Dawn of a new era

Azhar’s Pakistan has arrived. Granted it was a new look Sri Lankan side that was completely drubbed by a Pakistani team equally in transition, but that shouldn’t take anything away from Azhar Ali’s side that doesn’t look anything like the Pakistan sides of the past decade and a half. There’s aggression, intent and desire to take the game by the scruff of its neck, without indulging in imprudent idiosyncrasies.

Aggression isn’t something that one associates with Azhar Ali – or at least the pre-captaincy Azhar. The whitewash against Bangladesh would have been a tough start to handle, but Bangladesh’s series wins over India and South Africa since then highlight that it wasn’t an easy assignment first up. Azhar’s decision to promote himself up the order to open the innings, without compromising on the attacking desire, set the ball rolling on his limited-overs batting revival and his captaincy.

Azhar took on two of the biggest challenges in world cricket – captaining, and opening the batting for, Pakistan – in his stride simultaneously. In turn, he seems to have revived both the team and its traditionally fragile batting line-up. Pakistan now boast nine opening stands of 50 runs or more – the most for any international side.

Pakistan's combination of aggression and dependability is their new winning ingredient

When was the last time you saw a remotely similar stat associated with Pakistan cricket? When was the last time Pakistan chased down a 250-plus total in 40 overs as they did at Colombo on Wednesday?

Of course this transformation in batting intent isn’t down to Azhar alone. With Ahmed Shahzad, Mohammed Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Rizwan all in form, Pakistan finally seem to have found a reliable batting line-up that doesn’t compromise attacking intent or dependability.

Imad Wasim has been added to the team after the 12-month bowling ban on Hafeez, which definitely would have rocked the team’s game plan, considering the all-rounders’ impressive display with the ball in the first ODI. Hafeez, whose batting performance alone in the past couple of years is enough to warrant him a place in the top order, is letting his bat do the talking and seems to have cemented his place even as a batsman. Imad has bowled well in the last two ODIs and is very handy with the bat. Anwar Ali might still be a long way from the being the bowler he was in his Under-19 days, but he is becoming more reliable with both bat and ball. He’s adding more depth to a Hafeez-less bowling line-up, and to the batting as well, with the need to play an extra bowler.

Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik at four and five seem to be the perfect players to play counterattacking cricket if Pakistan lose early wickets or capitalise on a good start with the long handle. Malik especially has played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s recent 300-plus scores.

Mohammad Rizwan is the ideal batsman to bat at number six, as he demonstrated in his partnership with Malik in the 3^rd ODI. Like Malik and Sarfraz, he’s quick between the wickets and can score at a high strike-rate using both big hits and aggressive running between the wickets. That he can keep wickets makes him the perfect understudy to Sarfraz behind the stumps as well.

Youngsters like Rizwan, Imad Waseem and Anwar Ali, coupled with seniors like Ahmed Shehzad and Shoaib Malik have also made this current side probably the best fielding unit that Pakistan has ever had. There is exuberance among the fielders, with the attacking intent also visible when Pakistan take to the field.

Bowling, the traditional forte of Pakistan cricket, seems to have been bolstered by Yasir Shah transferring his Test form to the limited-overs as well. His 4-for in the 3^rd ODI means that he has formally replaced Saeed Ajmal as Pakistan’s leading spinner in all formats. Who would have thought that Pakistan would find someone to fill those boots so soon?

Mohammed Irfan continues to be a threat, and is being wisely used by Azhar in brief bursts. Rahat Ali is doing well in the absence of Wahab Riaz as well, with Shoaib Malik adding his value to the team by contributing with the ball in the absence of Hafeez’s 10 overs. That Wahab is to return and Mohammed Aamir potentially could be added to the team soon, should be a mouth-watering prospect for any Pakistani fan.

Despite the series win, Pakistan still need to win the tri-series in Zimbabwe featuring West Indies to be sure of qualification for the Champions Trophy in 2017. If the current performances are anything to go by, Pakistan could go into that tournament in England as one of the contenders.