The 92 World Cup winners are one of the few teams that can self-destruct (other is India). They can lose from winning positions and can win from hopeless situations as well. Overall what they lack is consistency.
They have a decent captain in Afridi – who can thrill or kill. A bowling attack to envy esp if the Mohammads were there. Their batting is mostly hit or miss. However the calming influence of Younis and Misbah should make sure they can get to Quarters. After that it’s their attitude and discipline that can help them proceed. Does Afridi have it in him to bind the team together and carry it forward? Can he be the next Imran Khan ?
Strategy
• Make sure Younis Khan and Misbah don’t play in tandem
• Be flexible in the batting order – Afridi must come in earlier when spinners are bowling
• Afridi should take advice from Younis and Misbah in tight situations – and he must make sure he doesn’t bite another ball
Missing Out
• Mohammad Yousuf – who was the rock of their middle order
• The Mohammads – Asif and Amir – what a great bowling combo Pak would have had if not for spot fixing (btw – they deserve to be out)
Strengths
• Power hitting in the middle-lower order in the form of Afridi and Razzaq
• Mad-man Razzaq’s maniac slogover hitting can take their team to unreachable heights
• Umar Gul’s death bowling (and reverse swing) is very good
• Difficult to get away S Ajmal’s bowling
Weaknesses
• Unpredictable and highly volatile team
• Don’t use their heads when they play
• Ability to self-destruct
• Younis Khan, U Akmal are not in form
• Misbah has tendency to play slowly
Dark Horse / X-Factor
• A Razzaq
• A Shehzad
My Take
• Quarters
My Playing 11
• M Hafeez, A Shehzad, K Akmal(wk), Younis Khan, U Akmal, Misbah ul-Haq, S Afridi, A Razzaq, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, S Ajmal
Drinks
• Shoaib Akhtar, Junaid Khan, Asad Shafiq, Abdur Rehman
PS: As always, any comments/feedback will be highly appreciated.
They have a decent captain in Afridi – who can thrill or kill. A bowling attack to envy esp if the Mohammads were there. Their batting is mostly hit or miss. However the calming influence of Younis and Misbah should make sure they can get to Quarters. After that it’s their attitude and discipline that can help them proceed. Does Afridi have it in him to bind the team together and carry it forward? Can he be the next Imran Khan ?
Strategy
• Make sure Younis Khan and Misbah don’t play in tandem
• Be flexible in the batting order – Afridi must come in earlier when spinners are bowling
• Afridi should take advice from Younis and Misbah in tight situations – and he must make sure he doesn’t bite another ball
Missing Out
• Mohammad Yousuf – who was the rock of their middle order
• The Mohammads – Asif and Amir – what a great bowling combo Pak would have had if not for spot fixing (btw – they deserve to be out)
Strengths
• Power hitting in the middle-lower order in the form of Afridi and Razzaq
• Mad-man Razzaq’s maniac slogover hitting can take their team to unreachable heights
• Umar Gul’s death bowling (and reverse swing) is very good
• Difficult to get away S Ajmal’s bowling
Weaknesses
• Unpredictable and highly volatile team
• Don’t use their heads when they play
• Ability to self-destruct
• Younis Khan, U Akmal are not in form
• Misbah has tendency to play slowly
Dark Horse / X-Factor
• A Razzaq
• A Shehzad
My Take
• Quarters
My Playing 11
• M Hafeez, A Shehzad, K Akmal(wk), Younis Khan, U Akmal, Misbah ul-Haq, S Afridi, A Razzaq, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, S Ajmal
Drinks
• Shoaib Akhtar, Junaid Khan, Asad Shafiq, Abdur Rehman
PS: As always, any comments/feedback will be highly appreciated.
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