World T20 2012: What went wrong for Pakistan?

So the storm has passed over and there is now a semblance of gloomy tranquility around. Pakistan Cricket Team reached Colombo with a reputation of a mercurial bunch that could surprise any team on their day. They did surprise on a number of occasions, at time outdid themselves too.

 It is, perhaps, not surprising that they managed to make the semi-finals, but it is also a fact that they did not deserve to go beyond either. The necessary ingredients to win a major tournament were, perhaps, not lacking, but the planning and will to utilize those ingredients were clearly missing. We lacked how to implement a plan B when a preset plan failed.

A T20 team needs a good mixture of old and young and a captain who could lead from the front while utilizing his resources intelligently. The situation in a T20 can change in a blink of an eye as a good over or a cameo from a batsman can turn the tables. But the team which usually comes out on top is the one which has more cricketing sense. We lacked the cricketing intelligence.

Big tournaments are won when you show a brave face. If you are willing to adapt to a situation, keep the team above your personal likes and dislikes, and you are brave enough to go against the tide, you invariably come on top. It is usually horses for courses in cricket. If you are scared of dropping yourself down the order, despite the obvious arguments favouring the move, for whatever reason, then you do not deserve to sit on top. We lacked the unselfish approach.

 If you are reluctant to drop a player having a star value, who has become a liability to the team, just to evade the wrath of fans and a section of media, you do not deserve to be champions. It is no harm to support a struggling player but ignoring the bigger picture and ditching the main objective is the height of shortsightedness. We lacked courage; we could not make bold decisions.

The problems started with the selection process. Selection based on sort of a virtual quota system, nepotism, and for appeasing different quarters do not produce good results. It is baffling to see Junaid Khan being ignored for a habitual let-downer like Mohammad Sami. It is beyond comprehension to see both Yasir Arafat, a mediocre cosmopolitan T20 specialist and all-rounder, and Abdul Razzaq, a proven match-winner, in the same team. Abdul Razzaq, inexplicably, again failed to win the confidence of another World Cup captain. We lacked reasoning.

 There were definitely few positives. The emergence of Raza Hasan and re-incarnation of Nasir Jamshed are bright spots on our failed campaign. Although Mohammad Hafeez as captain was disappointing, his ability to rally his troops and keep everyone along has been quite impressive. With more support and good results, he has the ability to become a good captain. The day he dismisses the fear of losing his job from his system he would become a brave captain, and of course you need not listen to distracting voices. Our captain lacked backing of the fans and the board by and large.

Now is the time to look into the future. We should build our team around youngsters like Nasir Jamshed, Umar Akmal and Raza Hasan. Although Kamran Akmal fills the void of a keeper batsman, but his below-par wicket-keeping nullifies his exploits with the bat. Imran Nazir cannot handle world class bowling. Asad Shafiq is being wasted – he is a good batsman who can adapt to any format and has a big heart.

Shoaib Malik seems to be in no man’s land. He is a good T20 player and can be a match-winner but he is a misfit in the team unless he is made captain again. But handing him the reigns will only ruin our team’s growth away from the ghosts of the past. Umar Gul needs rest. He has lost the pinpoint accuracy in the death overs which made him a lethal bowler. He needs to come back strong. It is time that we do not put extra pressure on Saeed Ajmal. He is a match-winner but needs support especially from the quicks. Sohail Tanvir was sent considering the ball might swing, but unidirectional and predictable swing at medium pace can never pose a threat. We missed Junaid Khan.

Boom boom Shahid Afridi has past his prime, if ever there was any. His reflexes have slowed down and there are doubts over his contribution to the team. If any other player had failed like Afridi, he would have been shown the door, but it is Lala of course. He needs to decide himself.

The world has not fallen with this loss. Our cricket is growing albeit sluggishly. It is remarkable that with no cricket on our soil for the last four years, we have managed to reach semi-final of every ICC tournament since 2007. There is no reason to lose hope for Team Green.

Image Credit: au.eurosport.com

World T20, Super Eights: Marks out of 10, so far

After a sedate start, the World T20 tournament, 4th in five years, has lit up. At the half-way stage of the Super-Eights, we have seen the best and the worst of almost every team in the tournament. Lets us analyze each team by giving marks out of 10 and see which team has the mettle to lift the coveted trophy.

1- Sri Lanka:

Starting with the hosts, we come across a team determined to break the jinx that no host nation has won the World T20 so far.

They have a strong but top-heavy line-up. The openers, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan make a formidable opening partnership. Kumar Sangakkara’s presence at one-down is reassuring one as he can adapt to the situation as easily as fish to the water.

The middle order looks inexperienced but goes very deep into the batting order with two quality all-rounders in Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera capable of turning the match on their own. The bowling relies heavily on dangerous Lasith Malinga and inform Ajantha Mendis, but they have reliable back-up in Nuwan Kulasekara who can strike with a swinging new ball.

Batting – 7/10

Bowling – 6/10

Boon factor – Home advantage 7/10

Cumulative – 6.6/10

2- West Indies:

They are the neutral’s favourite. Despite their recent progress, they are still a shadow of their past. The T20 format suits them better, especially when you have most-sought-after players like Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard in your ranks. Their batting is explosive albeit brittle at times.

Gayle is the best in the business in this format and his captain Darren Sammy would bank on him to give his side flying starts. Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Pollard can all go berserk with their range of shots. The main concern for them may be a lack of temperament at times but still they possess a real threat.

The bowling has been boosted by the presence of mystery spinner, Sunil Narine. No one has yet picked which way his deliveries go so he will be difficult to hit, even negotiate. Ravi Rampaul and Fidel Edwards are pacy and can make early inroads but discipline will be the key for the bowling line up.

Batting – 6.5/10

Bowling – 5/10

Boon factor – Chris Gayle 6.5/10

Cumulative – 6/10

3- India:

India are a formidable T20 unit. As usual they will bank on their batsmen to deliver but possess a threatening bowling line-up as well. Captain Mahindra Singh Dhoni has already led his team to a World Cup win last year in the 50-over format, so the confidence level must be unmatched. He was also the man to lift the first-ever World T20 Cup in 2007.

In Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, they have experienced T20 players who can accumulate as well as hit with equal adeptness. Then they have Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni and Suresh Raina who can launch an assault on the opposition bowlers and are great finishers. Virender Sehwag, though out of form, is a match-winner on his day.

India’s bowling strength is their spin department. Harbhajan Singh has come back with a bang as he demonstrated against England the other day, but the real threat would be unorthodox Ravichandran Ashwin. They both might play which means Piyush Chawla has to sit out.

Irfan Pathan too has made his comeback worthwhile, as his speed and swing both seem to return. Zaheer Khan is not in form but there is no doubt about what is capable of. India lacks a genuine fast bowler that may be a concern especially in case if the opposition goes on a run feast. But the way wickets have changed over the course of the tournament, as shown by their thrashing of Pakistan yesterday, they stand a good chance.

Batting – 7.5/10

Bowling – 6/10

Boon factor – They are able to chase anything 6.5/10

Cumulative – 6.6/10

4- England:

The Englishmen are the defending champions. They have packed their side with youth and T20 specialists. So far in the tournament they have shown tendency to falter whenever they were pushed to the wall. The batting looks solid as well as destructive on their day. If they get a good start, which they haven’t yet achieved, they can destroy any attack barring quality unorthodox spinners. Eoin Morgan, Alex Hales and Luke Write are in good form. Wright has already played a couple of stunning knocks but the ghosts of Kevin Pietersen are still hanging about.

The bowling is one dimensional. Graeme Swann has been steady so far but his team needs wickets from him. Steven With Finn nipping out the top order and Broad, Dernbach and Swann strangling the middle order would be the perfect recipe for England. Their fate is hanging in the balance at the moment.

Batting – 6/10

Bowling – 6/10

Boon factor – Good pace attack 5/10

Cumulative – 5.66/10

5- Australia:

The Australians are now taking T20 seriously. After a year of experimenting with different combinations and captains, they seem to assemble a right bunch.

In Shane Watson and David Warner, they have the most destructive and consistent opening pair. Watson has grabbed man of the match awards in each of the matches he has played in the tournament so far. The middle order is steady but has not been stretched so far.

Australia has unearthed two bright young guns, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, who can bowl at 90 miles per hour consistently. The back-up bowling is not brilliant but their fielding and discipline make up for that handicap. Watch out for the Aussies as their craving to lift the T20 Cup may get answered this time. Their form in the tournament is testament to that.

Batting – 7/10

Bowling – 7/10

Boon factor – Determination to win and Shane Watson 7/10

Cumulative – 7/10

6- South Africa:

AB de Villiers has shrugged off the chokers tag saying they have come with a clear mind and have devised different strategy for each match. So far their performance has been short of that of a champion but they have a formidable team and have all bases covered.

They bat deep but the batting order is a concern. They will bank on Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and de Villiers to score big with Richard Levi, JP Duminy and Albie Morkel all are capable of using the long handle.

They have the best pace bowing attack in Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel backed up well by all-rounders Kallis and Albie. The spinners, Johan Botha and Robin Petersen are steady. They are the number one T20 side in the world so it was thought they should be able to get past the semi-final stage this time. Their captain AB de Villiers thinks so but only time will tell. They are on the brink of elimination as they have to beat India with a big margin.

Batting – 6/10

Bowling – 7/10

Boon factor – Ranked number one 7/10

Cumulative – 6.6/10

7- Pakistan:

Mercurial Pakistan are oozing confidence after winning a T20 series against Australia in UAE. Quite surprisingly their batsmen are outperforming their bowling which is the most varied and productive attack in the world. The openers, Imran Nazir and captain Mohammad Hafeez, have provided good starts so far. 

They have found a gem in Nasir Jamshed who is in form and can score quickly without looking in a hurry.

The middle order is good with Umar Akmal, inform Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik all capable of scoring big knocks. Shahid Afridi is a worry as he is woefully out of form as a batsman but with Abdul Razzaq waiting on the bench he must be itching to perform. The recent performance against India must have shattered their confidence and the recovery depends on how they gather themselves and tackle resurgent Australia.

With world’s top three wicket takers in the format in their team, they are a formidable bowling unit. The ‘jadugar’ Saeed Ajmal takes wickets and chokes runs at the same time. Afridi and rookie Raza Hasan are pretty good spinners too. Umar Gul has lost his radar badly and Pakistan need him to find his Yorker-bowling ability sooner rather than later if they are to have their sights at the Cup. The second, and third, seamer slots are a worry but if all other fire, it may not matter much in the end.

Batting – 7/10

Bowling – 7/10

Boon factor – Unpredictability 6/10

Cumulative – 6.6/10

8- New Zealand:

The Black Caps have always performed beyond their ability in the world Cups. Their batting relies heavily on the exploits of Brendan McCullum. If he fails, they have a problem, especially chasing big scores.

The bowling lacks depth but in Vettori and Tim Southee they have squeezers who are difficult to hit. Kyle Mills’ experience and excellent fielding to back up are other trademarks which New Zealand would love to bank on. Ross Taylor needs to fire as a leader and a batsman if they are to touch the silverware but that looks extremely unlikely now as they need a minor miracle to come back in contention with only one match to play against New Zealand.

Batting – 6/10

Bowling – 5.5/10

Boon factor – Vettori and McCullum 5.5/10

Cumulative – 5.6/10

Image Credit: Associated Press

World T20, Super Eights: Don’t blink please!

The world T20 has come to life. The Super Eights stage has begun with a bang. Those yawning fans, who watched the first, and boring, phase of the tournament marked by one-sided matches, are now abuzz with the prospect of jaw-dropping action.

For the first time in the history of World T20 no minnow has managed to upset a major team. This means that every match promises to be a spectacle. What else one wants!

The ICC has been criticized for scheduling the tournament during monsoon as well as planning of fixtures, as the early part of the tournament witnessed minnows being hammered one after another. The pre-tournament standings meant we have unbalanced groupings in the Super Eights. Group 2 is packed with stronger teams like Australia, South Africa, India and Pakistan, while the other group has favorites Sri Lanka slotted with mercurial West Indies, unsure England and dark horses New Zealand.

T20 cricket has drawn marginal fans into the limelight. While purists wait for the moments to fill their desires, a T20 fanatic dance on every four hit, each six smoked and every wicket taken.

Who would blink an eye when Chris Gayle is at the crease? Who would dare to switch channels when David Warner is on song? Who would gulp his lunch or supper when Kohli and Raina are having a run feast? You might have to keep your bladders on hold when Imran Nazir and Umar Akmal come out to play a Super Over.

How can you ignore Lasith Malinga as he runs in to bowl and go to see whether the pizza boy has arrived at the door or not? Let the mobile phone keep ringing but do not miss the sight of Dale Steyn steaming in. How can you not cherish the moment when Shahid Afridi lifts his arms in the air after dismissing a batsman and you realize that your hands are in the air too!

The prospect of a McCullum onslaught makes the attendance sheets empty and you cancel your excursion trip to watch Eoin Morgan play a blinder. There is no better sight in cricket than watching batsmen dance to the tunes of ‘jadugar’ Saeed Ajmal.

The Yorkers of Gul and Malinga, the bouncers of Morne Morkel and Fidel Edwards, the swing of Irfan Pathan and Dale Steyn, the slow bouncers of Shane Watson and Tim Southee, the aggression of Mitchel Starc, Pat Cummins and Steven Finn, the peculiar action of Sohail Tanvir, the spin craft of Sunil Narine, R Ashwin and Ajantha Mendis, the crispy cover drives of Hashim Amla and Nasir Jamshed, the dancing-down-the-track lofts of Virat Kohli and Shane Watson, the scoops of Dilshan and McCullum, the pulls and cuts of Jacques Kallis, Ross Taylor and Michael Hussey, the blind-folded hoists of Imran Nazir, Richard Levi and David Warner, the helicopter shot of MS Dhoni, the sweeps and reverse sweeps of Umar Akmal, Mahela Jayawardene, and de Villiers, the celebration styles of Boom Boom, Bhajji and Gayle, the youthful exuberance of Glenn Maxwell, Alex Hales and Pat Cummings , the precocious talents of Raza Hasan, Adam Milne and Akila Dananjaya, the cricket-first-love-second passion of Danny Briggs, and the absence of Kevin Pietersen from this extravaganza is nothing more but enthralling.

So fasten your seat belts and be ready for heart-pumping action-thriller called World T20!

Image Credit: citytv.com

Why Hafeez is the right man

Mohammad Hafeez has been in the firing line ever since he was handed over the reigns of the T20 squad. Majority of the critics are those who wanted to see the flamboyant Shahid Afridi to be reinstated. Others just do not have faith in Hafeez’s abilities as captain, as he lacks charisma and stardom which has been the hallmark of Pakistani captains over the years.  But they forget that most recently we had Misbah-ul-Haq, a laid-back character and at best an above average player, at the helm.

Despite being defensive and at times short of ideas, Misbah led the team admirably and that too during the crisis times of Pakistan cricket. His job was to bring stability, build credibility and put the team back on the winning track which he achieved against all odds. Sadly the ageing Misbah has become a liability on the team in the limited overs version of the game, although he still has a lot to offer at Test level. Now, the transition requires a more aggressive and imaginative leader who can take the team to the next level.

Shahid Afridi was the obvious choice for many, especially the fans, but the board decided to move on keeping the future in sight. Afridi has had his stints as captain the team cannot afford another out-of-the-blue resignation from him. His antics, both on and off the field, have damaged his reputation as the only iconic figure in Pakistan cricket at the moment.

The credibility issue is very important for Pakistan especially as we endeavour to come out of the ghosts of the recent past. Although Afridi is an honest and hardworking individual, his pretentiousness makes him vulnerable to foolish acts. Further, his career is at the twilight and we need a long-term solution.

For me, Hafeez is the right man to lead Pakistan. Although at present his record is modest, but he has been improving day by day since his comeback to the team. Useful, at times brilliant, with the bat at the top of the order, his off spin bowling is more than handy. He has been constantly among the top five ODI and T20 bowlers and all-rounders in the world. Due to his cricketing knowledge and game awareness, he is called ‘professor’ by his colleagues.

Mostly he is aggressive as a player and can handle pressure. It is too early to judge him on the basis of just a couple of series. He did make mistakes, especially in the last T20 against Australia in Dubai, but we should not forget it was a dead rubber and he was trying to implement the plan ‘B’.

He did not introduce himself into the attack early, as he usually does, because he wanted to give a bowl to the likes of Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq and Raza Hasan in testing circumstances. The move backfired but it did give us a chance to rethink our strategy for future matches. His decision to give Abdul Razzaq the last over is being wrongly criticized as his decision to send him alongside Umar Akmal for the SuperOver.

He has not done any good to himself by offending a major media house in Pakistan by blaming them of high-handedness which is another reason of severe criticism on a prominent sports channel. He has to learn to ignore distractions and build rapport because in Pakistan extra-cricketing affairs overshadow your performance on the ground. So far he has been able to gel the team together and has handled seniors like Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq admirably.

Some of the criticism in the media is baseless. If he gets the support of his players and the backing of the board, I am sure he would become a very good captain, especially under the stare of the coach Dav Whatmore. Meanwhile, as Misbah is phased out and replaced by Hafeez, we should look for a vice captain. At present we should not look beyond Azhar Ali.

Good luck team Hafeez!

Forget Mohammad Amir, hail Junaid Khan!

Can Junaid Khan eclipse Amir from our memories? 

Although all of us miss Mohammad Amir, the bowling prodigy that rose from a humble background to become the most-talked about bowling sensation in a matter of a single season, there are many who do not wish to see him back in Pakistan colours. Despite having a soft corner for Amir, I was hoping Pakistan finds his replacement as the cupboard has never been empty as far as fast bowling is concerned for Pakistan. Then enter Mohammad Junaid Khan, his teammate at the junior level.

Junaid Khan did not impress me initially – a bee in my bonnet thing for phantom of a leapy run-up and nostalgia of a boyish celebration was too much for me to put behind. Despite my high regard for his abilities I thought the more Junaid would play the more reminiscence of Amir would strike in the minds of cricket fans. Nonetheless, my wish for him to cast a shadow on the memories of a certain somebody never vanished.


Junaid Khan, born in Matra, Mardan in KPK province, was equally impressive at under-19 level if not better than his teammate Mohammad Amir. The guile, precocity and a certain aura gave Amir the edge and he leapfrogged Junaid to burst on to the international scene.

Junaid continued to work hard and took heaps of wickets in the domestic and A-level cricket. He deserved a chance but Pakistan’s bowling seemed settled with the likes of Amir, Asif and Umar Gul. Then there was Wahab Riaz who had impressed in his debut Test match. The doors of international cricket seemed closed for Junaid for the time being.


But in life, and especially in Pakistan cricket, doors are never closed. Amir’s meteoric rise turned to fall from grace as he was banned for spot-fixing by the ICC and was subsequently put behind bars in the UK. Junaid Khan was the logical choice. He was called to bolster Pakistan attack in the middle of the World Cup 2011 when Sohail Tanvir broke down. He could not get a game but soon made his international debut in an ODI in the West Indies in April 2011. Later that year he made his Test debut at the age of 21 years against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. He was below average on his debut as another debutant Aizaz Cheema stole the limelight.


He showed his true ability in his next Test appearance, against Sri Lanka on a flat wicket in Abu Dhabi, where he took 5 for 38 in the first innings. He could not earn a permanent place in the side but whenever he was given a chance he bowled with valor and class with varying luck. After a drubbing in the first Test in the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan needed their fast bowlers to come good and Junaid did not disappoint. On the flattest of pitches at SSC Colombo, he bowled his heart out and earned his second fiver-fer and the Man of the Match.


The performance earned him praise from not only his captain but from the opposition skipper as well. He showed the ability to move the new ball both ways although their was not much movement on offer. The way he exploited the old ball, especially from round the wicket, reminded every one of Wasim Akram, the legendary left-armer whom every one aims to emulate.


On dead pitches he has an impressive record, 23 wickets at 27. The fact that Amir, at this stage of his career, had 18 wickets at 36 speaks volumes about Junaid’s credentials as Test bowler. Amir was nippier but Junaid is also touching 90-miles an hour. With more exposure and experience, he will only improve especially on lively pitches in England, Australia and South Africa.


Certainly he will be given a continuous run in Test cricket. In his short career so far, he has shown remarkable ability of staying focused despite playing irregularly. This shows that he is mentally strong, a trait necessary for a fast bowler. With slight work on his action, he can increase his speed a couple of notches. At this young age if you know how to bring an out-swinger in after pitching, you surely have a bright future.


He plays for Abbottabad in the domestic circuit but merits a stronger team in the coming seasons. He had an impressive stint with Lancashire in 2011 with more opportunities beckoning for a bright future.


The success of Junaid khan proves you can make your presence felt if you have traits like perseverance and faith in your capability. It also proves that dignity takes you farther, not greed. We may see Amir play again, but Junaid khan has established a solid foothold from which he is never going to be dislodged. 




Image credits: AP/AFP

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan - Sri Lanka in sight of huge victory

Pakistan's top order failed again when they started their second innings in pursuit of an unlikely target of 510 runs. After dismissing Pakistan for an exact hundred, the hosts decided against enforcing the follow on and batted just over a session to give Pakistan another torrid short period to survive. 

  MatchReport: 1st Test, Day 3, Galle International Stadium, 22-26 June 12 

Younis Khan and Ayub Dogar looked untroubled as the wicket appeared flat at the start of the 3rd day. A howler from umpire Steve Davis gave Sri Lanka the opening from where they did not look back. Younis, who was looking in good touch, was given out LBW although there was a clear inside edge on to the pads. This was a vital wicket considering Pakistan’s longish tail. 

Ayub and Adnan Akmal too seemed to form a decent partnership as the former now looked more comfortable after getting a couple of boundaries away. Just when they looked set to take Pakistan to some respectability another howler occurred, this time not by the umpires but by the debutant Ayub Dogar who failed to respond to Adnan’s call for a second run resulting in a shocking run out. 

Adnan left the crease fuming, putting extra pressure on Ayub who again went into a shell and was the second last man out, LBW to a Herath delivery which did not turn. He made 25 but promised more. Earlier Randiv had accounted for Abdur Rehman after setting him up beautifully. He also took the last wicket, of Umar Gul, and finished with excellent figures of 4 for 13. Pakistan’s nemesis Herath took 3 while Kula grabbed 2 in a riot that exposed Pakistani batting, and quality of umpiring, badly. 

Sri Lanka did not ask Pakistan to follow on and batted instead to take advantage of the best batting conditions of the match. The logic behind the move was to give rest to their bowlers and give them the opportunity to bowl on weary 4^th and 5^th day surface. But the threat of rain and heavy first innings lead should have prompted them to go the conventional way. 

Pakistan bowled much better the second time removing five Sri Lankan batsmen also preventing them to break free. Abdur Rehman was unimpressive as Sri Lankan openers scored at around 5 an over.  It was Saeed Ajmal again who broke through first, trapping Paranavitana in front for 25. Junaid khan redeemed himself to some extent by coming good the second time. He removed dangerous looking Dilshan who given LBW, a marginal decision. 

First innings centurion, Sangakkara, was out cheaply this time as Ajmal lured him into a false prod resulting in a soft catch for the extra cover. Junaid Khan then got rid of captain Mahela and Samaraweera cheaply before Sri Lanka decided to declare the innings at 137 for 5. Pakistan needed to survive 15 overs. With two days remaining and a mammoth 510 to get, it was definitely a task beyond them barring a miracle or rain. 

Hafeez’s misery with the ball continued as he departed early as Mahela snapped him in the slips off Kulasekara. He was the only seamer in the match who got some movement in the air and off the wicket. After Herath had accounted for Azhar Ali, Kula bowled Taufeeq through the gate to leave Pakistan in tatters at 25 for 3. Night-watchman Ajmal and Younis Khan were at the crease at stumps with Pakistan staring at a huge defeat.

It is an improbable task for Pakistan to bat out two days and save this match, but at least they can try to salvage some pride by batting for longer periods. Sri Lanka would pray there is no rain as they aim for a morale-boosting 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. At least 10 umpiring errors, mainly going against Pakistan, have marred this match and absence of DRS has left a bad taste.

Summarised Scores:

 

Pakistan 36/3 (Kulasekara 2/13) require another 474 runs with 7 wickets remaining against Sri Lanka 472 and 137/5 (Dilshan 56, Junaid 3/44)

Hero of the Day: Kulasekara

Flop of the Day: Azhar Ali

Disappointment of the Day: Steve Davis (Umpire)

Image Credit: AFP

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – Hosts right on top after day 2

By the close of play on the 2^nd day, Sri Lanka were in the driving seat as they had put Pakistan on the mat after piling up 472. Kumar Sangakkara was unlucky to miss out on his 9^th double hundred as was left stranded on 199.

 Match Report: 1^st Test, Day 2, Galle International Stadium, 22-26 June 2012

 

It was Saeed Ajmal, most predictably, who got Pakistan off to a better start on the second day, as he got rid of Mahela Jayawardene. He was bowled attempting a sweep after making 62 and sharing 128 with Sangakkara, which turned out to be the highest stand of the innings. Sangakkara was looking as if batting on another surface. He slog-swept Ajmal for a couple of fours - a tactic to negate the slowness of the pitch.

Ajmal got Pakistan back into contention with back-to-back strikes as first hour closed in. After Samaraweera was stumped by Adnan off a doosra, Mathews failed to read a flighted off-spinner handing a return catch to a delighted Ajmal. Ajmal had taken all 5 wickets to fall but Pakistan needed other bowlers to back him up. At 335 for 5, Pakistan had an opening to claw back into the match.

Prasanna Jayawardene gave good company to Sangakkara and did not depart until making 48 vital runs. He was particularly severe on Umar Gul, who despite bowling his heart out remained wicketless. Sri Lanka crawled to lunch at 366 for 5. Prasanna fell to Hafeez while new man in Suraj Randiv gave Abdur Rehman his first wicket after a hard toil.

Ayub Dogar took his first catch in international cricket, a fine effort at short fine leg, as Kulasekara pushed at a Hafeez delivery, although it had missed the bat.  At this stage, with Sri Lanka on 439 for 8, Sangakkara decided to form the strike, a strange tactic. With Sanga nearing his double hundred, Herath was run out as Gul’s throw was in time to get him short for the second run. 

Although Sangakkara resorted to innovative play in order to reach the landmark, he was left stranded on 199 when Hafeez clean-bowled Nuwan Pradeep Fernando for duck. He had even celebrated his double after hitting a six as the ground scoreboard showed 194, erroneously. A disappointed Sanga left the crease but he had helped his team post a daunting target for the visitors. 

Apart from Ajmal, who took 5 for 146, it was a tough battle for the bowlers. Absence of DRS also did not help Pakistan as a couple of decisions could have easily gone their way. Hafeez got 3 important scalps but disappointingly pace duo of Gul and Junaid went wicketless. 

Needing 24 overs to bat, Pakistan started disastrously. Taufeeq Umar was given out LBW after the batsman did not offer a shot. This decision too could have been reversed by the DRS. Kulasekara, swinging the ball nicely, was on a hat-trick when Azhar Ali feathered a lovely delivery behind into the hands of the keeper. 

Although Younis Khan prevented the hat-trick, the damage had been done. The target already looking like a mountain seemed impossible when Suraj Randi came close to getting a hat-trick too. After Younis and Hafeez had taken Pakistan to 41, Randiv got Hafeez plumb LBW. Off the next ball, night-watchman Saeed Ajmal was given out bat and pad, although the ball had clearly bounced off his body. Nonetheless, Sri Lankans were over the moon after having Pakistan in dire straights on a slow but good batting surface. 

As the end of the day approached, Rangana Herath got into the act himself. Asad Shafiq was done in by a regulation delivery as Prasanna snapped another catch. What an entry into test cricket for Mohammad Ayub Dogar who walked in at 44 for 4 with his side staring at follow-on. He and Younis both survived the day but Sri Lanka had done enough to smell victory and go 1-0 up unless something miraculous happens in the remaining 3 days. 

Kulasekara’s seam and swing was enough to make Pakistan batsmen nervous, but there was nothing in the pitch for spinners to wreck havoc with the newish ball. Absence of Misbah-ul-Haq has started to haunt Pakistan as their batsmen, the last recognized pair at the crease, face an uphill task once again.

Summarised Scores:

Pakistan 48/5 (Suraj Randiv 2/5, Kulasekara 2/15) trail Sri Lanka 472 (Sangakkara 199*, Dilshan 101; Saeed Ajmal 5/146) by 424 runs with 5 wickets remaining

Hero of the Day: Kumar Sangakkara, Nuwan Kulasekara 

Disappointment of the Day: Azhar Ali 

Flop of the Day: Abdur Rehman 

Image Credit: AFP

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – A sizzling Test series is expected under the scorching sun

Test series preview: Pakistan wary of batting collapses, as Sri Lanka search a series win sans Murali

Pakistan went into the ODI series as favourites but ended up on the losing side and badly exposed. They again are slightly favourites for the 3-Test series but have lost their captain for the first Test and the batting looks fragile once again. Sri Lanka, under the able captaincy of Mahela Jayawardene, are more confident of the two sides.

Misbah is serving a one-Test ban for slow over rate in the last ODI. In his absence, Mohammad Hafeez will lead the side for the first time in Tests. It will be a test for his character as Misbah has had an amazing run as Test captain. Misbah’s absence will hurt two fold; as a captain and as a middle order batsman. The middle-order gives even a thinner look in his absence.

Younis Kahn failed miserably in the ODIs and has a lot to prove especially when Misbah is out. There is no doubt about his credentials as Test batsman but he has to not only bat long but has to take the youngsters along as well. The opening pair is settled although Hafeez is short on confidence. Taufeeq Umar, being the sole left-hander, needs to bat deep to negate the threat of left-armer Rangana Herath.

Pakistan will rely heavily on Azhar Ali who is fast becoming lynchpin of Pakistan batting. He is in good form after scoring runs in the ODI series and this series may give us best of his batting prowess. There are four candidates for the next two batting spots; Asad Shafiq, Faisal Iqbal, Ayub Dogar and Afaq Rahim. Asad has dome enough to merit an automatic place at number 5, but Faisal and Dogar are fighting for the number 6 slot. Although Iqbal has experience, Ayub Dogar’s run of domestic form may open doors of Test cricket for him.

Sri Lanka’s batting is their strength. With legends like Mahela and Kumar Sangakkara in the side, they look a strong and settled batting unit. Thilan Samaraweera has always scored heavily against Pakistan. Dilshan and Paranvitana make a solid opening pair.  Angelo Mathews and Prasanna Jayawardene extend the batting to number 7. If they decide to play second all-rounder Thissara Perera as well then Kulasekara will have to sit out.

Pakistan's main weapon will be their spin attack. The trio of Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman and Hafeez has been a success story for them in the last two years. They were the main reason Pakistan did not lose a single series out of last seven they have played during that period. Umar Gul has been consistent, but he does not have a settled partner for the new ball at the other end. Either of Aizaz Cheema or Mohammad Sami could play.

Chanaka welegedera has established himself as the front-line seamer for the hosts. Nuwan Kulasekara, who was successful against Pakistan in the 2009 series, will be preferred as his partner in all likelihood. Herath, being the prime spinner, will be paired by Suraj Randiv who is yet to have a real crack at Test level.

The last series in Sri Lanka was remembered due to hilarious batting collapses by Pakistan at Galle and Colombo. As a result they lost 2-0. But memories of recent 3-0 whitewash of England will boost their morale. Further, they have won all of their last 5 Tests. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have yet to win a series since losing Muralitharan. They can expect to turn the tables this time.

The first Test starts tomorrow at Galle followed by two more at Colombo (30 June) and Pallekele (8 July).

Pakistan probable Eleven:

M Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Ayub Dogar, Adnan Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Aizaz Cheema

Sri Lanka probable Eleven:

Dilshan, Paranvitana, Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Samaraweera, Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Kulasekara, Randiv, Herath, Welegedera

Players to watch:

Azhar Ali: A batsman with solid technique and dogged temperament, Azhar Ali, can give his bowlers runs to play with. If he fires then Pakistani batting would ooze rare confidence.

Angelo Mathews: He has played decent innings at Test level, but this series will be a test for his all-round ability. His confidence is sky high after leading his side to a stunning victory in the last ODI.

Prediction: 1-1

Euro 2012 Match Preview: Ukraine vs France

Despite spirited showing by Ukraine against Sweden in the first match, France are favourites to see off the co-hosts who are making their Euro debut.  Or we have an upset on our hands? France, though, themselves were held 1-1 by England.

Venue: Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine

Capacity: 52,518

Date: 15th June
 
Kick Off: 21:00 PST

Referee: B. Kuipers

Injuries: France: Striker Loïc Rémy and Tottenham Hotspur defender Younès Kaboul are out of the tournament due to injury.


Two-times champions France were good but not brilliant in their first match against England. Les Bleus, however, are still considered favourites to top the group. Laurent Blanc’s team is capable of winning its 3^rd Euro title if they play to their potential.

They were at the rock bottom in 2010 when they crashed out of the world Cup in the first round and internal disputes led to the sacking of the manager Raymond Domenech and resignation of their federation president. Laurent Blanc has managed to wipe out the bitterness and with players like Benzema, veteran Frank Ribéry and highly-talented Samir Nasri in his ranks, he succeeded to build a well-knit unit.
 
According to Blokhin, it was good for Ukraine that they were not regarded as favourites as there would be less pressure. He has not been satisfied with his team of late but he knows his team can sit back and defend well and if that strategy works out they can counter-attack to surprise the much-fancied opponents.

Their surprise win against Sweden must have lifted them as they battle for the spot in the next round. Interestingly, their last match at the venue was against France which they lost by a big margin, 4-1, in June 11.


Players to watch:


France: Karim Benzema has been instrumental in lifting French National Team in the last couple of years. But Samir Nasri would be the man to watch out for, once again.

Ukraine: Andriy Shevchenko, the captain and the striker, has vast experience at the international level to worry France on his day. He showed what he is capable of by striking home twice in the previous match. Keep note it’s his farewell tournament!


Starting Elevens:


France:

Manager: Laurent Blanc
Hugo Lloris GK (captain), Franck Ribéry, Patrice Evra, Adil Rami, Karim Benzema, Hatem Ben Arfa, Samir Nasri, Philippe Mexès, Mathieu Debuchy, Florent Malouda, Alou Diarra

Ukraine:

Manager: Oleg Blokhin
Andriy Shevchenko (Captain), Andriy Pyatov (GK), Anatoliy Tymoschuk, Yevgen Selin, Andriy Voronin, Yevhen Khacheridi, Taras Mikhalik, Oleg Gusev, Serhiy Nazarenko, Andriy Yarmolenko, Marko Devic


Prediction:

France 3 – 1 Ukraine

IPL 2012 – Punjab remain in hunt after thrashing Chennai in a low-scorer

The return of Adam Gilchrist boosted Punjab as they recorded a much-needed win with one match remaining and hopes still alive for a play-off birth. Their seamers restricted Chennai top a very low score which they chased down easily thanks to their captain who remained not out.

Match Report: 66th Match, Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings, Dharamsala, 17 May 2012.

On a pitch having greenish tinge, Adam Gilchrist had no hesitation in putting Chennai in to bat after winning the turn of the coin. His seamers, Praveen Kumar, Parvinder Awana and Azhar Mahmood got in the thick of things under helpful conditions and restricted Chennai to 120 for 7 in 20 overs.  They bagged two wickets each, with Awana being the most economical.

Gilchrist took four catches behind as no batsman could break free even after getting starts. Dwayne Bravo resisted and he was the main architect behind whatever Chennai could get in the end. He made 48 in 43 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes.

In reply, openers Mandeep Singh and Gilchrist sealed the initiative by posting 51 for the first wicket. After Mandeep was cleaned up by Morkel, Bravo brought Chennai back with two quick strikes but Gilly was there to guide the chase for his team.

They reached the target in the 17^th over with Gilly remaining unbeaten on 46-ball 64 that contained 9 fours and 2 sixes. He was obviously the Man of the Match.
Chennai has finished with 17 points and need a miracle to qualify for the play-offs, while Punjab have 16 points with a tough game against Delhi to play.


Summarised Scores:

Kings XI Punjab 123/4 (Gilchrist 64*, DJ Bravo 2/18) beat Chennai Super Kings 120-7 (DJ Bravo 48, Awana 2/12) by 6 wickets

Man of the Match: Adam Gilchrist


Image credit: AFP

IPL 2012 – Bravo’s last-ball six seals it for Chennai

Dwayne Bravo gave Chennai an important win in a thrilling contest by producing last-ball six off Rajat Bhatia. Kolkata were winning till late in the match when MS Dhoni turned the tables in the penultimate over with a couple of fours and a six.

Match Report: Indian Premiere League, 63rd match, Kolkata Knite Riders v Chennai Super Kings, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, Kolkata, May 14, 2012 – D/N

Kolkata posted a decent total after they were asked to bat first at their home ground. Skipper Gautam Gambhir and Brendan McCullum gave their team a rollicking start of 99 in 11.3 overs. Shadab Jakati struck twice to hold them back as they finished the innings at 158 for 6. Gambhir made 67 off 43 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes.

In reply, Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay matched Kolkata’s start by posting 97 for the first wicket in just over 10 overs. Both openers were removed by impressive Sunil Narine but not before Hussey had laid a good foundation with a personal score of 56 with 4 fours and as many sixes.


They were on course but lost the way in the middle order as Kolkata fought back with a few quick scalps. MS Dhoni steadied the ship again and after getting 18 runs off the 19^th over the equation was more in favour of Chennai than Kolkata.  Bhatia bowled a tight last over until Bravo thumped his last ball, a low full toss, for a six to start celebrations in the Chennai camp.

The victory keeps Chennai in the hunt.


Summarised Scores:

Chennai Super Kings 160/5 (M Hussey 56, Narine 2/14) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 158/6 (G Gambhir 62, S Jakati 2/26) by 5 wickets

Man of the Match: M Hussey


Image Credit: AFP

IPL 2012 – Gayle power downs Mumbai

Chris Gayle led Bangalore to an easy win over Mumbai at their home ground. The modest total posted by the home team thanks to late order hitting by returnee Kieron Pollard and captain Harbhajan Singh was not enough on the day.

Match Report: Indian Premiere League, 54^th match, Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, 9 May 2012 – D/N

Bangalore opted to field after winning the toss as they decided to leave out Daniel Vettori once again. Tendulkar could not go on after having another start while the top order failed on a sluggish surface. Dinesh Karthik held the innings together but the real push was provided in the closing overs by Harbhajan Singh and Pollard.

For Mumbai, Muralitharan, Vinay Kumar and Harshal Patel grabbed two wickets each. The target was a mediocre 142.

Bangalore lost Dilshan rather cheaply but Chris Gayle and skipper Virat Kohli brought them home in 18 overs. Gayle was in his usual best, scoring 82 in 59 balls with 5 fours and 6 sixes. He was named man of the match for his blitzkrieg.
 

Summarised Scores:

Royal Challengers Bangalore 142/1 (Gayle 82*) beat Mumbai Indians 141/6 (Dinesh Karthik 44, Muralitharan 2/24) by 9 wickets

Man of the Match: Chris Gayle


Image Credit: AFP