JEDDAH, 24 December 2004 — The much awaited tour of Australia by the much vaunted Pakistani cricket team has started. And what a start — a total disaster! Each match bringing bigger ignominy. Defeat by a second eleven, to total spineless capitulation in the first Test
Let us look at the journey to disaster. It starts with some ill advised omissions and selections. The folly of taking just one wicketkeeper on a taxing tour against the world’s fastest bowlers — and to cap it, a rookie at this level.
Rashid Latif would not only have performed better with the gloves but also strengthened the tail. Reflect on the dropped chance of Lagner and what could have been. But then, personal feelings, grudges and politics rule in the selection and management processes. Then leaving behind the one batsman who has shown some gut, spunk and technique as an opener — Taufiq Umar.
No special preparations or camp was held before departure to leaving to at least expose and prepare the already brittle batting to the conditions in Australia — fast pitches with extra bounce. It was so easy to do so. Use wet tennis balls on a cemented pitch — as was done by Imran Khan.
So, now we are in Australia. The first two matches showed that Imran Farhat was not adjusting to the conditions and was getting out cheaply very early on.
Here is where the coach and captain should have used some creativity and take a bold decision. If the chosen opener was not lasting more than a few openers, why not take a gamble and use Shahid Afridi as an opener.
Even if he also got out early, he would have put some runs on the board. And what is more important upset the bowler’s rhythm and put a stop to total domination of the bowlers from the start.
We know that our batting is brittle. The team selection and balance did not reflect that. Just five specialist batsmen just would not do. By not including Shoaib Malik, we lost the opportunity of not only beefing up the middle order but also have an extra option and added variety to our bowling. One wonders what wisdom and factors drove us to choose a total rookie as the extra pace bowler. If in the great scheme of things the team management wanted that, why not choose Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, who was a little more experienced, even if not a southpaw.
Time and again it has been said that the senior batsmen have to carry the responsibility, lead front from the front and deliver. Look at their performance. It is high time that they are not allowed to rest on their laurels and past performances.
At the minimum drop Yousuf Youhanna. He may have the potential and grace but he has to shape up, improve his fitness, fielding, running between the wickets and attitude. He is lazy grace but needs to drop the lazy part — and start performing.
The captainship is far from imaginative and inspired. Inzimam is a gentleman and a good bat but not a leader. It also seems that the captainship does not sit easy in his broad shoulders and is affecting his batting
Now to our Superman — Mr. Bob Woolmer. One has to take one’s hat off to him. He can perform remotely and long distance, that is why he takes off for trips and does not spend time with the team.
And you have to admit he has coached the batsmen really well. How to leave a ball pitched in line with the off stump, how to give catching practice to the opposing slip fielders, how to get out early so the team can have an extra day or two to take rest and enjoy. A great performance!
One wonders if there is a serious bug in the computer program he uses on his laptop. It is the opposing team he wants to win!
Now it is the turn of the psychologists! What did we gain by so abruptly sacking our own great Javed Miandad. One of the reasons given was the lack of management and interpersonal skills. But now the psychologists have to be roped in to handle this. May Allah have mercy on us! I leave it to the readers to think of a reason and to compare his and Mr. Woolmer’s performance and results.
