Falling short: tactic or nerves?
-Photo by AP
When Pakistan ripped England apart in the UAE test series a little over a month ago, one couldn’t help but wonder how the likes of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Gul and Aizaz Cheema would fare against the top batting side in the world, India.
But as the Indian side achieved a mammoth target of 330 in the 48th over against the same attack on Sunday, it wasn’t a question of how but what the hell just happened?
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq simply replied with a, “we did not have any answers” when asked about the loss to India in Dhaka and Virat Kohli’s magical innings of 183 off 148 balls proved that Misbah was right to a great extent.
India’s run-chase and the fireworks that ensued, however, begged one straightforward question: was Pakistan’s tactic to bowl short a battle plan or just a case of nerves?
Of Pakistan’s fast bowlers, Aizaz Cheema, in particular, was quite giving in his spell of 8-0-60 and bowled the short-pitched, leg-stump line regularly even with the fine-leg up. Umar Gul’s 8.5 overs produced quite a decent dose of half-trackers as well and his length was particularly baffling, keeping in mind his preferred mode of operation. Wahab Riaz was listless and clearly no role was defined for him in Pakistan’s six-man bowling line-up.
The shorter length has been a preferred strategy for teams playing against India of late, but the utility of it seemed a little unwise on the placid Sher-e-Bangla wicket. It also meant that Pakistan gave away the one advantage that bowling under lights brings with it: the zip that the pitch produces, provided you pitch the brand-new ball on a good length.
Cheema’s introduction into the attack in just the third over of the innings, that too after Mohammad Hafeez had picked up a wicket from the same end, was a little premature and indicated that Misbah had already started reading too much into the proceedings. Even though Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar seemed comfortable against the spinner, Hafeez could have been gambled with for a few more overs. His drift with the newer ball is usually what earns him wickets and 330 was a big enough target to play with.
Saeed Ajmal, by far, looked like the only threatening bowler on either team and attacking with him would have served Pakistan better. Rather, he finished with one over in the bank.
It is unclear how much of an influence Dav Whatmore’s Australian mindset had on Pakistan’s plans while bowling, but if aiming for the throats of the Indian batsman was indeed a tactic then why was there no plan B?
However, if this bowling performance was indeed a case of nerves than Kohli has given the bowlers a little bit more to worry when Pakistan take on ‘chase-masters’ Bangladesh on Thursday.
AN OVER RELIANCE ON SPIN
Sunday’s game highlighted the fact that Pakistan seriously lacks the fast-bowling partners that Gul needs. It is clear that the man, even as the most senior pacer in the side, is best when given a particular role. The continued success of the team’s spinners has meant that the management has not been too adamant in trying out/looking for pace prospects.
The over-reliance on spin, however, will serve Pakistan only in certain conditions, against certain teams and most importantly with certain fields.
Pakistan has a long lay off coming up after the Asia Cup and will have a good five months to beef up its traditional strength.
I think the game against India is always mind game and planning.Pakistan has a good total to fight but keeping in mind India's batting and state of wicket, the total was not sufficent.It require a good planning to defend this total. Pakistan's fast bowlers have no planning. If they have bowled good length and accrording to field,they might have won the match.Pakistan has to do following to perform consistentaly.
* Plan to have three different team according to format of cricket keeping in mind technique require for that format.
* Group of fast bowlers should be identified and camp should be held under the supervision of Wasim Akram and Waqar Yunis
* Look for some good fast bowlers alrounders
* We should hire psychologist to work on our cricketer's mental toughness
* Team should be selected on marit only without favouritism,nepotism and political favour
Poor election of Wahab (gave 50 runs in 5 overs), and half pitch bowling from fast bowlers is bad captainship. Need to be very proactive on the field especially when u have 330 under your belt when facing India's batting. No Tolerance, and quick decisions should be the only option.
Need to learn from england when they stopped pakistan from scoring and that Pak bowlers let them score a six on the very last ball and they lost by six runs.
Pakistan bowlers were hammered by Virat Kohali. Pakistan should thanks there stars as Sehwag was not there in Indian team. If Sehwag & Kohli start against Pakistan bowlers India could have crossed Pakistan Total in 35 overs. Problem with Pakistan is that there talented players are match fixers and less talented players think that they are just like Imran khan. Pakistn Cricket team captain is big cartoon. Does he knows cricket?
I strongly beleive that Misbah had it on the back of his mind that since Pakistan was already in final and he had not much to loose and he went ahead with his poor decisions and pulled away Abdur Rehman and put inexperienced bowlers. Besides from Misbah's mistakes, The Team has not quite recovered from Nerve attacks playing against India. For Decades Miandad and Imran kept the pressure on Indian players but ever since 1996 world cup match in Banglor and events like attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore has impacted psychologically on the Pakistani Players.
In my opinion, our current team lake fast bowlers and there are not many around to choose from. PCB have to look for some new fast bowlers. They should have three fast bowlers, capable of balling with the new ball and at least two fast bowlers capable of doing reverse swing. They have to play with two genuine fast bowlers, an all rounder like Razzaq or Hammad, a spinner like Ajmal and a spinner like Shahid Afridi & Hafeez. This combination is good for Asian Wickets.
The problems as follows
1.When playing India, must use head, and not hart.
2.Captain who takes risk.
Why bring in a bowler for a one game, who has not played regular.
Why no bowler bowled any slower balls.
Why not attack early on and make the batsman make mistakes. Because the pitch was so good it was very difficult to get a wicket. Most wickets fell when the batsman tried to hit out. The only two wickets that the bowler got was, the first two Indian wickets, the rest were by mistakes made by the batsman.There was no way that Pakistan could stop India scoring the 330 runs, with out their batsman making mistake.
Our captain, as much as I like him, he not a captain for the shorter game.There are so many ?.
Why make such an obvious mistake of bringing Wahab Riaz back in such a crunch game at the expense of specialist keeper? If Umar Akmal's prodigious talent is only good for 20 or so runs, then Sarfaraz should replace him!
Why can't Misbah tell the bowlers about keeping it wicket-t-wicket when Kohli was making runs in square of the pitch??
Misbah is not the right choice for ODIs and this is becoming more and more obvious by each series. Can we really bask in glory by defeating Bangladesh team?
This match had all signs of being fixed. The captaincy made no sense after the second over onwards and when things don't make sense then something is very fishy.
I think it was not about Money and Pakistan Just lost to a better batting side. Pak bowling was wayward and we should have tried Hamad Azam. Hamad is a match winner and he should be trusted more. Pakistan bowling has won a lot of matches for us and lets not forget that. Agreed we need a pace-partner for Gul.
It was a good game most enjoyable
My two cents (I have played a lot of cricket at various levels)
Pakistan had no strategy, no plan A let alone plan B if first one didt work. Defensive poor tream selection, field placing and bowling.
Lot of blame on Misbah. WHY chose Hammad, supposedly an All rounder whgen you dont give him evenm one over when your other bowlers are giving away a flood of runs, Why change Hafeez after just one over. Why not urilize full overs for the spinners. Why not go over to the bowlers to encourage and guide them and ask them to not owl short, wide or on the legs and bowl to their fields. Why try to bowl short on a placid wicket at batsmen of the calibre of Tendulkar and Kohli and who are in top of their form
Wh
Cannot but laud ohlis innings masterful
The way forward for PAK is to get Aamir and Asif back in the team or find as good replacements…else…keep suffering!
You all are too naive, it's all about money! There is no doubt Pakistan has a better team and had a better team then in the World Cup. Pakistan never going to win from India because there is so much money involved. Reputation of Pakistani people well known around the world when it comes to money – I will stop here.