Kamran Abbasi
Will to win in rare supply
As another dismal chapter closes on Pakistan's senior tour of Australia, another exciting one is about to start for the U19s
Kamran Abbasi
25-Feb-2013
As another dismal chapter closes on Pakistan's senior tour of Australia, another exciting one is about to start for the U19s. There have been few redeeming features of Pakistan's cricket since the failure in the Sydney Test, and Mohammad Yousuf's deluded assertion that his team have performed better than teams of the past is a hollow boast.
The evidence to disprove him has beamed to every corner of the globe. Unfortunately, Yousuf's dread philospohies have alarmed supporters and undoubtedly infected his troops. Mohammad Yousuf's Pakistan have lacked the will to win. They have settled for second best and been content in their failure.
Across the Tasman Sea, a young Pakistan side has shown how the exact opposite attitude can help you exceed expectations. Pakistan U19s may not even be one of the top two teams in the tournament but their spirit, as epitomised by Hammad Azam, has been refreshing. For demonstrating such will to win, Hammad deserves his opportunity in the Twenty20 against the senior Australian team.
Nobody expected Pakistan to beat Australia in the Tests or One-Day Series but the manner of defeat has been unacceptable. Pakistan's consistent success at U19 level over the last decade and more is testament to the talent in the pipeline. What happens in senior cricket that squanders that potential?
Full postConspiracy of silence
Not a single Pakistan cricketer has attracted a bid in the IPL auction
Kamran Abbasi
25-Feb-2013
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Not a single Pakistan cricketer has attracted a bid in the IPL auction. Can this be genuine? Lalit Modi doesn't see anything strange in it, others haven't attracted bids either he says. But which other country with Pakistan's track record in Twenty20 cricket has been blanked?
Let's examine the facts. The current crop of Pakistan players were among the winners of the 2009 World Twenty20 and finalists in the previous one. Lahore Badshahs won the ICL. Pakistan cricketers featured prominently and influentially in the inaugral IPL tournament, and they are some of the best Twenty20 players in the world. Shahid Afridi, at the very least, is a star attraction.
The facts, Mr Modi, don't fit with your explanation. Why were Pakistan players put through the charade of entering the auction when they were to be boycotted by the franchises? Undoubtedly, politics are in play and Pakistan's cricketers are pawns in the South Asian game of battle chess.
Full postFew lessons learned, plenty of homework
Pakistan have been taught much over the last two tours, particularly by a professional Australian team, but they have learned little
Kamran Abbasi
25-Feb-2013
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Mohammad Yousuf wants to learn how to captain. Intikhab Alam wants his players, especially the seniors, to learn from their failures. Pakistan's emphasis on learning is admirable, but it is also baffling. A learning culture does not exist in the Pakistan team, an excuse culture does. In fact, the calls for learning sound like just another excuse to deflect criticism from the leadership and management of the Pakistan team.
Pakistan have been taught much over the last two tours, particularly by a professional Australian team, but they have learned little. The mistakes are the same and the captaincy no better. The same problems that existed before the New Zealand tour still exist today. No progress in the areas of concern.
Have Pakistan learned who should partner Salman Butt? No. Have Pakistan learned who is an alternative to Younis Khan at number 3? No. Have Pakistan learned the identity of their first choice to bat at number 6? No.
Full postA captaincy to forget
It's been a dismal effort in Hobart, and nothing has been more dismal than the captaincy of Mohammad Yousuf
Kamran Abbasi
25-Feb-2013
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| Mohammad Yousuf's tactics have provoked disgust © Getty Images |
With the entire world against it, the Pakistan cricket team has conspired to ensure that its deepest wounds are self-inflicted. We've seen some of the worst fielding from an international cricket team, something nobody can do anything about apparently. And now, just when we thought we'd got away with it, farcical run-outs have returned to remind everybody that Pakistan cricketers are only ever one step away from schoolboy errors.
It's been a dismal effort in Hobart, and nothing has been more dismal than the captaincy of Mohammad Yousuf. One of the great fascinations of cricket is the importance of leadership and how different styles of leadership can dramatically influence performance and results. We can't, however, expect every captain to have the psychological skills of Mike Brearley, the guts of Steve Waugh, or the warrior ways of Imran Khan. But we can expect competence, especially from somebody who has been an international cricketer for over a decade.
Yousuf's plea that ex-captains should stop criticising him and offer guidance is simply pathetic. You should never stop learning but if you're struggling with the ABCs and times-tables of cricket captaincy at the age of 35, you might as well give up. Yousuf's defensive approach has cost Pakistan in each Test match in Australia. Release the pressure from Test batsmen and they will plunder you. Ricky Ponting must be laughing his pants off. Yousuf has played his batsmen into glorious form.
Full postPlease, green cap before greenbacks
Differences of opinion are inevitable but the serious problem is that the spat has reinforced the fears of many Pakistan supporters who believe that the players are hell bent on putting themselves first and above the interests of the national team
Kamran Abbasi
25-Feb-2013
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The manner of Pakistan's final day capitulation in Sydney was always going to hurt players and supporters. Mohammad Yousuf, Kamran Akmal and Misbah ul Haq in particular were unlikely to extract much sympathy.
No surprise there then, but Team Pakistan has managed to find another way to surprise us. The host television company could not have hoped for better other than to organise a Pop Idol style public vote to decide who will keep wicket for Pakistan. Stumper Idol doesn't have quite the same ring to it but I'd have tuned in.
My guess is Kamran would be voted out. Most fans have lost faith in his glovework and the Sydney Test just reminded everybody how often he has dropped important chances, opportunities that decide between success and failure.
Full postLetter to the President
We, the supporters of Pakistan cricket, demand an immediate end to the systematic destruction of Pakistan cricket.
Kamran Abbasi
25-Feb-2013
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To the President of Pakistan,
We, the supporters of Pakistan cricket, demand an immediate end to the systematic destruction of Pakistan cricket.
Full postFear and dread in Sydney
Kamran Abbasi
25-Feb-2013
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A thrilling day of Test cricket has ended in dejection for Pakistan fans and deserved joy for Australia. I say ended, but the gloom set in as soon as Mohammad Yousuf put two fingers up to the warrior tradition of Pakistan cricket by setting a field for 800 for 8 instead of 80 for 8. Cricket is all about numbers and their interpretation, and Yousuf misinterpreted the numbers of hope and anticipation for the numbers of fear and dread.
Captains are celebrated when they turn a match with a fortunate bowling change or a clever fielding position. When they fail it is often quite hard to pinpont the decisive moment unless it is an error at the toss. Yet, Yousuf did something remarkable. For a whole session he pursued such a glaringly flawed strategy that he killed Pakistan's ambitions of winning their first Test in Australia since the mid 1990s. He will always be remembered for it: glorious failures are the stuff of legend.
What goes on inside Yousuf's head is something of a mystery. What motivates him? Why does he choose defence when the whole world would attack? As a younger batsman, he would launch an all-out batting assault at the most inappropriate moments. He must empathise with the rash strokemakers in his team because he has been one of them, and was perhaps among them again today. What goes on inside his head that he can blame his lofted drive for Pakistan's defeat, an uncontrolled moment, but seem oblivious to the two and half hours of stupidity that eased the pressure on Australia, played Australia into form, and allowed them a winning advantage?
Full postDiscipline and attack work for Pakistan
I think Pakistan have shocked Australia in the first two days here - in truth, they've shocked even their most ardent supporters
Kamran Abbasi
25-Feb-2013
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Pakistan should expect Australia to come back hard tomorrow. Ricky Ponting is an aggressive captain and he will believe his team can still win despite Pakistan's unexpected supremacy throughout this match. Mohammad Yousuf's team will need to be on their guard but must fight aggression with aggression, as taking wickets is the surest way to halt Australia's recovery.
I think Pakistan have shocked Australia in the first two days here - in truth, they've shocked even their most ardent supporters. First, a hastily flung together pace attack held an attacking but disciplined line and length. Discpline and attack were also on the agenda when the batsmen took their turn. Some of the shots might have been unnecessarily ambitious but the aggression of Pakistan's middle order was a refreshing sight.
The most accurate barometer of Pakistan's intent is usually their running betweenwickets. At Melbourne the batsmen were on their heels. Here they scampered and rushed through for quick singles. Yes, Pakistan could have secured a bigger lead but a more circumspect approach might well have surrendered as many wickets for fewer runs. The overall approach of the batsmen has been a sensible one: to unsettle Australia at every opportunity.
Full postA day for comeback kids
It was a day to join the folklore of Pakistan cricket
Kamran Abbasi
25-Feb-2013
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Sydney, the scene of emotional farewells to great Australian cricketers, kindly welcomed back two aspiring Pakistani bowlers to the limelight. It was a day to join the folklore of Pakistan cricket. Lord's might be the home of cricket but Sydney is the citadel, home to the mightiest power in cricket's history. It was a venue for Pakistan fans to savour.
Pakistan's success was delivered by three men, each of whom in their differing ways had fought to establish themselves in the last decade. First was Ricky Ponting, whose decision to bat was the decisive one on a cloudy, green-topped day of seam.
But the rest belonged to Messrs Asif and Sami, the comeback kids of Pakistan cricket. Asif has rarely disappointed, although this is his first great performance. Like Sami, Asif is a rare Pakistan fast bowler to rely on seam before swing. Unlike Sami, he has rarely struggled with his line. Like Asif, Sami was once the great fast bowling hope of Pakistan cricket. Unlike Asif, he rarely got it right. Earlier versions of Sami would have squandered the opportunity. The 2010 model was unbelievable, a flash of what might have been.
Full postMo and Inti's Book of Excuses
Come on chaps, accept some responsibility and motivate your troops instead of saying: "Everything's messed up, it's not our fault, and we can't do anything about it."
Kamran Abbasi
25-Feb-2013
While billions of people have been working on their New Year's resolutions, Pakistan fans can sleep safe that instead of setting targets and goals for 2010 the Pakistani "think tank" have been cooking up a series of excuses for the team's plight.
Mr Mo Yousuf and Mr Inti Alam are making a decent late bid to become the pantomime clowns of the 2009-2010 season. Come on chaps, accept some responsibility and motivate your troops instead of saying: "Everything's messed up, it's not our fault, and we can't do anything about it." Here are three extracts from Mo and Inti's Book of Excuses, you might have some of your own to add.
Excuse Number 1: Don't blame us for the witless batting, blame Twenty20. Sounds plausible but forgets the point that most of the batsmen's careers predate the advent of Twenty20. In any case, these are professional players whose brains should be able to switch gears. I much prefer Shahid Afridi's view that Twenty20 has enhanced Test cricket. Indeed, much of Australia's domination of Test cricket was thanks to their one-day rate of scoring. Pakistan's batsmen like to give it a go but can't keep it up for long enough.
Excuse Number 2: Don't blame us for the hopeless fielding, blame Pakistani domestic cricket - and while we're at it how could a fielding coach do better than us anyway? Sounds half-plausible but the problem is that fielding is one discipline that really can be improved with perseverance and specialist input. Pakistan's main problem is that standards of fielding have risen in all other teams while Pakistan have stagnated. Generally, when Pakistan are playing well with a positive attitude, they hold their catches. Last year's Twenty20 was a prime example, when Pakistan went on a roll they hardly put a catch down and fielded as well as any team. They can do it, so complacent excuses don't wash.
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