'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After a miserable outing in their first two fixtures against West Indies and South Africa, Pakistan were hoping for a brief moment of redemption against arch-rivals India, but it was not to be. The rain-affected match was a damp squib and far from those intense clashes that make it one of the most awaited spectacles in international cricket. However, whatever cricket was played on the day was testament to the fact that Pakistan’s exit from the Champions trophy was not an undeserved one. Their virtual exile from international cricket is likely to continue.
The Pakistan team, on paper, had almost all the requisites to do well in this competition. They had a strong pace battery, world class spinners and a more than average batting line-up. They have had a lot of success in the major ICC events making the semi-finals in the 2011 World Cup, winning the T-20 competition in 2009, semi-finalists again in 2012 and hence they were expected to turn up at the Champions Trophy. They did not floor the South African’s in March when they contested an ODI series in harsh conditions, but they exhibited an ability to negotiate in hostile circumstances against a top side. The hasty exit from the Champions Trophy was a rude shock. Here is a list of 5 reasons why Pakistan are heading back home.
5. Unhealthy dependence on bowling
Pakistan came to this tournament with the most dangerous bowling department. With the exception of Umar Gul, who was absent due to injury, they had everything in their bag. They had the pace of Wahab Riaz, the sharp bounce of Md. Irfan as well as the swing of Junaid Khan. They had the world’s top ranked spinner in Saeed Ajmal, as well as quality support in off spinner Md. Hafeez. However, this bowling unit was expected to do virtually everything for them. Pakistan were put into bat twice and both times they failed to put a reasonable total on the board. The bowling unit tried their best against the West Indies, but they still lost by 2 wickets.
4. The Personnel
Pakistan continue to recycle the old legs of Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal, in spite of their poor showing in recent years. They have failed to contribute to their team in a consistent fashion and continue to rest on past laurels. Given the ouster of Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan, these three players need to give way to a new generation of cricketers who will take Pakistan to the next World Cup. Md. Hafeez looks like a good choice to lead the team through this transition, as he is likely to be a consistent fixture in this team by virtue of his all round abilities.
3. Unsettled opening partnership
The significance of a good opening partnership in the ODI format of the game cannot be stressed enough. A look around the teams in the Champions Trophy will indicate that the successful teams have a stable pair at the top of the innings. Especially in English conditions with two new balls at each end, the opening batsmen need to perform a specific role. They need to bat out the first 10-12 overs at least, while putting up a reasonable score on board. Pakistan opted for Imran Farhat’s explosiveness ahead of Md. Hafeez’s dependability and paid the price for it. Imran Farhat was dismissed for a score of 2 runs in both the games that he played exposing the top order to the new ball.
2. Misbah’s Batting position
The lone warrior in this batting side was booed by the Pakistan fans as he walked up to talk to Nasser Hussain for the post-match presentation after the defeat against India. Perhaps, he deserved it too. Misbah failed as a leader more than he failed as a batsmen. Having observed his team go down to the knees against the pace of the West Indies bowling attack, he should have promoted himself up the batting order given his form. Not only did he let his team down by failing to lead from the front, he also negated his own batting performances. His captaincy stint with Pakistan might be over.
1. Poor Batting
The primary cause of Pakistan’s failure was their inability to perform with the bat. They were consistently poor recording scores of 170, 167 and 165 in the three matches that they played. They were bundled out in every single one of their innings; even in the match against India which was curtailed to 40 overs. The batting averages of their top batsmen make for quite a dismal reading. With their bowling department in excellent shape, all they had to do was put up reasonable scores and they would have made a fight for it. They seemed to lack the technique when the conditions were not all that hostile as well as the temperament that is required to succeed at the top level .
