Pakistan in England: Team Assessment
Adeel Javed20-Apr-2001On a verdant Leicester outfield, a day or two ago, I had an opportunity to cheer for my university eleven but in very overcast condition. When you have a few spectators sitting on somewhat empty stands covered in blankets, you can be sure that cricket season in the country has started.Loughborough XI got bowled out for 73 in the second innings and along with boys I also had a sigh of relief. Not just because Daniel Marsh had his spinning finger working but more so because weather was unbearingly cold.Student opener Steve Selwood must be looking at his bat from all angles to have got out so cheaply in both innings but he surely has the technique and the temperament to go all the way. Anyway, that aside, it must be mentioned that Pakistanis will be greeted by somewhat similar conditions when they arrive here in two weeks time. I would therefore like to look at the selection of Pakistan team for this test series.Summer would hopefully be more settled by then but first couple of games could probably make it difficult for the youngsters. It therefore is pretty important that selectors pick those who have the experience and temperament to play in those conditions. Young guns in Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat and Shahid Afridi need to be kept in the bag for first half of the tour.Conditions may be much more suitable for them by the time second test knocks, but even then experience must be preferred over youth to win this all important series.With that in mind, Pakistan’s top order looks fragile and lacks proper experience. Inzamam, Youhana and Younis Khan are all capable middle order batsmen and would form the back-bone of Pakistani batting but selectors need to scratch their heads to find a special someone who could partner Saeed at top of the order. Abdur Razzaq did a splendid job in World Cup while batting at number 3. He again has the ability to do it with both bat and ball this time as well. But a more penetrative bowling line-up to me would probably consist of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mohammed Sami, Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq putting Razzaq’s place in jeopardy.Ijaz Ahmed might get the nod for opener’s slot but with Caddick and Gough feeling fresh after a deeply satisfying winter, their moving ball might cause problems for a batsman who is already over the hill. I can therefore identify it as a big grey area in Pakistan’s plans and would think twice before I put my money on someone. If I however were to hang my neck out and propose an opener, it would Mohammed Wasim. He has the temperament to bat on moving wickets as he has shown amply on tours to Australia and Zimbabwe before. But his recent form in domestic cricket and the fact that he has been away from international cricket for a very long time would count against him.On the other hand, a more adventurous approach from selectors might lead to greater rewards if they select both Imran Nazir and Imran Farhat in the lucky fifteen. Former should signs of maturity with a century in West Indies and can be let free in side games to test his potential.Moving on to wicket-keeper’s berth, it has to be noticed that Rashid Latif is not the most fancied man within the team for seniors to call for his inclusion. But does have a more defensive and wary batting style that I believe would be better suited (than that of Moin) to conditions that Pakistanis will face in tests. As he showed with a beautifully crafted 98 against Griqualand West on Pakistan’s last tour to South Africa. I would therefore call for his inclusion but only for tests.Contrary to the general opinion I still think that a wrist spinner might have a role to play in early English summer and that could add weight to Kaneria’s claim in the test squad. By all intents and purposes however bowling department is heavily equiped with even Abdur Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood looking set to act as backups. Therefore Mushtaq Ahmed needs not to be taken with the side, his young replacement Kaneria on the other hand might find accompanying the seniors, a useful learning experience to get to grips with English conditions for future assignments.Although he has a conventional bowling action with not much variety, he has the turn and deceptively quick pace on which he can build on to learn the deep tricks of the trade. If PCB can organise a coaching stint by Abdul Qadir for the young man, it could be very beneficial for the future of Pakistan cricket as hardly any quality leg-spinner in the country seems to be in the queue to make it to the team at present time.To round up, as I mentioned in my previous article, Waqar seems to have the aggression and chrisma to lead this young outfit. Most of these current players including Shoaib Akhtar have been brought up watching him with wistful eyes on television and that adds to his ability to have a complete hold on this side, just like Imran had in eighties. Coupled with his tendency to teach and inspire youngsters, he can surely form a formidable pair with Javed Maindad after English series to prepare a team for 2003 if senior players like Saeed Anwar, Wasim Akram, Moin Khan and Ijaz Ahmed are to be told to leave the international stage after the tour, as has been reported in the media.A final word, English bug has been overrated in last two-three months. They are a resurgent side but man to man, Pakistan has more talent and experience to have the final party. Pakistan’s bowling is sufficiently equipped to deal with their batsmen but our own batsmen need to play patiently, infact very patiently to post respectable totals in mid 200s to give the bowlers a fair chance.