Pakistan Survives A Self-Inflicted Scare!

For those who thought that by taming the Lankan tigers in friendly territory of United Arab Emirates, the Pakistan Cricket team had passed its test, the Mirpur one dayer serves an eye-opener. An eye-opener because it has become certain that the coach of the Pakistan cricket team is useless, worthless and since in Bangladesh, luckless. Eye opener, because the loss of 15 wickets in 56 overs makes one look at the wicket with a doubt. Eye-opener because Pakistan cricket team was supposed to win the match even before the toss had taken place, making them overconfident and gullible. Shahid Afridi fully utilized the pitch and returned with figures of 5 wickets for 23 runs. But what does the coach of the Pakistan side has to do with all that? Nothing. He usually acts as manager of the side and once or twice gives the batsmen some tips which I am sure they already know. Had he been a competent individual, he would never have asked the curator in Sharjah to make a batting pitch (which he did and that nearly made Pakistan lose the match and the series!). Secondly, had he been a good coach, he would have asked Misbah to drop Shoaib Malik and persist with a genuine batsman like Asad Shafiq, but he didn't. In the end, the captain's confidence in Shoaib Malik's ability was evident as he was not even sent to bat despite Pakistan losing 5 wickets for 63 runs, chasing 92. What Pakistan needs to keep their winning streak alive is drop Shoaib Malik from the side. He has a shady past and a bleak future because he is past his best. With Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal in the side, no one needs a third off-spinner, especially one who can't bat. Asad Shafiq should be given a chance to cement his place in the side because he is a better batsman than the son-in-law (damaad) of India and can actually bat when required. Pakistan should also use either Sohail Tanvir or Mohammad Khalil who are both left-armers with more potential that the 32-year-old Aizaz Cheema. Their inclusion will not only bring variety in the bowling attack but will also trouble the long list of left-handers in the Bangladeshi side. Pakistan may have won the match but they haven't yet faced a side that comes from outside of Asia. That's not good because in Asia, the spinners are unplayable if they bowl according to a plan, batsman score runs heavily if they can set their minds to it and umpires get under pressure in jam-packed stadiums. Outside Asia, the pitches favour pacers, only that batsman scores runs who can both attack and defend, while the umpires are supported by UDRS. If Pakistan needs to prove its credentials as one of the better sides in world cricket, it will have to play outside Asia, and against worthy opposition. I am sure that this team, minus their coach Mohsin Khan, has the potential of even defeating a team composed of the best players in the world!