PAKISTAN’S three-match T20 series in Australia ended in yet another whitewash on account of several reasons. But largely it was due to their number one spot hangover. After the 2015 World Cup, from 2016 till 2018 Pakistan’s defeats were less than seven. But in 2019 alone, the number of T20 defeats have been seven which indicates regression of Team Green while the other teams have progressed.

The harsh truth is that Pakistan cricket does not seem to be faring well today. In Tests, they are languishing at number seven while in the ODIs they are placed at six; and if the 2019 trend continues next year, very soon Pakistan will not be among the top five in T20 as well.

In the final analysis, Pakistan’s dismal performance is once again due to their batting woes which need to be sorted out at the earliest. To begin with, the approach of Pakistani batsmen need to change. They have to be reminded of a basic rule here, which is to place the ball in the gaps by using the angle of their bat, bisecting the fielders which should fetch them at least two runs if not three.

Most of our players seem to hit the ball straight to fielders and are noy really aware of the field placing which is a cardinal sin. Secondly, the running between the wickets has got to be more proactive. In that, the Pakistani batsmen can take a leaf out of their captain’s note book. When the batsmen are on the turn for the second run, they cannot afford to turn the whole body for the second run as it reduces the momentum, hence making them more susceptible to run outs. They should be running with the intent to just put the bat inside the crease and then run the second in the same momentum.

Besides that, the Pakistani batsmen have got to improve their ability to clear the fence with full force, no half-hearted hit will do the trick. When the delivery is in the slot it has to be a four or a six and they must ensure that. Another thing that could assist our batsmen is getting the horizontal bat shots out of their system as rarely we have seen them clearing the fence.

Against short pitched bowling, rather than going for a muscle-packed stroke, they should learn to frequently use the scoop over the ‘keeper’s head. There’s hardly ever a fielder placed at that spot and many players from other teams regularly score runs behind the keeper during the slog overs.

Another strategy that needs to be incorporated is when the wickets are falling in quick succession, counter attacking should only be done from one end.

As for the bowlers, bowling short deliveries without any definite plan or field placing has let them down. We witnessed a carnage in Perth at the hands of Finch as he smashed some huge sixes off our bowlers. The bouncer, if it is to be of any use, it had to be targeting the batsman’s ear and at good pace, otherwise the it will be a wasted delivery.

Most surprisingly, a very potent delivery like yorker has been missing from the arsenal of Pakistan pacers which is amazing since, historically, Pakistan has produced best yorker exponents in Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and to some extent Umar Gul. The other variation is slower deliveries that can be used to deceive the batsmen rather than bowling wayward deliveries as they hardly yield the desired outcome.

Pakistan also often suffer due to their one dimensional field placing in the T20s which certainly does not do the job in this shorter format. The mid-off up in the ring during the death overs is not a successful move. Hence it is better to keep the long on and long off on the boundary and execute yorkers which will bring our bowlers into play rather than conceding easy boundaries which was the case in the second T20.

The fine leg and third man have to be squarer to make the short pitch bowling more effective.

The world T20 will take place in October and November 2020 and that allows almost ten months of adequate preparation time for the tournament. The previous T20 World Cups have not seen Pakistan reach the semifinals and if the number one spot hangover stays longer, it may not allow them to be the strike force they have been in the past twenty months.

The recent back-to-back T20 whitewash against Sri Lanka and Australia belie Pakistan’s reputation of being an unpredictable and mercurial side which could bounce back to beat the best at anytime. But surely, with a bit more focus and more specialised players in the line-up, they can keep the champion’s mantle in tact. So let’s go boys, do all of us proud yet again!!!

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2019