Pakistan will seek inspiration from the stirring triumph of Imran Khan’s marauding men down under in 1992. The image of the charismatic skipper holding aloft the World Cup still lingers.
Imran was driven by this wonderful desire to build a cancer hospital in memory of his mother. The prize money won from the competition was used for a noble cause.
The purity of thought behind that astonishing conquest comes as a sharp contrast to the times we live in now, the game becoming increasingly commercial.
As the World Cup moves to Australia and New Zealand 23 years later, Misbah-ul-Haq’s team will enter the competition in the Antipodes with a sense of hope.
The raw talent in the Pakistani side has never been in question. This is an explosive side with game-changing players. The team also has a tendency to implode.
Misbah might not be as influential as Imran but is a quietly efficient captain who has managed to turn things around for Pakistan after the team was enveloped in the spot-fixing cloud. He will comprehend the need to start the tournament well to achieve momentum that is so crucial in competitions such as the World Cup.
Winning brings confidence and confident teams win more. This is precisely why Pakistan’s much-anticipated, high-voltage clash with India in Adelaide on February 15 holds such significance. A victory – this would also enable Pakistan break the World Cup jinx against India – could instil a truckload of belief in the side.
Much will depend on how Pakistan adapts to the conditions in Australia and New Zealand. When the ball moves around, the side’s batting has proved vulnerable.
It is here that the experience of Younis Khan and Misbah could prove crucial. Younis has the technical expertise and the range of strokes to build monuments. If he finds form, the innings could revolve around
this veteran.
Remarkably fit at 40, Misbah is a composed batsman who has this precious ability to come good in crunch situations.
In Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad, Pakistan has fluent top-order batsmen who can make use of the early Power Play overs. However their defensive skills could be tested if the ball bounces and darts around.
Apart from putting their foot on the accelerator, they will also need to prevent the opposition from making early inroads.
There is no dearth of ability in this line-up. Umar Akmal is a thumping striker of the ball. And Sarfraz Ahmed is a fine ‘keeper and a strokeful batsman in the lower middle-order.
Then there is the mercurial Shahid Afridi. He can still dismiss the sphere ruthlessly to distant corners of the ground or bowl his leg-spinners with telling precision.
But then, Afridi will miss the versatility of Saeed Ajmal’s off-spin from the other end in the middle overs. Can young leg-spinner Yasir Shah – his trajectory is different from that of Afridi – fill the void?
Under the circumstances, it is not surprising that Pakistan is making a last-ditch attempt to get Hafeez’s action cleared by the ICC. His off-spin has been of immense value to Pakistan.
The injury to left-arm paceman Junaid Khan is a blow to Pakistan. His replacement Rahat Ali, though, is a capable left-arm seamer.
In the Antipodes, the beanpole Mohammad Irfan could be a handful with his pace and lift. In a line-up of left-arm pacemen – the lively Wahab Riaz is another bowler of this breed – Pakistan will miss the injured Umar Gul’s toe-crushers at the death.
The use of two Kookaburra balls in an innings could adversely impact the Pakistan attack that has traditionally relied on reverse swing and spin.
If the ball does not reverse, Pakistan’s bowling in the end overs could be hurt.
Situations throw up heroes. In ’92, the gifted Inzamam-ul-Haq arrived on the world stage. Who will it be this time around for Pakistan?
SWOT
STRENGTHS: The ability to defeat any team in the competition on a given day is the side’s biggest strength. When in mood, this is a dangerous outfit with a bunch of dynamic cricketers. There is no dearth of stroke-makers in the side. The side also possesses match-winners, whether it is Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan or Umar Akmal.
This is a team that can make savage onslaughts on opposition bowling. Left-arm paceman Mohammad Irfan, standing at an imposing 7’1”, has it in him to strike telling blows. And leg-spinner Yasir Shah may emerge as a star bowler, particularly on the large Australian grounds.
WEAKNESSES: Pakistan can play with fierce passion, often bucking the odds. Yet, this is a team that has a tendency to cave in. The meek capitulation on several big occasions in the past has hurt the team’s
image, disappointed its supporters. The natural stroke-makers from Pakistan have been found out too in swinging, seaming conditions.
Lateral movement with bounce has often led to Pakistani collapses. The pace attack lacks experience and is predominantly left-armed. There is an element of predictability about it. Bowling in the death overs might be an issue. And Pakistan, in all probability, will be without its talismanic off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. This Pakistan attack could be stretched.
OPPORTUNITIES: The format of the tournament is such that this World Cup, like the one before, is virtually three-match competition – the quarterfinal, the semifinal and the final – for the leading sides. In a group consisting of South Africa, India, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan should fancy its chances of making the last eight. Then, it is a question of peaking at the right time. In the knockout games, Pakistan is feared because of its unpredictability. The side’s volatility can derail more fancied sides.
THREATS: The Pakistanis could be wary of the past coming back to haunt it. The memory of going down to Ireland in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean is a rather tragic one for the side. Its coach Bob Woolmer was found dead in his hotel bathroom the next day. Yet another defeat at the hands of India in the competition too will not do the side’s morale any good, considering it will be the first match of the competition for Pakistan. The team has also been undone by internal discords in the days gone by. Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq will have to guard against it. Fitness of its leading players will be a worry. Paceman Mohammad Irfan is particularly injury-prone.
STARWATCH: SHAHID AFRIDI: Right-hand batsman & leg-spinner
He brings the X-factor to the side. Shahid Afridi can change the course of matches in a matter of a few overs. This Pathan is a clear and present danger to the opposition. Years have passed but Afridi’s game-enthusiasm has not dimmed a tad. His skills have largely remained intact. He is still the ‘Boom Boom’ Afridi who can send the spectators in the stands moving for cover. And he can bound in with his leg-spin, dismissing batsmen or containing them with trademark bounce and an element of turn. His searing intensity often unsettles the opponents. These match-winners…they come rare.
PREDICTION: Should make the quarterfinals. Has the potential to progress beyond that stage.
FIXTURES
Feb 15, vs India, Adelaide
Feb 21, vs West Indies, Christchurch
March 1, vs Zimbabwe, Brisbane
March 4. vs UAE. Napier
March 7, vs South Africa, Auckland
March 15, vs Ireland, Adelaide
SQUAD
Name: Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt)
Style: RH batsman
Age: 40
Matches: 155
Runs: 4772
Average: 42.99
Win-loss: 41-36
Age: 23
Matches: 58
Runs: 1985
Average: 34.82
Wickets: 2
Average: 70.00
Name: Ahmed Shehzad
Style: RH bat & leg-spinnerAge: 23
Matches: 58
Runs: 1985
Average: 34.82
Wickets: 2
Average: 70.00
Name: Ehsan Adil
Style: RA seamer
Age: 21
Matches: 4
Runs: 12
Average: 6.00
Wickets: 2
Average: 80.50
Name: Haris Sohail
Style: LH bat & LA slow
Age: 26
Matches: 11
Runs: 309
Average: 34.33
Wickets: 6
Average: 46.66
Name: Mohammad Hafeez
Style: RH bat & off-spinner
Age: 34
Matches: 155
Runs: 4542
Average: 31.10
Wickets: 122
Average: 35.02
Name: Mohammad Irfan
Style: LA fast
Age: 32
Matches: 40
Runs: 40
Average: 4.44
Wickets: 57
Average: 29.92
Name: Rahat Ali
Style: LA fast
Age: 26
Matches: 1
Runs: 0
Average: NA
Wickets: 0
Average: NA
Name: Sarfraz Ahmed
Style: WK & RH bat
Age: 27
Matches: 36
Runs: 473
Average: 23.65
Catches: 30
Stumpings: 10
Name: Shahid Afridi
Style: RH bat & leg-spinner
Age: 34
Matches: 391
Runs: 7948
Average: 23.58
Wickets: 393
Average: 33.96
Name: Sohaib Maqsood
Style: RH batsman
Age: 27
Matches: 18
Runs: 572
Average: 35.75
Wickets: 0
Average: NA
Name: Sohail Khan
Style: RA medium
Age: 30
Matches: 5
Runs: 4
Average: 4.00
Wickets: 6
Average: 33.16
Name: Umar Akmal
Style: RH bat & WK
Age: 24
Matches: 104
Runs: 2749
Average: 35.24
Catches: 65
Stumpings: 13
Name: Wahab Riaz
Style: LA fast & RH bat
Age: 29
Matches: 47
Runs: 326
Average: 12.07
Wickets: 61
Average: 32.09
Name: Yasir Shah
Style: Leg-spinner
Age: 28
Matches: 1
Runs: 0
Average: NA
Wickets: 2
Average: 25.50
Name: Younis Khan
Style: RH bat & RH medium /
Legbreak
Age: 37
Matches: 261
Runs: 7197
Average: 31.56
Wickets: 3
Average: 96.00
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