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The Pakistan team are a happy bunch of cricketers. It’s such a good state of mind for the players to be in ahead of the big event. As we know, a management’s energy and precious time is mostly spent on keeping the team on track and making the dressing room a liveable place. With that worry over, Pakistan can look to focus on its cricket skills and express itself like never before. A healthy, peaceful dressing room environment is critical to the cause as it not only facilitates winning performance but also the will to rebound after a loss. We built that heavenly sanctuary in the 1992 World Cup which encouraged us to coexist peacefully, enjoy each others performance and learn to face adversity with dignity. Afridi’s men will have to create such a Shangri-La, a restful dwelling, to have a successful campaign in the World Cup.
People say we are the dark horse! The instability and unpredictability of our cricket in fact portrays us to be that fractious horse that, when kicked and bucked, can unseat its rider.
If unpredictability is part of our make-up then let us project it as strength and not a weakness. Let it play on the minds of the opposition. Fear of the unknown can be difficult to defeat. Admitting and owning to the tag can be good tactics: ignore us at your peril!
There are things to like about this team. They are catching the ball beautifully and look fit and fired up. The openers have remained engaged in laying solid floors for a platform and the all-rounders are capable to snatch the momentum swing.
The worrying bit is Younis and Misbah being yoked as a pair in the middle overs. It is high risk as they tend to slow down the tempo of the flow achieved by the top order. It’s true that at times they have looked promising in the run chase, but they can give you the shakes when setting up one.
The two when compared to the other teams’ middle order talent like Yuvraj and Raina, Bell and Morgan or Hussey and Clarke give you a feel of everydayness that opponents can tame. The duo need to be split with a buffing wheel in the shape of sharp Umar Akmal, who can infuse the mundane middle-order with a splash of unorthodoxy and aggression.
Bowling in the batting power play and at the death needs clarity and thought. Reactionary bowling to the charge causes confusion and frustration and possibly a loss. Every delivery length produces an angle off the bat. The more the variations, the more the angles to cover and the harder the task to stop the leakage of runs.
As long as you can keep it simple without becoming too predictable, chances are that you can cut your losses and go home without being maimed. Umar Gul can be a safe bet during such times, provided he shuts his mind to extravagant variations except for his trusted weapon — the yorker.
Pakistan are clearly a hot team in this race to the Cup. They will always have flair and fans on their side. If they can top it with method and passion, their run could be confidently smooth.
To win the ultimate prize, besides cricket heroics you need the lady luck to smile on you like she did on us in 1992. I wish I could give the team her number!
—The writer is a former Pakistan captain.
