pakistan world cup squad Archives

IS IMAD THE FINISHER THAT PAKISTAN SO DESPERATELY NEEDS?

Imad Wasim scored a century off just 73 balls for Pakistan to win the first warm-up match against Kent. Pakistan defeated Kent by 100 runs with significant performances from Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Imad Wasim, and Hassan Ali. But what grabbed peoples eyeballs was the slogging by Imad the “finisher” that changed the game and helped Pakistan post Humongous total of 358 runs.

When Imad came to bat Pakistan side was struggling. First, he built the partnership with Haris Sohail, Steadied the innings and then provided bang in the death overs. So now people are wondering if he is the next ABDUL RAZZAQ? Are Pakistan’s Finishing Issues coming to an end? Is Imad Wasim coming of Age? Pakistan side desperately needs a finisher who could finish matches for them.

Imad has got the talent. He once again rose the expectations of the die-hard Pakistan cricket fans by playing such a gem of an innings. If it had been an international match, he would have become a superstar by now but unfortunately for him, it was not. In the past too Imad has played certain great innings that have won the matches for Pakistan. 50 against west indies in the Caribbean, Innings against Sri Lanka and England are the proof of his capabilities.

WHY SUCH AN UNDERACHIEVER?

Despite all his abilities with the bat, Imad Wasim has been an underachiever. There are many reasons for it, One of them is his inconsistency to score big runs and finish the games for Pakistan side. On many occasions, he got the chance to finish the game but he played a rash shot and threw his wicket away. In the last Australia series too when Pakistan was chasing above 250 twice he got the opportunity to chase down the runs for his side but he collapsed under pressure.

Another reason for his failure is his inability to maintain fitness. He is one of those players who just hardly pass the fitness test. So far he has been selected for the world cup squad but he has not cleared the fitness test. It is being hoped by the Pakistan team management that he will be able to clear the fitness test before the world cup.

If Pakistan has to win the world cup they need Imad Wasim to produce many other such blitz performances and win the games for them. He has the talent, he has done it before here and there can he do it for the next 3 months and win the cup for Pakistan? Are we about to witness the tale of great Imad Wasim the finisher? Only time will tell as we wait for his tale to unfold.

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For Imad Wasim’s profile click here.

PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE BLESSING OR A CURSE

by Shoaib Islam Leave a Comment

Pakistan super league is the premier T20 tournament of Pakistan Cricket Board. It is the biggest cricketing event of Pakistan for which all the people of Pakistan wait eagerly every year. It is also the highest source of revenue for the PCB. Besides all that experts are raising questions whether it is a blessing or a curse for Pakistan cricket.

PSL provides a platform to new youngsters to showcase their skills and play for Pakistan national side. Many new stars have been produced through the platform of PSL. Players like Hassan Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Rumman Raees, Fakhar Zaman and many others caught the eye of national selectors through PSL. So it is a blessing in this sense as it is producing young players for the national side.

On the other hand, it is considered a curse by the experts. According to them due to PSL the local players performing in Quaid e Azam trophy and Pakistan cup are neglected. Players who perform in PSL are given preference over the players performing in local tournaments. Due to this players are selected in ODI and TEST format on the basis of T20 performance.

This is one of the major reasons why Pakistan national side is losing all the series in the longer formats of the game. Players like Sami Aslam, Asif Zakir, Akbur ur Rehman, Sadaf Hussain, Tabish Khan are not selected by the national selectors despite being the highest run scorers and wicket takers in the local tournaments.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

Pakistan cricket team selectors should form a policy in which clear criteria for the selection of players should be mentioned. In test format players who are performing well in Quaid e Azam trophy should be picked same is the case for the ODI format. PSL performances should only be considered for the T20 side. A prime example is of the Abid Ali case. He was ignored by the selectors but he kept performing. He was one of the highest scores of the Pakistan Cup when given opportunity for the national side he scored a century on debut. Now he is included in the Pakistan World Cup squad.

Pakistan Super League is a great event. The whole world has eyes over it. High-quality cricket is played and it provides entertainment to millions of fans around the world. But a chef cannot be selected on the basis of engineering performance. Similarly, players in every format should be selected on the basis of performances in the local tournaments. As the wise people say “too much of anything is also dangerous for health.”

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The Curious Case of Umar Akmal

by Shoaib Islam Leave a Comment

Umar Akmal arrived on the international stage with a massive boom. He scored 66 and 102* inside his first three ODIs in Sri Lanka in 2009 and then went on to score 129 and 75 on Test debut in New Zealand. But after that, it has been a sorry tale for Umar Akmal. His career has dropped to such a point that now he was not even considered for the selection in the world cup squad.

He was arguably the most talented batsmen who made debut in 2009. Still, no one raises questions over his talent. He is still accepted as the most gifted batsman of Pakistan. But somehow he has not been able to convert that promise into significant performances. He has only scored 2 centuries in 121 ODIs and only managed to achieve this feat once in his test career.

Reasons for failure of Umar Akmal

What is the reason that such a talented individual was unable to achieve his potential? Why was he not the next big gun for Pakistan Cricket team? Answer to all these questions lies in the in-depth analysis of his cricketing career. He was given ample opportunities by the Pakistan cricket team selectors but due to his nonserious attitude, he just threw them away.

He did not finish the games for Pakistan, He threw his wicket away without realizing its value, did not maintain his fitness and above all he was found in many different controversies that tarnished his career. Firstly he was found in fights with his coaches examples can be seen in the cases of Waqar Younis and Mickey Arthur.

Secondly, he broke most of the rules that were set in place by Pakistan cricket board for its players. A prime example can be seen in the recently completed ODI series in which after 4^th ODI he went to attend Akon’s concert without informing the team management.

Talent not utilized is talent wasted. We like the rest of Pakistanis hope that he becomes gets mature, improves his fitness and makes a comeback in the Pakistan team. We hope that he becomes the next Inzamam ul Haq for Pakistan cricket and win number of matches for them. But without hard work and serious effort, Hope is just a word.

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For Umar Akmal’s profile click here.

Pakistan’s World Cup Squad Announced

by Shoaib Islam Leave a Comment

Pakistan’s 15 member world cup squad was announced today. Sarfraz Ahmed will lead the side into the world cup. Along with him senior players Shoaib Malik and Muhammad Hafeez were also selected. Whereas Muhammad Amir and Usman Shinwari were the unlucky individuals who missed out from the world cup squad.

Youngsters Mohammad Hasnain and Abid Ali were also given the place in the world cup squad. Eleven players from the champion’s trophy-winning Squad were retained. Whereas Muhammad Rizwan was ignored despite scoring two centuries against Australia in the previous series. Abid Ali is likely to be used as the second wicketkeeper in the world cup.

Questions are being raised regarding the selection of Shoaib Malik as his previous record of playing in England is not great. He has only got an average of 13 in his 20-year long career. Similarly, the selection committee is also being criticized for not selecting Asif Ali as Pakistan side does not possess a power hitter down the order who can finish the games for them.

Selection of Muhammad Hafeez and Imad Wasim is subject to fitness. Muhammad Amir and Asif Ali have been selected as the two reserve players. Both of them will travel with the Pakistan team to England. Both of them are part of Pakistan’s squad for the England series before the world cup.

Changes can be made in the squad till 23^rd May after that only changes can be made after the permission of ICCs technical committee. Great performance is expected from the Pakistan Cricket team. Fans hopes are high, will they be able to win the world cup? Only time will tell. One thing is guaranteed that the event will be full of drama and high-quality entertainment.

Squad:

Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez (subject to fitness), Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim (subject to fitness), Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Sohail

Additions for England series: Mohammad Amir, Asif Ali

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