Younus, Yousuf absence will help us: Hussey

Australian batsman Michael Hussey has termed the absence of Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf a blessing for Australia and predicted it will be difficult for Pakistan to post big scores as a result.

Hussey, Pakistan’s destroyer-in-chief in their World Twenty20 title-defence, praised Pakistan’s bowling attack but said the opposition will be heavily tested in the first Test at Lord’s that starts tomorrow.

“I think whatever happened in Australia at the start of the year is history as both teams will start afresh come the first Test,” said Hussey following Australia’s training session at Lord’s yesterday. “They’re playing with confidence now but will be heavily tested especially given they’re without Younus and Yousuf, two outstanding and classy players.

“It’s a big loss and it’ll be very, very hard for Pakistan to find those runs that they scored, especially in Test cricket.”

Australia, following their loss in the final of the 2010 World Twenty20 to England, have not had the best of times since arriving in England. The World Champions lost the One-Day International series against the hosts 3-2 before being whitewashed in the two-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan. Hussey, however, remained confident of an improved performance in the longer format of the game.

“Traditionally, we’re slow starters in England. We’ve been a bit scratchy but now we’ve been here for a month and should be accustomed to the conditions.”

Wary of a transformed Pakistan side, Hussey labelled their bowling attack as the key to success in the series together with the confidence attained from winning the Twenty20s.

“They have the confidence and really outplayed us and seem to have that winning belief.”

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 12, 2010

Afridi’s approach the ingredient: Shafqat

Following a run of 12 consecutive losses – and shouts of conspiracy, disharmony and infighting complemented aptly by dropped catches and missed runouts – Pakistan’s remarkable turnaround against Australia, albeit in Twenty20 internationals, is courtesy the reformed individual that is Shahid Afridi, as gallantly put forward by the team management.

A mere team member during the attrition in Australia, Afridi had no role to play in Test matches and the one-off Twenty20 but promised much with the bat and ball in hand – and ball in mouth – in the One-Day Internationals (ODI). However, according to the team’s associate manager Shafqat Rana, Afridi, now the team captain, has had a huge role in the current reversal and it has been his zealous approach that has helped the team deliver the results despite the lack of experience in the side.

“We don’t have big names in the team any more,” Rana told The Express Tribune in Birmingham following the Twenty20 series-win. “However, now is the time that we’re creating big names of the future. We’re performing, winning and keeping confident. And most of this is down to Afridi’s captaincy. His approach has made all the difference and this is the main difference from the tour of Australia to now.”

Lack of options promoted Afridi

Afridi was appointed captain of all three formats prior to the 2010 World Twenty20 where Pakistan’s title-defence faltered in the semi-final against Australia. Rana agreed that the decision was more due to lack of options but added that the board and the team management had entrusted Afridi with responsibilities that has helped him nurture his game as well.

“In school, you make the naughtiest boy the class monitor. We did the same with Afridi and given the responsibility, he’s become a changed man. You see him leading from the front, backing up his bowlers after each delivery and actually using his brains.

“The management has given him total freedom. In selection committee meetings, if he wants to play an individual and even if the rest disagree, Afridi gets to have his say since he’ll be leading the team on the field. However, he understands what is required of him and never makes unjust requests.”

With the changes at the helm, Rana believed Pakistan had the capacity to become the force they once were and flee the nadir and mediocrity of seven months ago. “Australia is the best team in the world. Our losses were a thing of the past. This is a new chapter, a new part of history that we’ve created.”

Patience key in Tests

However, in a similar manner to the captain and coach Waqar Younis, Rana remained apprehensive going into the two-match Test series, especially given the short changeover time between the two formats on the tour.

“The shorter the format becomes, the better we’ll get because we simply don’t have much patience. We’ll go out and start hitting from the third over. Six back-to-back Tests will test our patience. It’s a huge challenge ahead of us.”

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 11, 2010

Clarke wary of Pakistan's pace

Australia may have lost back-to-back Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan but according to their Twenty20 captain and Test vice-captain Michael Clarke, his team’s worries against Pakistan’s pace attack will persist in the forthcoming two-match Test series.

While Pakistan’s fast-bowlers – Mohammad Aamer, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq and the returning Umar Gul – took 10 out of the 20 wickets to fall, it was the speed and the movement that worried the Australian batsmen at either end of their innings.

“Pakistan’s bowling has been outstanding and we can learn a lot from them from the way they bowled, especially at the death,” said Clarke after the 2-0 series-loss in Birmingham. “They are a tough opposition in the Test matches because of their bowling attack.”

Clarke singled out Gul, who returned to the squad after missing Pakistan’s defence of the World Twenty20 title they won in England last year and the Asia Cup, as a major difference between the two sides.

“Gul was simply outstanding. Pakistan’s always had a lot of talent but if you compare this team with the one that was in the West Indies, I think it’s good for them to have Gul back. Death-bowling is an art and it’s remarkable the way he bowled.”

Pakistan will go into the Test series with high hopes following the twin victories. However, with a 3-0 whitewash in Australia taking place earlier this year, and the repercussions, coach Waqar Younis met the Twenty20 wins with caution and guarded praise, reminding his players of the job ahead.

“Consecutive wins will definitely help the team and the momentum they take into the series but its still early days and Test cricket is an entirely different ball-game,” said Younis. “We’ve not lost that many series in England so that gives us confidence going into the series.”

Shahid Afridi will lead Pakistan in the Test matches after not playing in this format of the game for almost four years. Despite that, Younis remained confident of Afridi’s ability to perform.

“He’s very talented and aggressive. And that’s what you need. He hasn’t captained at this level before and hasn’t even played Test cricket for a while. It won’t be easy for him but he’s mentally very strong. And that will help him and the team.”

With these wins, Pakistan have forced Australia to take notice, despite the brutality witnessed at the start of the year. “Pakistan are a very good side in all three formats of the game,” added Clarke. “You have to be at your best when you play an opposition like that. Otherwise, you’ll simply get beaten.”

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 8, 2010

'Young players need time'

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has refused to make tall claims for the upcoming Test series against Australia despite his team’s encouraging start to the tour of England that has seen his team win two warm-up Twenty20s and end their 12-match losing streak against Australia on Monday.

Pakistan won the first of the back-to-back Twenty20s by 23 runs after a series of losses against the same opposition with the latest being the three-wicket loss in the 2010 World Twenty20 semi-final at St Lucia.

However, with Pakistan missing several senior figures including Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan and out-of-form Misbahul Haq, Afridi urged the supporters not to expect miracles from the young side.

“Experience counts in these conditions and I knew I’d need Yousuf and Younus here in England but they couldn’t be part of the team for various reasons,” Afridi told The Express Tribune. “Since we don’t have them, we now need to work with the youngsters we’ve been given and I hope they put up a good show.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have enough talent when it comes to choosing players for Test matches. We have players for Twenty20s and One-Day Internationals (ODIs), they have the talent for the shorter formats but not for Test matches. However, they’ve performed on the domestic level and for the ‘A’ teams so now it’s up to them to show the team management and the selectors what they have and if we can count on them for the future.”

The squad will be joined by Zulqarnain Haider, Tanvir Ahmed, Azhar Ali, Yasir Hameed, Mohammad Asif, Imran Farhat and Danish Kaneria for the Test matches with the captain adamant that separate teams for the Test matches is the way forward for Pakistan.

“We have planned for the future keeping the schedule and the World Cup in mind. I don’t want the same teams for all formats of the game as we should have at least three to four different members for the Tests from the team that played the Twenty20s.”

With Pakistan playing six back-to-back Test matches against Australia and hosts England, there was a sense of relief in the Pakistan camp following the 23-run win in the first Twenty20.

Often, according to Afridi, the team would arrive at a winning position only to lose the grip on the match and end up second best.

“We’ve been close to beating Australia on quite a few occasions. However, it’s a huge relief and a confidence boost to finally cross that hurdle and start the tour with a win. The team wanted the win and people had been acting surprised that we lose the way this often against Australia.

“It’s a great achievement to beat one of the top teams in any competition and I think it sets the tone well for the rest of the tour.”

Pakistan will now take on English county side Leicestershire in a two-day match at Leicester before returning to London for the first Test match that starts from July 13.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 7, 2010

'Memories will not help players'

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed has reminded his players not to dwell upon memories of the team’s triumphant 2009 World Twenty20 campaign in England and to take on Australia with an attacking frame of mind.

Saeed, who was Pakistan’s manager when the team, under the captaincy of Younus Khan, lifted the trophy last June, also urged his players, especially the youngsters, to forget Pakistan’s dismal record against Australia of late and ensure the team gets back to it’s winning ways.

“This is a game, someone wins and someone loses and there’s no point in keeping past wins and losses in your mind,” Saeed told The Express Tribune prior to Pakistan’s first Twenty20 match against Australia.

“You can’t keep thinking about statistics. It doesn’t help. We won the 2009 World Twenty20 right here in England and we haven’t fared that well against Australia recently. It’s useless to think about either when going into this fresh series.”

Pakistan has struggled against Australia, often striding itself into winning positions with a burst but only to end up second best as their struggle to finish off the match continues. With a whitewash in Australia and twin losses in the 2010 World Twenty20, Saeed reckons the current team has what it takes to turn the tables.

“We’re in a process of rebuilding. We have some new players, some returning players and a new captain for the Tests. The bans and the struggles are now history. We have to start afresh, start a new chapter and hopefully our performance graph will go up.

“We’re going in with a plan which is to win. We’ve come here to win and that’s how we started the tour and that’s how we want to start this series too.”

Saeed, who left the post following Pakistan’s exit at the hands of New Zealand in the Champion’s Trophy last year, was reappointed as the team’s manager following the tour of Australia.

“I know I said I wanted to stop touring but the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman brought me back. He’s a good friend of mine and I can’t say no to him.

But the important thing is that I get along with the players and they get along with me. As long as that’s happening, I’m sure the chairman will be happy too.”

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 6, 2010

Pakistan look for change in fortunes

For a team that has been completely mauled against Australia in the last 12 months, Pakistan, unsurprisingly, look confident as they take on their nemesis in the first of the back-to-back Twenty20 internationals at Edgbaston today.

The whitewash and its repercussions, on and off the field, are still etched onto the players’ and the fans’ minds but captain Shahid Afridi, who has recovered from the minor muscle strain suffered in a tour match, knows fully well what his team is capable of.

“It’s a pressure game against Australia but I’m confident as we have always given them a tough time,” said Afridi on the eve of the match. “We’ve been playing well and with the combination that we have, I’m confident of defeating Australia. Even they’re aware of the fact that we’ve given them some difficult times and that’s why it’ll be an interesting series.”

With a 50 per cent winning ratio in Twenty20 internationals, following their 2009 World Twenty20 triumph – six wins and six losses – Pakistan will look to welcome back Umar Gul, the highest wicket-taker in the format. With Gul, Afridi will have a star-studded bowling lineup comprising Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Aamer and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.

“Bowling is definitely our main weapon. Akhtar’s here to play Twenty20 so he’s always going to play but with Gul’s return, our bowling has become stronger. We have young batsmen though but I feel we can overcome that soon.”

Pakistan has started the tour well – T20 wins against MCC XI and Essex aptly complemented by a commendable three-day outing against Northamptonshire. The batsmen, including opener Shahzaib Hasan – confined to international wilderness following a successful debut last year – have adapted to conditions quickly and Afridi’s quick-fire 13-ball 42 against Northamptonshire reminded everyone of his exploits in England last year.

However, memories of Michael Hussey effortlessly depositing Saeed Ajmal into the stands will still be fresh with both sides and Pakistan would want to take a leaf out of England’s book if they want to make an impression against the reigning One-Day International (ODI) World Champions. England, after a stuttering start to the 2010 World Twenty20, went on to beat Australia in the final and registered a 3-2 ODI series-win against the same opposition.

Despite the series-loss, Australia, courtesy its fast-bowlers, remain a potent force. And Afridi made it clear what is required of his team.

“Winning or losing is part of the game but what I want from my team is performance. If they deliver a good show and even then we lose, I’ll be satisfied despite the loss. It’s the performance that matters.”

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 5, 2010

Look beyond the goal-line

While many believe that the disallowed goal proved to be the turning point of the dismal last-16 thumping, it remained a lucky incident for England.

The ball may have landed a foot, or two, behind the goal-line, but England’s defence, or midfield and attack, were left stranded miles from what their followers expected from a top-10 side in the 2010 World Cup. And that goal, briefly, bore the brunt of the supporters’ fury.

Three goals from four mat-ches from a line-up boasting Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Jermaine Defoe. All four, injuries permitting, had played a pivotal role in their clubs’ performance in the Premier League. For the global event, they failed to get started. While Lampard and Gerrard reminded Capello how there is no space in the eleven for both of them, Rooney again suffered tournament-blues and his trickery for the Red Devils became a distant memory.

As Capello termed the referee’s blunder “one of the biggest mistakes”, Robert Green’s blooper in England’s tournament-opener sparked a sorry start to a woeful campaign. Although David James restored sanity, the record-loss against Germany, was marred by deplorable defending.

Former captain John Terry, England’s wall in the absence of captain Rio Ferdinand, was simply poor. Often concerned with attacking, he regularly lost his men and was found ahead of Rooney and Gerrard as England backtracked in the event of a counter-attack.

How Capello would have wished for a fully-fit David Beckham, donning the England red and not the grey team-suit at the flanks, too, failed to deliver with pin-point accuracy and the corners fell unutilised.

A team looking shaky on arrival courtesy off-the-field controversies looked severely vulnerable and off the mark as the tournament progressed. In the end, a tearful Beckham, remonstrating with the referee, and the score-line was an apt reflection of how over-rated, lacklustre and un-penetrative England really were.

© Faras Ghani 2010.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2010

Pakistan’s street cricket taken up a level

Pakistan’s success, or lack of it, in the cricketing world has always been attributed to the power of the streets, their influence and the time spent on them by aspiring cricketers polishing their trade.

With a majority confined to the streets rather than prepared pitches in club surroundings, the younger years, in slippers and shalwar kamiz, with a bat and taped tennis ball, often shape the individual’s future.

Late to embrace but quick to adapt, Pakistan’s streets are as much creditworthy for the diadem as is the short duration of the format itself.

As a street cricketer, you aspire to be the fastest, the strongest and the one leading your side to victory in every match you take on the field. Bowl fast, hit hard and scramble — the key to success on the streets. But as kids, you often wonder how fast your bowling is, how that particular delivery would measure up against Shoaib Akhtar or if your winning six was hit further than Shahid Afridi’s brutal assault against Muttiah Muralitharan.

You see the pitch-map on television, be amazed at the brutality of a particular batsman or sit in awe at how Mohammad Asif can pitch the ball in the same place regularly. You dream of playing cricket just so that you could know how fast you are or to be able to grab bragging rights for the furthest hit.

As a street cricketer, such things seem a dream. With the Sprite Cricket Next challenge, they become reality.

“This is no talent hunt, we’re not promising the next Javed Miandad to come from this setup,” Bassam Qureshi, junior brand manager Sprite, told The Express Tribune. “All we know is that gali [street] cricket is what matters to these kids and we’re here to take it to the next level.”

The level has brought street crickets on par with their international counterparts with facilities even club cricketers do not witness at home or abroad. To have your bowling speed measured, to check how far that last hit was, speed off the bat, where each delivery pitched, how fast it was and to win cricket bats at the end, is a level unprecedented for individuals still in their early teens.

“Gali cricket is a form of cricket that is often neither recognised nor supported despite being the most played form,” said Rizwan Khan, Coca-Cola’s Country Manager. “With this effort, we’re giving the raw talent present in neighbourhoods, schools and grounds across Pakistan an opportunity to showcase their talent.”

The programme will visit seven cities across Pakistan and will culminate in a grand finale in Dubai where Pakistan’s fastest and strongest street cricketers will showcase their talent.

For some, it will be a dream come true. For the rest, the street-mad cricketers, being part of the programme and to be able to say “I’m faster than Abdul Razzaq” is prize enough.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2010

Hussey leads the great revival

With 48 required off the last 18 balls of the match, the entire Australian dug-out gave a resigned look, one that is seldom – almost never – associated with the masters of the game and has not been seen on their faces for a long, long time.

The dejection clearly showed, the gloom omnipresent and the heads in their hands. It seemed almost destined, unbelievable even, that Pakistan will go through to their third successive World Twenty20 final – after becoming the only team to have featured in the semi-finals of all four ICC events since World Cup 2007. The earlier humiliation against Australia was forgotten, the spills against England forgiven and the complacency against New Zealand overlooked. The nation was sitting planning their Sunday evening.In a similar manner to last year, the men in green had saved their best for the best, had performed on the day and the resemblance to the cornered tigers of 1992 was being relived. Undeserving, underperforming and terribly lucky, Pakistan had both feet in the final, even a hand on the winning trophy which was touted as their excess baggage on the way home yet again.

This, according to all but Michael Hussey.

An innings with a subdued start, playing second fiddle to Cameron White via innocuous singles and bland nudges, did not have the legs to last but end in a whimper for a side that should have ended second best.

However, the innings first annoyed Pakistan, it then alarmed them and as the winning hit was deposited over long-on, it left the defending champions aghast, and out of the competition.

No change of angles, no disguised doosras and certainly no rocketing asking-rate managed to hold Hussey back or even drag his cause down. Pakistan’s complacency in the second half of the innings, where singles and doubles were gifted and boundaries were gladly met with a smile by Shahid Afridi, came back to bite them and confine them to bystanders’ status as 53 came off the last 17 deliveries.

By the time Pakistan, and its millions of fans and followers, realised what had hit them, the Australian dug-out gave a deserted look – they were all celebrating in the middle.

Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in the tournament, and often Australia’s nemesis in the past, presented a traumatised look, mauled by the Hussey aggression in a show of brutality that probably surpasses numerous, if not all, cameos witnessed in the shortest format of international cricket.

Twenty-four deliveries – nine of those bringing 48 runs – was all that Hussey took to shatter Pakistan’s hopes but in the space of the 38 minutes that he spent at the crease, he, defying odds and predictions, stamped Australia’s authority over mankind.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2010

Title-defence riding on history

A sense of déjà vu prevails as Pakistan finds itself in exactly the same situation at the World Twenty20, as June 2009.

Needing to win four matches on the trot to lift the 2009 World Twenty20 following a miserable tournament courtesy dropped catches and poor fielding, Pakistan face New Zealand today in a must-win situation for both sides. England’s first win of the tournament, and Pakistan’s second consecutive defeat, has the defending champions fighting for survival, knowing fully well that a repeat of the dismal show against England will be curtains for their title-defence.

Stats favour Pakistan

While the head-to-head certainly favours Pakistan, having won all four Twenty20 internationals played between the two sides, the defending champions are missing their star performer from the rout of New Zealand at The Oval last year. On that day, the Kiwis were bundled out for 99 with Umar Gul taking a world-record five for six in his three overs.

Worrying sight for Pakistan

Today, Pakistan has no Gul and no worthy replacements. Mohammad Sami, who started the tournament well, was hammered by the Australians. Mohammad Asif, who was surprisingly overlooked for the first two matches, looked out of sorts and was duly thrashed as well. With Abdul Razzaq, who made his international comeback in the corresponding fixture last year, faring no better against England, lack of support for Mohammad Aamer poses a huge worry.

New Zealand’s new hero

While the Kiwis have had troubles at the top of the order with Brendon McCullum, the recalled Jessie Ryder has proved his worth as his partner with knocks of 42 and 33. However, the younger McCullum, Nathan, has stolen his older brother’s limelight with consecutive man-of-the-match awards in New Zealand’s opening two matches. A timely maximum off the penultimate ball in the tournament- opener sealed the result in favour of New Zealand against last year’s finalists and regular breakthroughs while opening the bowling ensured the Kiwis’ progress.

The missing captain

While much hype and promise followed Shahid Afridi’s appointment as Pakistan Twenty20 captain, the man himself has been quiet ever since the team’s arrival in the West Indies. Bar a quickfire 33 in a losing cause against Australia, Afridi only has a slight tan to show for his efforts in the West Indies. A single wicket in three matches is not what Afridi would have hoped for in his first tournament as captain. Nor was his suicidal dismissal against England. Needless to say, Afridi, like the team itself, needs to play video tapes from their triumphant journey through England.

Styris substitutes for Bond

Shane Bond missed last year’s tournament due to his involvement with the now-defunct Indian Cricket League. His inclusion in this year’s tournament, at the back of fiery spells against all oppositions carried the Kiwis’ hopes. However, two wickets from four matches, the fast-bowler is already behind medium pacer Scott Styris whose handy cameos with the bat have proved useful.

All-round performance

With five wickets opening the bowling for New Zealand and knocks of 16* and 26*, Nathan McCullum has moulded into a handy allrounder in the tournament. Daniel Vettori, the side’s premier spinner, has only picked up two wickets thus making Nathan’s feat all the more remarkable.

Under-pressure captain

The captaincy, it seems, has gotten to Shahid Afridi. Eager to lead his side from the front, Afridi has not just adapted bizarre tactics on the field but has been unable to cope with the demands of performing as a captain. A hurricane 33 is the highlight of his tournament which has brought him a solitary wicket so far.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune, May 8, 2010