A team in disarray

Pakistan went to the US for the ICC T20 World Cup while struggling a lot, having been beaten by England in two games with two being washed out due to rain in England. Preparation was thus incomplete. And in the US the things did not look good as weather dented the country’s preparation with the exception of the final day when the men in green did good practice.

But it should not be the excuse and skipper Babar Azam also said after the country’s fall against US in Dallas in the first game that weather had no role in their humiliating defeat. US, playing in the World Cup for the first time, conquered confused Pakistan in the Super Over. Chasing 19, Pakistan managed just 13-1.

In the regulation game it was the US which mostly dominated the show before Pakistan made a fightback in the last five overs. In the final over from Haris Rauf the hosts needed 15 to win and they managed 14 with Kumar hitting four off the final ball to stretch the game into the Super Over.

It was a poor day for Pakistan in all three departments of the game. When the media was highlighting that the behaviour of the track at Dallas will be such and such nobody in the selection committee and team management bothered about that. And when they were quizzed they used to say that it would be seen when they would field.

It does not happen like that. You have to prepare accordingly. In Dallas the initial few overs dented Pakistan’s chances of posting a good total. You have to plan for such things. It was indeed an extremely poor decision to play Azam Khan, a man already under intense pressure with social media attacking him intensely for his below-par standard as an athlete. He also looked under great pressure in the dressing room on Thursday.

Saim Ayub could have been a positive option and he could have been played at the position on which Azam plays. Saim has failed as an opener but he can be given a chance at any other position. He plays proper cricketing shots and he can be useful at any position in T20 cricket.

The big issue with Pakistan over the last couple of months has been that it carries three keepers which is a blunder. And eventually the management decided to stick to Rizwan in the World Cup opener, who kept well after having been dropped as a keeper for some time.

The management should have played mystery bowler Abrar against the US. Abrar has the ability to deceive batsmen and the best thing about him is that he can bowl well on any sort of track and can prevent the opposition from scoring quick runs. As a batting unit we failed to deliver against the US and as a bowling unit we also lacked discipline. In patches we did well with the ball but we failed to bowl well at stages when it mattered the most. Even Amir, who bowled a superb penultimate over in the regulation game to give Pakistan an opportunity to win the match, was way off the target in the Super Over where he conceded 18 runs, seven of them coming as wides. Our body language in fielding was also not up to the mark. It was a massive insult for former champions to lose against the United States, the underdogs.

Haris Rauf’s inclusion in the match was also a question mark as he was seen struggling at times. It is not easy for a pacer to perform up to his optimum level when he returns from injury. If you have such doubtful actors in your line-up then you have to use the proper eye to pick your final XI.

Skipper Babar Azam also looked confused when Pakistan’s chances were diminishing in the regulation time. A skipper should be a man of iron will. He should talk to his bowlers and fielders constantly and should make them involved in the game. I did not see this thing in Babar in the match against the US. In cricket it is the skipper which is responsible for getting the best out of his charges with the coach having a subsidiary role. And Babar will need to learn these things. After the loss, Babar should have sent his coach Gary Kirsten to the post-match press conference as he is a man who must have had a major role in the constitution of the final XI which failed to click.

Although the way the World Cup squad was selected is itself a big question mark we are now in the global event; we need to back our team. The team management should keep the players away from the media and should leave them to focus on their job. If you focus, results can be produced. India are a strong side and they have also taken a good start and we will need to come up with a solid strategy against them on June 9 in New York.