Pakistan look for flexibility in batting order
Shahid Afridi has said that that flexibility in the batting order will be crucial in order to get the maximum out of Pakistan's batsmen
Osman Samiuddin in Hambantota
22-Feb-2011

Umar Akmal, potentially Pakistan's best batsman in the format, has often come in with too few overs left to have an impact • Getty Images
The emergence of Ahmed Shehzad has settled down Pakistan's opening
partnership for the near future, but it has complicated matters for the
rest of the batting order. Shehzad partnered Mohammad Hafeez at the top in
the ODI series win over New Zealand coming into the World Cup. Both
players had successful series, notching up a maiden century each but
didn't put on a significant partnership in any of the five games they
batted together.
Shehzad's return has meant Kamran Akmal moving down one spot to No. 3 in the order. But Akmal and Hafeez formed a successful partnership
in the ODI series against England last September and would, in all
likelihood, have been the first-choice pair here had it not been for
Akmal's brief exile from the side in between. That absence allowed Shehzad
to return to the side for the first time since 2009, an opportunity he has
fully utilised.
Hafeez has also been a stabilising influence since his own return to the
ODI set-up last summer, averaging 35.73 in 16 ODIs since then, with a
hundred and three fifties. He has also turned in useful spells of
offspin, picking up 11 wickets. Hafeez and Shehzad will start as the
opening pair but the pushing down of Akmal and the return of Misbah-ul-Haq
in a middle order that also includes Younis Khan often resulted in
Pakistan not gathering enough momentum in the middle overs of an innings.
Pakistan are keen on keeping both Younis and Misbah in the XI as insurance
against collapses. But batting them at four and five as happened in New
Zealand has meant that Umar Akmal, potentially Pakistan's best batsman in
the format, has come in with too few overs left to have an impact. It is
an issue that will require flexibility, said Pakistan's captain Shahid
Afridi ahead of their tournament opener against Kenya.
"If we lose the first wicket early, then Kamran, who has been an attacking
batsman and has opened, comes in so we will have advantage with him and
fielders in the circle," Afridi said. "After that it will depend on how
many overs we have so Umar can come after Younis. We don't want Misbah and
Younis batting together so that we can keep momentum and the scoreboard
ticking."
Pakistan also look set to include Shoaib Akhtar in the line-up for
Wednesday, despite concerns over his match fitness; only yesterday coach
Waqar Younis said Shoaib was improving but not fully fit just yet. That
means Saeed Ajmal is likely to miss out as Pakistan open up with three
fast bowlers. Junaid Khan, the late call-up who impressed in a warm-up
game against England in Dhaka and has experience of Hambantota, will also
probably sit out. Irrespective of the opponent, Afridi said, Pakistan will
be at full strength.
"I don't think it's an easier game for us," he said. "The first game is
always very important for us. There are a number of examples where big
teams have lost so we want to be at full strength."
Pakistan chose not to train on Tuesday, having arrived in Hambantota on
Monday and undergone a distinctly energetic and enthusiastic practice
session soon after arriving. Afridi acknowledged there was more attention
on off-field issues surrounding the side but maintained that a semi-final
place was a realistic target. "I take that as challenge that no one is
considering us for the semi-final. I want to see my team in the
semi-finals."
Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of ESPNcricinfo