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

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

Dazed PCB select Rehman

The omnipresent confusion in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rose to new heights yesterday as, barely 24 hours after including Mohammad Irfan in the 15-man squad for the World Twenty20, the board decided to omit the tall fast-bowler and include left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman in his place.

Irfan, who is reportedly seven feet tall, has only played ten first-class matches and three Twenty20s but was surprisingly ‘selected’ by chief selector Mohsin Khan, coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi following injuries to Umer Gul and Yasir Arafat. The PCB media spokesperson Nadeem Sarwar was also present at the occasion but later produced a press release saying Irfan’s inclusion was not confirmed since the decision was not authorised by the chairman.

Rehman’s inclusion means Pakistan will now go into the tournament with four spinners – Saeed Ajmal, Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez and Rehman. Another member of the squad, Fawad Alam, too, bowls left-arm spin and Rehman’s inclusion – over-ruling the team management’s request in the form of Shahzaib Hasan – means that the entire squad now comprises players selected without the consent of the captain and the coach with neither happy over the snub.

However, according to the PCB Chairman, the decision was not taken to over-rule Afridi and Younis but was forced due to ICC’s rules and regulations.

“It wasn’t to hurt anyone’s egos or self-esteem,” Butt told The Express Tribune. “The decision was taken while considering ICC’s rule that no player outside of the initial 30-man squad could be selected for the tournament. “The change wasn’t made because it was assumed that Irfan was chosen without my permission. The ICC is very strict with its rule and it was essential to make the necessary replacement.”

In a similar circumstance last year, Abdul Razzaq was sent to England after Arafat’s injury in Pakistan’s first match of the tournament. Razzaq, who had severed ties with the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL) then, was fast-tracked into the national side without having being named in the 30-man squad.

The chief selector, too, backed Butt’s decision, saying Rehman was a good choice considering the type of pitches in the West Indies, while forgetting the moment of madness that he went through a day earlier.

“Rehman has been selected with the chairman’s approval,” said Khan. “Irfan was not selected by me but by the coach and the captain. I wanted to select Rehman in the first place considering how spinnerfriendly the pitches are in the West Indies and how successful he can be.”

According to sources in the PCB, Younis called up the chairman apologising for the act that led to the confusing scenario, citing unawareness of the ICC rules about replacing an injured player.

Khan also lauded Gul’s honesty and how the fast-bowler came out with the injury without hiding it and heading to the tournament half-fit. Gul, whose absence will be a massive blow for the defending champions, is the highest wicket-taker in Twenty20 internationals as well as being the top wicket-taker in the World Twenty20s in 2007 and 2009.

His accuracy and speed with the ball was a major component in Pakistan’s success at last year’s event. The services of Arafat, too, will be missed by Pakistan as he is the country’s most experienced Twenty20 international following his country and county commitments. Pakistan are due to launch their title-defence on May 1 against Bangladesh.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune, Apr 19, 2010

Pakistan cricket in familiar territory

Inadequate and rocky preparation for a major tournament, a cliché when it comes to the Pakistan cricket team and its ‘tried and tested’ method of going into yet another global event with the run-in marred by injuries, controversies and surprise inclusions.

Prior to the 2009 World Twenty20, Pakistan were termed mere participant, courtesy humiliation against an under-strength Australia, a new captain and an unwilling chief selector.

New faces were included for the gruelling trip and as the warm-ups were conceded without even a whimper, it all seemed dusted in still air. What followed, however, was a case of captivating resurgence and all was forgotten amid the hurrah.

Despite the promises and the omnipresent assurances, the boat rocks again for Pakistan cricket, weeks before their title defence. Eyebrows were raised when the newly-appointed selector gave his verdict early.

Salman Butt, awful with the bat and even worse in the field last year, keeps his place. Misbahul Haq, out of form and out of favour lately should have been out of reckoning.

Changes are likely only days prior to the team’s departure. Injuries have rocked Pakistan’s training camp as Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat look set to miss out. And if that was not enough to shake the camp, off-field worries have played a vital role in diverting undue attention from the preparations.

Shoaib Malik has been utilising his ‘time off’ aptly by claiming headlines while Mohammad Asif’s self inflicted headache, and a legal case against him, has given the team management an unwanted dilemma as the training camp gathers momentum.

Seven players from the squad that toured Australia were recently fined and banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The board, in a move that defies logic, also put an appeal process in place and as a consequence, the players – who alongwith their captain are currently involved in preparation for the World Twenty20 – are now also engulfed in an off-the-field battle with their own board.

Punishments, weddings, appeals, injuries and legal cases – Pakistan cricket sits in familiar territory.

There have been calls of using a psychologist to prepare the players mentally – a successful ploy introduced by former captain Younus Khan prior to the team’s departure last year.

The focus and the level of concentration needed for a global event is surely missing. And with the path the individuals have been taking lately, it seems that the dismal performance the team will take into the tournament in April is what they will be coming out with in May.

© Faras Ghani 2010

Published in The Express Tribune, Apr 14, 2010

Bowlers’ generosity with extras worries Intikhab

Despite a convincing win against arch-rivals India at the Centurion on Saturday, Pakistan’s coach Intikhab Alam remained wary of his side’s generosity with extras and reminded his bowlers not to repeat the mistakes against Australia on Wednesday.

Pakistan, who restricted the top-ranked ODI team India to 248 who were chasing 303, gave away 22 extras that included 11 wides and seven no-balls. Umar Gul, who was taken apart by the Indian batsmen while going wicketless, was guilty of over-stepping three times with the resulting freehits costing Pakistan 14 runs.

Intikhab, Pakistan’s coach, braved sunny and warm conditions during Pakistan’s three-hour long training session on Monday to ensure his bowlers did not cross the line. “In today’s cricket, it is a crime to bowl no-balls,” Intikhab said after the training session. “It’s not just the extra run and the ball, but also the freehit that the batsmen get which can cause problems. We are very strict about it and I position myself at the bowler’s end in the nets to make sure we limit over-stepping.

“At times, it’s the pressure on the bowler as well. Against India, for example, the bowlers stretched a little extra to deliver what was required off them but that’s not an excuse. There won’t be as much pressure on them against Australia so I hope we don’t make such mistakes again.”

Apart from the extras situation, Intikhab was content with his team’s performance that has seen them win all four matches on the tour so far. Playing back-to-back matches against the world’s top-ranked ODI team and reigning world champions, according to Intikhab, will help the players improve their skills.

“We are fully prepared for the Australians and will go into the match with a different strategy to the Indians. It’s always a challenge to play a better side and gives our players a chance to learn. Our team has tremendous potential as well as definite plan for every individual so that if things don’t go in our favour, there is a back-up that we can fall on in the field. The good thing, for us, is that we are peaking at the right time and the winning momentum is doing wonders to the players’ confidence levels.”

Intikhab also termed the availability of Mohammad Asif, eligible for selection after completing his 12-month ban last Wednesday, a healthy dilemma for the team management but admitted it was difficult to accommodate him in the starting eleven.

Asif, who could have made his comeback in Pakistan’s opening game against the West Indies, last represented Pakistan almost 18 months ago and was unable to participate in international or domestic cricket due to the ban. “His omission is actually a good thing for Pakistan cricket. It does give us a headache selecting teams but it’s difficult to omit someone who has been performing in order to accommodate him. Our selection policy is simple: you perform and you’ll make it to the final eleven and that, itself, is a challenge and incentive for our players to perform in every single match.”

Pakistan’s match against Australia at Centurion may be of significance depending on India’s performance against the same opponents. Pakistan lost a five-match ODI series against the world champions in the UAE earlier this year. With Australia hosting Pakistan for a Test and ODI series starting in December, Intikhab wants a clinical show on the field and has backed his spinners to cause plenty of problems.

“I won’t say they are vulnerable to spin but we do have two world-class spinners in our squad who gave the Australians plenty of problems in the UAE. They are very professional but playing Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi will be a challenge for them as well. We did well against them earlier, in a series we should’ve won. But we beat them in the Twenty20 and that was the start of good things for us.”

Saeed, with four wickets in the tournament so far, caused a few problems in April, an act he is hoping to repeat when the two sides meet again.

“The Australians don’t play spin particularly well which was obvious in the UAE,” Saeed said. “It was a good series for me and I was successful against them and that is exactly what I will be aiming to repeat on Wednesday. I’m particularly looking forward to bowling against Ricky Ponting, who I’ve never bowled to before, and am targeting his wicket more than anyone else’s.”

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, Sep 29, 2009