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| "Shahid Afridi needs to loosen the shackles and lead with the passion, aggression, and guts that we all know he possess" © Getty Images |
The fact that Salman Butt has been Pakistan's best player in this Twenty20 World Cup tells its own sorry tale. Butt, one of the least suited to this format, has shown how playing to your strengths can be a recipe for success. Unfortunately, Butt's fellow batsmen have failed to match his discipline, shot selection, and skill
Pakistan are in a mess - it was ever thus - but this tournament feels much different to last year's when Pakistan had the right materials and just needed to be ignited. Some sympathy is due to the Pakistan management. Ijaz Butt's purge of top players and his dictatorial treatment of the selectors has meant that Shahid Afridi and Waqar Younis have been dealt a bum hand.
In these circumstances, Pakistan will do well to reach the semi-finals. Nonetheless, they will still fancy their chances of beating New Zealand, and must prefer to face South Africa at St Lucia rather than Barbados. The semi final dream isn't over yet.
If Pakistan are to progress, however, they need to address some critical issues:
1 Umar Gul's absence and Afridi's indifferent bowling form mean that Pakistan are looking short in the bowling department, their traditional strength. Is it worth dropping one of Mohammad Hafeez and Fawad Alam to accommodate another specialist bowler?
2 If Fawad is to play, what is the value of sending him at the fag end of an innings? Why not put him in earlier and allow others to hit around him?
3 Umar Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Afridi have a major responsibility in the middle order. They all need to learn something from Butt's judicious shot selection. All three have been culpable with dumb strokeplay and decision-making.
4 Pace has been important in Australia's performances in Barbados. Surely, the place to play Mohammad Sami is here?
5 Afridi's leadership in the field have been surprisingly docile and unreactive. Surprising because in the Twenty20 match in Australia he appeared dynamic. Perhaps that was down to the way he worked with Shoaib Malik? Whatever the reason, Afridi needs to loosen the shackles and lead with the passion, aggression, and guts that we all know he possess. When the going gets tough it's best to trust your instincts. This is a time for leadership, and Afridi can lead with bat, ball, or in the field.
Win or lose, it is too early to judge this new management combination, especially with the squad that was forced upon them. Pakistan have four knockout matches to play to retain their title. It looks improbable from here but New Zealand have helped Pakistan turn the corner before.
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/KamranAbbasi
Kamran Abbasi is an editor, writer and broadcaster. He tweets here
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© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Kamran Abbasi
Kamran Abbasi is an editor, writer and broadcaster. He was the first Asian columnist for Wisden Cricket Monthly and wisden.com. Kamran is the editor of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. @KamranAbbasi
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Hafeez has always been a good dsmeotic t20 player but I think the international game takes time to get used too..let's hope he handles things better in his second stint..he is a dedicated player which is a start..hopefully he'll keep mr sania out of the team!
Posted by Najam_khan on (May 25, 2010, 14:43 GMT)dont know when we will kick parchi system. new 20 pplz announced Shahid afridi, Salman Butt, imran farhat(big parchi), faisal Iqbal(big Parchi), Fawad alam(an other parchi)
Posted by Aki Shah on (May 12, 2010, 12:30 GMT)I am trying to find somewhere to voice my opinion, with wuite a few other Pakistani's who feel we have not chosen our best talent for this tournament (again).
HOW badly have we ruined a great talent, and why not at least bring him back to say we owe you an apology - Yasir Hameed the most gorgeous stroke player after Saeed Anwar
bring him back plz, he will do better than Misbah.
Posted by bismillah khan on (May 12, 2010, 7:21 GMT)imran nazir should play instead of khalid latif open with akmal..sami and asif should play instead of hafeez and fawad alam..if it happens pakistan unbeatable and once again t20 champions!!!!!!!!
Posted by Saeed on (May 10, 2010, 21:56 GMT)NOW THAT ENGLAND HAVE HELPED PAKISTAN TO SEMIS - THEY CAN STILL WIN IF THE DROP MISBAH
Posted by Mohammad Imran Ali on (May 10, 2010, 12:55 GMT)Till now what ever changes has been done by afridi did not worked.Its not question about the ability of Shahid Captaincy. its wounderful. but remember Pakistan is in the process of Repair work. so we should give some time to Afridi.NO one can be a super captain having such inconsistant team, it will take time that boys will understand the language of Afridi.
Posted by Mohammad Imran Ali on (May 10, 2010, 9:53 GMT)i dont agree with Some minor changes will work with Pakistan team. i think Senior Players are hiding behind the Junior Player. we have seen that Razzak has done good in top order in past so he should come a little bit earlier like at Number 3. Kamran Akmal is a good chioce in middle order as he is not fired on top order and in Past he has done good job down the order he can play good to Spinner can hit the ball hard when needed can stablized the inning in middle overs if wicket has fallen. umer akmal is still young to play solid and sensable inning at top order he may come at number 4 not at number .if Hafeez is not firing in top order get him down to Number 5 or 6. Shahid afridi may come at No.1 and should lead to the front and get some responsbility. but alot of changes may shatter the confidence of the Player. but giving more resoponsbilities to Seniors will lift the Pakistan mood. And after all lets Pray that these changes with in team may get some Good news to Pakistan team
Posted by www.aamedya.com on (May 9, 2010, 17:09 GMT)play from the front with courage and gutts rather then hide your best hitters till too late
Posted by Murtaza Moiz on (May 9, 2010, 14:42 GMT)I say Sri Lanka should win it this time, as they are the most deserving ones and the competent team in the tournament...
Posted by Murtaza Moiz on (May 9, 2010, 14:39 GMT)Why don't they give Abdul Rehman a fair chance, like they have given to Muhammad Sami and Muhammad Asif?