1992 triumph from Pakistan, where the side were abysmal for the first half of the pool matches, and needed rain and large-scale upsets to make it to the semis.
Global tournaments are defined by eventual results. In that regard, Pakistan had an average tournament, as reflected by their league position. What, however, is especially jolting is the reaction of the Pakistani players following the World Cup, which reeks of self-praise and inexplicable satisfaction.
Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s press conference was the prime example of this. How can the captain of Pakistan say the team’s performance was satisfactory, after finishing fifth in a 10-team tournament? Even more shockingly, how can he say that he was satisfied with his own performance, with just one 50 in the entire tournament?
Yes, he batted lower down the order and sent others up, but that’s precisely because those others were more adept at the task – which was to up the ante with the strike rate. What was Sarfaraz’s performance with the bat against West Indies, India or even Afghanistan, when he was required to stay in the middle?
A similar attitude was spread throughout the team. How is Imam-ul-Haq happy with his World Cup, having either squandered starts or got out early throughout the tournament? His century against Bangladesh epitomized the team’s intention in the match, where the entire team was not just playing for personal performances in that particular game, they seemed especially happy to do so. Given that Pakistan needed a world record win for a shot at semifinals, the fans would have taken a defeat against Bangladesh – had it come with the intention of doing the impossible.
What transpired, however, is what has been the case for Pakistan cricket in recent years. Players just putting up the kind of performances that they feel would suffice in keeping their positions in the side.
The ODI side needs a massive overhaul, not because of the World Cup showing alone, but because the team has been sliding since the bolt-from-the-blue Champions Trophy win in 2017. It would be useful to note in this context that Pakistan’s fifth-place finish at the World Cup comes after the team management repeatedly reiterated that the World Cup is all that they are focusing on – and hence should not be judged for the failures elsewhere!
It’s the World Cup for which ODI whitewashes against New Zealand, Australia and England, another series defeat against South Africa and a disastrous Asia Cup campaign were overlooked. Finishing fifth after all that leeway was given is simply not good enough, and it’s downright embarrassing that anyone in the team can actually say that in a press conference.
Indeed, there have been positives for Pakistan at the World Cup. Babar Azam is fast coming of age in the 50-over format as well. Shaheen Afridi has been a revelation and looks destined to be a leading fast bowler of the world. Haris Sohail has proven that he needs to be Pakistan’s mainstay in the middle order.
Imad Wasim has significantly improved his batting and power hitting lower down the order, which coupled with his bowling in Asian conditions can make him a true match winner with both bat and ball in limited-overs cricket.
Mohammed Amir has also found his form, although it remains to be seen if he can replicate any of it outside of England. Wahab Riaz has done enough to maintain a place in the limited-overs sides as well.
Outside of that the World Cup was a disaster for everyone else. It was especially catastrophic for Fakhar Zaman and Hasan Ali, two mainstays of the side in recent years, who should be required to go back in domestic and perform their way back into the side.
Shoaib Malik has retired from the ODIs, but should have done the same from T20s as well. Mohammed Hafeez should follow suit as well.
Shadab Khan and Imam-ul-Haq were below average, but have the potential to do well in the long run for Pakistan. Mohammad Hasnain wasn’t given a chance, but should continue to be groomed for the future as well.
Perhaps the toughest question mark remains over the future of Sarfaraz Ahmed. As a player, he is no way near his wicket-keeping batsmen peers – think Jos Buttler, M S Dhoni, Quinton De Kock, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tom Latham, Shai Hope.
Sarfaraz’s leadership has been an integral feature of Pakistan’s continued T20I success, and he should definitely retain that position. He was set to be replaced as the Test captain regardless of the World Cup given Pakistan’s unprecedented series defeats in the UAE against Sri Lanka and New Zealand over the last two seasons.
Perhaps the Pakistan Cricket Board should look elsewhere for the ODIs as well.
Global tournaments are defined by eventual results. In that regard, Pakistan had an average tournament, as reflected by their league position. What, however, is especially jolting is the reaction of the Pakistani players following the World Cup, which reeks of self-praise and inexplicable satisfaction.
Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s press conference was the prime example of this. How can the captain of Pakistan say the team’s performance was satisfactory, after finishing fifth in a 10-team tournament? Even more shockingly, how can he say that he was satisfied with his own performance, with just one 50 in the entire tournament?
Yes, he batted lower down the order and sent others up, but that’s precisely because those others were more adept at the task – which was to up the ante with the strike rate. What was Sarfaraz’s performance with the bat against West Indies, India or even Afghanistan, when he was required to stay in the middle?
A similar attitude was spread throughout the team. How is Imam-ul-Haq happy with his World Cup, having either squandered starts or got out early throughout the tournament? His century against Bangladesh epitomized the team’s intention in the match, where the entire team was not just playing for personal performances in that particular game, they seemed especially happy to do so. Given that Pakistan needed a world record win for a shot at semifinals, the fans would have taken a defeat against Bangladesh – had it come with the intention of doing the impossible.
What transpired, however, is what has been the case for Pakistan cricket in recent years. Players just putting up the kind of performances that they feel would suffice in keeping their positions in the side.
The ODI side needs a massive overhaul, not because of the World Cup showing alone, but because the team has been sliding since the bolt-from-the-blue Champions Trophy win in 2017. It would be useful to note in this context that Pakistan’s fifth-place finish at the World Cup comes after the team management repeatedly reiterated that the World Cup is all that they are focusing on – and hence should not be judged for the failures elsewhere!
It’s the World Cup for which ODI whitewashes against New Zealand, Australia and England, another series defeat against South Africa and a disastrous Asia Cup campaign were overlooked. Finishing fifth after all that leeway was given is simply not good enough, and it’s downright embarrassing that anyone in the team can actually say that in a press conference.
Indeed, there have been positives for Pakistan at the World Cup. Babar Azam is fast coming of age in the 50-over format as well. Shaheen Afridi has been a revelation and looks destined to be a leading fast bowler of the world. Haris Sohail has proven that he needs to be Pakistan’s mainstay in the middle order.
Imad Wasim has significantly improved his batting and power hitting lower down the order, which coupled with his bowling in Asian conditions can make him a true match winner with both bat and ball in limited-overs cricket.
Mohammed Amir has also found his form, although it remains to be seen if he can replicate any of it outside of England. Wahab Riaz has done enough to maintain a place in the limited-overs sides as well.
Outside of that the World Cup was a disaster for everyone else. It was especially catastrophic for Fakhar Zaman and Hasan Ali, two mainstays of the side in recent years, who should be required to go back in domestic and perform their way back into the side.
Shoaib Malik has retired from the ODIs, but should have done the same from T20s as well. Mohammed Hafeez should follow suit as well.
Shadab Khan and Imam-ul-Haq were below average, but have the potential to do well in the long run for Pakistan. Mohammad Hasnain wasn’t given a chance, but should continue to be groomed for the future as well.
Perhaps the toughest question mark remains over the future of Sarfaraz Ahmed. As a player, he is no way near his wicket-keeping batsmen peers – think Jos Buttler, M S Dhoni, Quinton De Kock, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tom Latham, Shai Hope.
Sarfaraz’s leadership has been an integral feature of Pakistan’s continued T20I success, and he should definitely retain that position. He was set to be replaced as the Test captain regardless of the World Cup given Pakistan’s unprecedented series defeats in the UAE against Sri Lanka and New Zealand over the last two seasons.
Perhaps the Pakistan Cricket Board should look elsewhere for the ODIs as well.