Pakistan running out of options

When Mohammad Hafeez bombed out against South Africa he left Pakistan with an unfamiliar dilemma: no sixth bowler. Inzamam-ul-Haq says that Imran Farhat is his sixth man. But actions speak louder than words, and Farhat barely bowls. Both Inzamam and Javed Miandad have been involved with teams that had a proper sixth bowling option, which makes their current strategy baffling.

Flexibility is one route to success in one-day cricket - and Pakistan's bowling attack doesn't have it. Another strategy - one that Imran Khan championed and made a mantra - is that nothing slows the scoring rate better than taking wickets. Pakistan enjoy 20 overs of speed from Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami, but the remaining 30 are delivered by Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, and Shoaib Malik, none of whom is a genuine threat to international batsmen.

A hallmark of good Pakistani one-day teams has been a wicket-taking bowler on at one end throughout the 50 overs. The current reliance on batting allrounders makes this impossible. Indeed, Pakistan's one-day side is so packed with batting that you wonder if the tour selection committee has faith in its batsmen?

A solution to both these problems (no sixth bowler and only two pure bowlers) is to drop a batsman, pick a bowler, and use Abdul Razzaq as a frontline batsman who bowls rather than as an allrounder. Mahmood, Malik, or Razzaq - whose bowling is in decline - could bat at No. 3 if Yousuf Youhana is reluctant. Hence, out with Saleem Elahi, and in with Shabbir Ahmed or Danish Kaneria. Beyond this tour, Pakistan might want to reconsider Saqlain Mushtaq.

The current strategy might well be enough against New Zealand, but there is a superficial threat about Pakistan's bowling attack that doesn't inspire confidence. Survive the missile-launchers and opposing batsmen are rewarded with pie-throwers. India's middle order must be licking their lips.