Pakistan Batting Woes Continue

Selection Problems
By SS
May 24 2003

The string of low scores continued for Pakistan, as yet again their top order failed to deliver. Taufeeq Umer, Faisal Iqbal, Mohamed Hafeez,Yasir Hameed and Yousuf Youhana failed time and time again and maybe it's time for the selectors to look elsewhere?

Disappointingly for Pakistani fans it was the Kiwis who lifted the triangular trophy in Dambulla, as once again the Pakistani top order faltered and the bowlers although fighting to the end gave away far too many extras.

Throughout the tournament Pakistan failed to make any impact at the top of the innings and the selectors must be increasingly worried with the lack of runs especially for Taufeeq Umer, who now is not a total novice at international level and should be producing consistent performances. Instead he seems to be heading for that wilderness that so many Pakistani openers have adhered themselves to, in recent times.

Muhammed Hafeez and Faisal Iqbal failed miserably throughout the tournament, with Hafeez only having the consolation of one fifty and some impressive bowling and fielding performances in the tournament, but let us not get away from the fact that he is an opening batsman who is in the team to score runs and he is not doing that.

Although the pitches were not always conducive to stroke making in the first 15 overs, in the latter part of the tournament there is no doubt in my mind that the top order should have done much better.

For me though, the biggest below par performance came from Yousuf Youhana. The backbone of the current batting line up, he failed to register any score of note in the 5 innings he played in Sri Lanka. In an experimental and inexperienced line up, he was to be relied on to score heavily, but it all went wrong for him.

It is easy to criticize and slate the existing top order, but they can only be dropped if there are better players available and it is no use just chopping and changing the batsman just for the sake of it. When a team has a very inexperienced top 3, then extra pressure is created on the middle and lower order, but once again Abdul Razzaq and Rashid Latif flattered to deceive.

Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik deserve praise for their batting exploits during this tournament, especially Shoaib who shouldered most of the responsibility with the bat.

The bowlers deserve nothing but praise and it was great to see a revitalized and disciplined (well most of the time) Shoaib Akhtar take the field. Sami is a genuine wicket taker and will serve Pakistan for a good few years. I think he will surprise the English in the 3 one dayers. Danish Kaneria performed very well on his recall, but once again Abdul Razzaq lacked that cutting edge with his bowling.

The selectors have the difficult task now of being patient with the youngsters but also giving others a chance. It will be interesting to see just how patient Aamir Sohail and Javed Miandad are with the likes of Faisal Iqbal, Taufeeq Umer and Mohamed Hafeez.