Bid to further strengthen Pakistan's World Cup squad (5 April 1999)

5 April 1999

Bid to further strengthen Pakistan's World Cup squad

By Lateef Jafri

On second thoughts and perhaps on public pressure, the national selectorial panel has requisitioned the services of Salim Malik, former captain and the most experienced batsman, for the quadrennial World Cup fiesta, which gets under way in England next month.

It is quite evident that the advice of the top officialdom of the cricket board had much to do with the alteration in the makeup of the squad to take part in the global nascent one-day combats. Ordinarily the selectors, having given a preliminary bunch of 19 players for the England competition, were supposed only to short-list the probables. However, an important amendment in the squad is to be welcomed, especially when one finds that time and again the batting line has proved to be brittle and found wanting even on the flat strips of South Asia.

The induction of Malik will undeniably provide strength to the middle order, even if this change bowling is not taken into reckoning. Malik has considerable experience of the English atmosphere and the seaming wickets there, having thrice been a member of the national touring squads. Besides, he had been putting his weight behind Essex in climbing the top ladder in the counties' cricket skirmish for a few years.

If at all the views of the captain and the coach were taken in Malik's recall both will be having a million-dollars problem as to whom to sideline from the 15-member formation, for some of the players were chosen on the basis of their high-profile performances in home competitions. In any case experience has to be given the preference, this being the general and accepted norm and rule throughout the globe in all sports, cricket included.

While the demand of the critics and keen observers of the game in regard to Salim Malik has been acceded, it seems that the case of another experienced campaigner and opener, Aamir Sohail, has gone by default. Some unsourced print media reports had claimed that the government too had taken interest in his accommodation in the entourage, though the selection committee, as also the cricket hierarchy at the Qadhafi Stadium, remained unmoved. Apart from Saeed Anwar, the squad is without a genuine opening batsman, whatever may be the swashbuckling qualities of young Shahid Afridi. Perhaps the whole lineup would have to face the repercussions of an early breakthrough by the rival seamers. It cannot be denied that it will have a disastrous effect on the team, considering that many times scenes of batting slides had been witnessed even in India, much to the consternation of the Pakistani supporters present at the venues and those watching the games live on TV.

The selectors and the cricket high-ups would, no doubt, point to the temperamental nature of the former captain and cases of some of his misdemeanours on and off-the-field. But perhaps the World Cup is too significant an occasion which has to be taken by him seriously. In important limited-overs tussles he has proved himself to be a team man. Sohail is a stylish batsman, a hard driver of the ball. He could have been relied upon to help give a fine start to the Pakistani innings.

The omission of Imran Nazir, a cricketer with plenty of neat strokes and having a rosy future, cannot but be regretted but there was an abundance of talent in the selected lot and perhaps an axe had to fall on somebody. It is another thing that the victim is a teenager, who displayed his potential against a South African side, which may be called the second string of its country.

No enthusiast of cricket would have supported the inexplicable exclusion of Waqar Younis from the World Cup set. Now that the selectors had a consensus on his choice it cannot but be commended. The triumvirate of Waqar, Wasim and Shoaib Akhtar will be the heaviest possible artillery in the possession of Pakistan. It can be said without any hint of exaggeration that it would be the most resourceful and ferocious trio of seamers to be seen in action in the limited-overs tournament, even if the searing pace and capabilities of Donald, Walsh, Ambrose and the Australians McGrath and Gullespie are taken into consideration. The three may hopefully have their influence on the results of the matches, if fully backed up by alert fielding.

One would have wished the inclusion of Aqib Javed in place of Abdul Razzaq or Azhar Mahmud. Believing in bowling's first principles - accurate line and lengthhe has a lively approach and is usually successful, especially in one-day internationals. The logic behind his omission is hard to be understood.

Thanks goodness that the spin pairing of Saqlain and Mushtaq Ahmad has not been separated in the interest of some other recommendee. Both are established masters of the off and leg breaks. They will not only have their pound of flesh but will thrill the connoisseurs with their diverse art and craft. Now that the wiles and guiles of Shane Warne are uncertain the spectators will enjoy the curling flight of Mushtaq Ahmad, a successor of the googly specialist, Abdul Qadir, and the rhythmical off-spin, with swift change of pace of Saqlain Mushtaq, along with the effort and skill of Sri Lankan Muralitharan.

Most of the followers of the game are agreed that Pakistan has the most potent and versatile attack at its disposal to pin down the opponents. But can the batting be equally dependable to take the side to the road of success? There have been many instances recently in Tests and one-dayers of batting collapses. Can the batsmen put up positive and consistent performances to make the team a really formidable one?

On paper the chosen conglomerate appears to be quite balanced, taking both the bowling and batting into reckoning. If the batting-line shows its strength and clicks the squad may be among the favourites, considering that South Africa and Australia may have already been installed among the top contenders for the sought-after cup.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)