“It’s Not a Done Deal – The Pakistan Perspective”

The result of the last one day international, in the recently concluded 50 over series with Zimbabwe is a vivid representation of the Pakistani cricket team’s adeptness at not allowing the world to assume foregone conclusions and taking things for granted; coupled with our ‘collective insistence’ to almost always behave like gracious gift-dispensing hosts to foreign visitors who visit our land for business, pleasure or for that matter to play a sport.

Zimbabwe earned their win, no doubt. Taylor, Williams, Reza, Madhevere, and Muzarabani played like champions.

Pakistan and Azam did everything, including fluffing what should have been a comfortable chase to ensure that Pakistan lost and not swept a series they should have swept.

We’ve always been great hosts!

This has meant, that our entertainment deprived, pandemic enthused and cricket-loving minds are now actually eagerly interested in a T20 series between two teams where the hosts have never been previously vanquished by the visitors in all the matches – 11 of them to be precise – they have played in the format to-date.

There are no two ways about this. Zimbabwe doesn’t just wish to compete and provide cannon fodder for the statisticians. They have tasted the sweetness of victory and are greedy for more. That alone makes them serious, very serious opponents. Pakistan remains mercurial and therefore, the result of the T20 series, despite history is not a given. No matter what the late doyen of cricket statistics Gul Hameed Bhatti said about the answer, lying in the statistics’, Pakistan will be in for a real fight later this afternoon when it takes on the crimson tide in Rawalpindi.

For Pakistan to win, they will need to take their catches, hit the straps early, and get into a game rhythm early as opposed to meandering along until being served sandwiches midway and finally coming to life in the latter stages of the game.

The opening will be a good place to start.

Snare Taylor (who is likely to shift from the middle order to open) early. It won’t help much if we knock the timber or take a catch after the Zim openers have flayed our attack for 40 big ones in two overs.

If Taylor does indeed open as is being predicted, perhaps departing from our usual script and not commencing our bowling effort with Imad Wasim (who has been literally taken to the nearest dhobi ghath every time he’s run into Taylor in the one-day series) and employing genuine hostile chin music and toe crushing pace from both ends might actually be a good idea.

In turn, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman will need to score some runs and more importantly quick runs. Perhaps if they can do that, the less experienced middle-order Haider Ali, Asadullah Shafiq (marked to debut), and /or Khushdil Shah might feel less pressurized and really leave the stables properly and have a shackle less outing when it’s their turn to bat.

Speaking of Haider Ali. He seems to be more of a doer than most and his attitude of not wanting to get easy runs and play ‘safe’ cricket is so very refreshing as is his obvious class and talent. I really believe he will stamp his various gifts on proceedings and become a vital cog in our side going forward.

He’s the one I’m really interested in watching closely today, tomorrow, and perhaps for years to come.

Think about it, Babar Azam is already the poster boy type figure. It doesn’t really matter what he does, the people want him driving through the covers at all times. That doesn’t always mean that his story always ends well and we’re not yet again left with a pretty half-century that ultimately doesn’t translate to a Pakistan victory.

Iftikhar Ahmed – a Misbah favorite – is the Sarah Palin type character, not the brightest nor the best, but boy does he look good in a burkini to the people of Peshawar and rub the rest of the country the wrong way. I know it’s harsh, but it really wouldn’t matter to me if he’s in the team or serving up chants at the next political rally.

Shaheen Afridi is now truly world-class. He’s been there a long time (despite his young age) without actually kicking up a storm, until now. All-new improved with laser-sharp accuracy and so very loved fanatically by those fanatical by nature. Azam should bring him back on irrespective of the match situation when Sean Williams walks in. Personal matchups are important and letting Williams settle before making him play our best is not a sound idea.

Despite the years, Professor Hafeez is hardly spoken of. He is the John Paul Jones, the Bill Wyman, the Adam Clayton, the shy but solid bassist of the Pakistan cricket team, and like any other bassist he does the small things right and delivers from the shadows. Yes, he shuffles across the line over and over again and is prone to be bowled through the gate, getting knocked between wind and water, and is a prime candidate for being yet another Asoka DeSilva LBW candidate.

But (and there’s always a but) he takes catches, scores vital runs, uses lots and lots of sunscreen (even under lights), and believe me when I say this, the professor still has the game and the temperament of a street fighter. A good old-fashioned Karachi Galli type with Sargodha flair. I want him to play.

But it’s still Haider Ali I’m most excited by and I’m convinced (and praying) that he scores big in the game. Therefore, all of you who too are struggling with life are advised to watch him closely and be inspired by him because I truly think he can handle Blessing Muzarabani, a meal with Maulana Fazl, and the launch codes of our nuclear arsenal.

Pakistan has all the resources to win big, but will they? Sport is as much about mental attitude as it is about talent and it’s hard to get your head in gear when you are coached by a defensive Misbah and facing an opponent with nothing to lose and everything to win.

Sameer Anees is a strategy consultant by profession