Pakistan
Awesome in whites, awful in colour
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It's the journey, right? That's what matters, right? Because if it's about anything else, like reaching targets and goals, then nobody sent that email to Pakistan. For ages now, every year of theirs has felt like a pretzel inside a roundabout on Groundhog Day: winding here, winding there, tacking right sharply, u-turning, screeching to a halt, speeding up again. Then ending up where you began. Or is that just the career of Misbah-ul-Haq as played out in the head of Shahid Afridi?
For is it not these two who, evermore, have come to represent, well, something of Pakistan cricket in this modern age? What that something is I don't know, nor do I know how it could even be possible for two such contrasting men to represent one entity, but again this year, Pakistan lived a whole year as Afridi and a whole year as Misbah.
Like Misbah, they were so good in Tests in the UAE that at times it felt like this was the Pakistan of the '80s and '90s, and that Dubai and Abu Dhabi were as impregnable as Karachi, and Sharjah as unbreachable as Sharjah again.
Through all their finest moments stood Misbah; the unbeaten 68 in that scampering Sharjah chase (and almost as memorable, the moustache-twirling ode to Dav Whatmore); the twin hundreds against Australia and the series win this winter. By the end what was more difficult to believe? That Misbah was Pakistan's most successful Test captain of all? Or that he had equalled Viv Richards for the fastest Test hundred of all time?
Abroad, like Misbah, Pakistan were not so good, losing two Tests carelessly to Sri Lanka. So of course they won and lost four Tests apiece. Far be it from Misbah and Pakistan to provide conclusiveness to anything.
They did not win a single ODI series this year, and in fact were not very good at the format at all. But they were, like Kim Kardashian, impossible not to watch, no matter what they were doing, breaking the internet on good, bad and ridiculous days.
It was much in the mould of Afridi himself. He may not have been the officially appointed full-time ODI captain, but in his own head he was and to a considerable degree, spiritually it was he, not Misbah, who was the more pervasive influence.
It wasn't only because he was responsible for some of the most memorable interventions. He was also the only player other than Ahmed Shehzad to play all 16 ODIs Pakistan played this year. And Shehzad, incidentally, is nothing if not a walking postmodern homage to Afridi.
The lack of series wins is an important statistic, given how fluid Pakistan's ODI line-up was this year. Only three men who played in the first ODI XI of the year played in the last (Umar Akmal was the third). As preparations go for a World Cup, it is pitch perfect.
Much the same applies to their board. All those court cases for control crippled its work, yet somehow not only did the PCB start the year as the most confusing beacon of morality since Robin Hood, it also ended up with probably its most democratic and right-minded constitution. And still nobody will say today that it is a particularly slick-functioning board.
They also ended it afloat, which, as this was the year that marked the fifth anniversary of the terror attacks on Sri Lanka, is perhaps reason for quiet cheer. As Kenya visited, the first non-Asian international team to do so since then, it marked the first, tiniest step on a long road back. Nobody can say when international cricket will return, but we are a year closer to it.
High point
In more impulsive moments, one might opt for the Afridi-inspired win over India at the Asia Cup. But on reflection how can any moment top the toppling of Australia this winter in the UAE? To do so at all, given Pakistan had not beaten them in 20 years, was some feat. To do so without Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan, with an attack as green as Pakistan's, against a team like Australia, was gonzo cricket. It was near enough the most perfect series of Test cricket Pakistan have played in years, maybe ever. Their batsmen, led by Younis Khan (disgruntled, as ever, coming in) not only scored runs, they broke records; each of their bowlers took wickets, and the fielders their catches. When Misbah goes, this series will be the greatest gift of his era and his career.
Low point
The series losses in Sri Lanka were pretty poor but the greatest loss came during the first Test, when Saeed Ajmal's action was reported. For three years Ajmal had been Pakistan's leading man across all formats, the one guy in whom all of Pakistan would invest their most fervent hopes: take this wicket, save these runs, win this match. When he was suspended soon after, it took away the one bit of stardust in what has been a pretty staid era (with apologies to Afridi). His suspension evoked similar emotions as it had once done for Murali, namely that he was just too nice and decent a guy for this to happen. And when Pakistan moved on and started winning without him, it felt even worse. He is still not back and may never return the same as he was. A little light has gone out.
New kid on the block
Perhaps this should be a collective award to the Test attack Pakistan unveiled in the first Test against Australia. Sure Rahat Ali and Zulfiqar Babar had played Tests, but they only debuted in 2013. Imran Khan and, most impressively, Yasir Shah were proper debutants. And what a quartet they made: right-arm and left-arm pace, left-arm orthodox spin and a leggie. Yasir was probably the most equal of them, if only because he was so refreshing. He was Pakistan's first proper legspinner since Danish Kaneria debuted all the way back in 2000, and he bowled like a veteran. Good control, unfazed by being hit, and above all, patient: none of the twitchiness of Mushtaq Ahmed and Danish Kaneria in resorting readily to the googly. And if he's good enough for Shane Warne, who are we to say anything else?
What 2015 holds
Not much really. A World Cup. Then series at home against England and, possibly, India. Potential retirements for Misbah. One for Afridi. Should be a doddle. Here's a prediction: they'll probably still be here same time, same place next year.
i think its Misbah's captaincy that has undermined Pakistan as a test side. You have discounted Afridi's influence on the team not only as a hitter but a strike bowler; our only real match winner, which is a shame. As Pakistan's ODI performance this year, this review falls way below expectations.
A year before WC 2015 and disastor performance in ODI shows us that we have a wrong captain leading out ODI team like England had Cook. Yes Misbah has an amazing captaincy record in Test cricket but he is one of the greatest Test cricketers of all time so it's not a news for me that Pakistan team has played very well in Test. But Misbah is not even a ODI player at all, if we select our ODI team on merit Misbah will not be selected in playing 11 so how come he is captaining. A wrong decision by PCB. However this year is over and next year we have World cup so i hope we pass to second round in WC under Misbah that will be extremely satisfying for me as under misbah i have no hope to win WC.
I can not understand selection policy of PCB . They play test matches in the series before one day or 20 20 . They perform well in test matches and then make those batsmen sit out who has performed in Test matches . Then suddenly they start losing by playing out of form or immature batsman. Their issue is not strike rate but if they understand their issue is playing 50 overs comfortably .Anyway By the time next series come their Test batsman loses their form because of not playing competitive cricket . They have to understand one simple thing . Keep your batting line up intact regardless of test and one day . It can include your test eleven + Haris Sohail + Fawad Alam + Sohaib maqsood .It will solve all the problem . Team will perform , Azhar /Asad will get to learn how to play one day and stay in form , Haris sohail + fawad Alam and Sohaib maqsood will get experience of playing with test team and you will have back ups ready . There is no rocket science in it .
I can't believe that a win against India (in a tournament that Pakistan went on to lose anyway) could even be mentioned in the same breath as the historic win over Australia. With a shockingly inexperienced team, Pakistan not just defeated, but simply walked all over the No.2 test team, a side that had defeated every Pakistani side that had faced it in 2 decades.
Mohammad Hafeez should be given the ODI captaincy if Pakistan are to do well in the WC. Is it a new found disease with these Asian Cricket Boards? They act on a whim and select such ridiculous teams that not only humiliate them but the whole nation as a cricketing unit! The BCCI does not see through their thick skull and it seems that their Pakistani compatriotsare following the same example. As rightly said Misbah is a very good Test Captain no doubt but please, time for reconaissance is over, make Mohammad Hafeez (whom we fondly call "The Professor" in India) the captain to bring in much anticipated results. Unlike India, Pakistan have been struggling without able comradeship in ODIs, time for PCB to pull up their socks and that to real quick.
Forget what Pakistani cricket team has done in last year's because this world cup 2015 is a new challenge. When Pakistani team will start his first match of WC the credit will go for those players who win that match & perform best in the remaining matches. We saw several times old styles of discussions for Pakistani players but nothing changed why because this is Pakistani team & the un-prediction label is still on our chest. So better the PCB Selection committee should choose a best team with best combination of batsmen & bowlers & leave the result on God becoz Pakistani cricket team & spectators winning surety is up to the end of match. No one can predict that we will win 100% because Pakistani team is going to face best, fast, swinging, bouncy bowling attacks & best batsmen from each country with solid records but don't be sad because through the lens of unpredictability Binoculars we are sure we can win this World cup 2015 as we won WC 92 inshullah. Best of luck to Pakistani team.
Pakistan had a decent year in test cricket. But all tests were played in Asia. A 4-win, 4-loss record in test matches in Asia (8 semi-home, 2 away) is ok but not great. ODI record is bad but bi-lateral ODIs have no meaning. The fact they were able to get the monkey of their back i.e. 20 years since they last beat Australia was obviously their most significant achievement this year.
Moderate Year for Pakistan.Hope that 2015 will be better
Rightly said "awesome in whites, awful in colours"
that chase against SL in UAE was amazing. but in SL, they were below average. 1 test , they lost totally because of their negativity
The 5 tests vs NZ & AUS were well played.they were without their 1st choice bowlers & went in to play with main bowlers with less than 11 tests among them & 66 wickets in total ( incl. hafeez). 2-0 over AUS was really a high point with inexperience bowling. they didnt won a series vs AUS for 20 years with some greats. vs NZ they were also competitive.
In ODIs, below average. failing to seal some games which were theirs. Recent series vs NZ also showed that captaincy is not the sole reason as we have seen same results. Issue is selection, poor management, dressing room issues, witnessed in series vs AUS.
vs NZ, they tried different things but without some 1st choice players & especially 3 top bowlers ( hafez,junaid,ajmal) , they failed. replacements of 1st choice players have failed badly.
My squad for the WC 2015 would be the following, (I am aware some of these players are not in the 30 man squad or have not played for Pakistan at all, but this is what I would recommend) : Ahmed Shehzad, M. hafeez, haris sohail, babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Misbah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Hammad Azam, Umar Gul, M. irfan, Sohaib Maqsood, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan and Anwar Ali
Originally I had Ajmal there instead of Anwar Ali, but he's pulled out of the WC and may not get his bowling action sorted so he had to go.