Pakistan out of touch in Durban

A South African team, clearly on a mission to show their strength early on in the series, soundly beat the Pakistan team. Should the Pakistanis have any thoughts on a World Cup win, they had better rethink on the basis of the performance at Kingsmead. Except for their stalwart Wasim Akram, the rest looked totally out of touch. They displayed no intensity whatsoever and in the end, will leave the city of Durban wondering what went wrong.

For South Africa there were many positives. Smith at the top of the order did what was asked of him and then Rhodes was quite brilliant. He definitely deserved his century and should be disappointed. It was an innings that not only stabilised the middle order but also placed the match beyond doubt. Shaun Pollock was rampant and showed his true all round qualities.

The Pakistan bowlers generally bowled too short and were slaughtered continuously. They seem to be very slow learners as it happened so many times that the poor captain was eventually at wit's end. Shoaib Akhtar will no doubt be able to add some firepower but even he will know that in South Africa it's about getting the ball in the right areas more often.

At the top of the order, Pakistan need some experience as well as someone who can play well off the back foot. How Imran Nazir cannot make this team is just beyond comprehension. Afridi would even suffice and could make a contribution in the bowling department as well.

South Africa winning the first match immediately transfers the pressure onto Richard Pybus and his men. While he may have rejoiced at the clubbing of a desperate Zimbabwe team, his own coaching test has only now begun. The experienced Pakistan players will need to remind him and the rest of the squad that although there are still four matches to go, a loss in the next one means that every match played thereafter will be to stay in the series. This continuous pressure wears the moral of the team down and is something that the Pakistan team doesn't need right now. They have plenty of work to do before the next match in Port Elizabeth - it should be played as if it is the Final!

Lets hope they realize it!