- Pakistan cricket team’s stunning collapse
After a chaotic off-the-field start to its tour of New Zealand owing to covid-19 violations and positive cases in the squad, the Pakistani cricket team had an equally horrendous time on-the-field, especially in the second Test of the two match test series preceded by a three T20 matches that the home side won 2-1. An obvious takeaway from the tour was that Pakistan is yet to form a steady squad with an effective and match-winning balance of new talent and experience. While it was of course a clear disadvantage and devastating blow that the best and most dependable batman in the side and arguably one of the best in the world, Babar Azam, was ruled out of both Tests due to an injury that occurred during practice, the batting performance was still quite underwhelming and inconsistent. Apart from some exceptions, like Fawad Alam’s novel first century after 11 years and a decent 91 by newcomer Faheem Ashraf in the First Test that resulted in Pakistan losing by 101 runs, the Second Test defeat by an innings and 176 runs was an unmitigated disaster.
It has been close to three years since the stable middle-order defensive duo of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan retired from international cricket, which is more than enough time to rebuild the backbone of any batting order. Unfortunately since their departure, both the selection of players and coaching has been ineffective in putting a well-rounded competitive team on the ground. Mickey Arthur’s abrupt and unexpected removal as head coach in mid-2019 to make way for Misbah-ul-Haq to take the top job along with the additional role of chief selector produced mixed results, with the side winning only seven of their 19 matches since, excluding the latest New Zealand series. Misbah’s recent replacement as chief selector y Muhammad Wasim, an average cricketer at best who lacks experience, with rumours of a foreign head coach coming in as well following the embarrassment in New Zealand, show that the management side of the team is in complete disarray. As far as the bowling side is concerned, there are strong reservations within decision making-circles over Waqar Younis’s role as bowling coach after a thrashing of 659 for 6 by New Zealand in the Second Test. Pakistan’s cricket team is as unpredictable as they come, but of late, evidently due to bad selection and coaching staff, and it is fast becoming a predictably losing side.
