Post the dramatic Champions Trophy, The forthcoming tour of Newzeland is the first major overseas tour of Pakistan. Will it be a major chance for Pakistan to regain some glories in Newzeland this time? Following is my crisp analysis of the scenario.
Pakistan Squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (Capt&Wk), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zamman, Imam Ul Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Muhammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Aamir, Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Rumman Raees
In some way, Newzeland matches up with Pakistan in style and nature, There is a common theme between them which is "being unpredictable" Though this tag applies to Pakistan more Newzeland isn't too from it as well.
Pakistan would surely like to continue their ODI winning streak, while Newzeland would strive to have a great start and demoralize Pakistan early to clinch the series.
Pakistan has though won the warm-up game quite convincingly, I don't think so any Pakistani spectator would fall into the trap of winning warm-up games, All importance holds the International game. History says that Pakistan has always been good at warm-up games virtually in overseas tours but not so up to the mark in actual games. However, this time the scenario is little different as this is a new emerging Pakistan team having an energetic leader Sarfraz who would be at his 110% to win the series. The only cause of concern for him is when he attempts to do 200 to sometimes 400% efforts to win games that lead to desperation and hurts the overall team morale and creates panic within the team. A leader has to be quite calm in most of the situations, the team members take inspiration from the leader as he sets the mood of the game. We have noticed that at-times Sarfraz gets little harsh on his team-mates and gets panic even when the team is at the very strong position to win the game. This is the problem which Sarfraz knows himself as well that he needs to overcome his temperament.
The other problem I have noticed with Sarfraz that he mistimes the bowling changes sometimes, When there is a time to kill the opposition through pacers, He generally introduce part-time spinners and don't go for a kill, This always costs Pakistan extra runs, We saw that glimpse in the CT final when Pandya was whacking every spinner for huge sixes.
Not to worry much as every captain learns through the process, I am quite hopeful that with each and every game Sarfraz would get better tempered and would be sharper in his bowling change plans. Winning or losing is a different ball game. Sometimes, Its very important to lose some games because you always learn more with hard experiences and become better in your future works.
Newzeland key players would be their Opening pair, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, While Pakistan would bank heavily on Azhar Ali, Hafeez and Shoaib in batting department, While Aamir and Hasan Ali are key as far as bowling is concerned.
This series should be a good decider for Azhar Ali as a permanent top order batsman for ODI. I disagree with this rotation policy that Azhar should only play as opening batsman in seaming and tough tracks, thats not fair with him as well, If he is your opening batsman then he should hold a permanent slot for any series whether it is home or away. Shoaib Malik has been performing like a cornerstone middle order batsman, He is in the batting form of his life and if he carries this till 2019 World Cup, It would be great for the team. This series will be a good test for him as well.
Final Remarks
Both teams share a competitive historical rivalry as well as who can forget their World Cup encounters. The end result is that matches will hopefully be very interesting. Pakistan, If managed to take off a flying start it would be tough for Newzeland to stop them, Newzeland if wins the first game by a massive margin, Pakistan can then come even harder because you always expect unexpected from cornered tigers. My final judgment for this ODI and T20 series is 50-50 percent chances to both sides.
About the Writer:
A passionate Cricket lover and likes to opine his views on things related to Cricket from real-time matches to cricket video games
Pakistan Squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (Capt&Wk), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zamman, Imam Ul Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Muhammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Aamir, Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Rumman Raees
In: Azhar Ali, Aamir Yamen, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Amir
Out: Ahmed Shehzad, Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Usman Khan Shinwari
Squad Analysis
I believe that its pretty balanced squad under the current scenario, Out of all these outs from the squad, Only Ahmed Shehzad is one who is being left out on the basis of form, The rest three i.e. Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Usman Khan have been excluded on the grounds of injuries. Pakistan is blessing with some amazing fresh talent at the moment that despite the team is missing three frontline bowlers who performed so well in the last matches, The team still has frontline bowlers like Aamir, Hasan Ali and Rumman Raees, Had Junaid and Usman Khan been fit to bowl, The competition would have been tougher as well to grab spots and it would not have been an easy way for one of them to grab the permanent spot. Overall, This squad is best for the tour as said and very much capable to put on a great fight with the mighty Newzeland in their home soil.
Newzeland, on the other end, is on a great run of putting up some great matches for many many years now. They have always been lethal on their home grounds naturally. With a clean sweep given to west indies, their moral must be quite high at the moment. The inclusion of Guptil is good, He has always performed really well against Pakistan in shorter formats. He alongside the newest opening batsman Orno can take things turn around at the start. The squad of Newzeland is equally good for this tour.I believe that its pretty balanced squad under the current scenario, Out of all these outs from the squad, Only Ahmed Shehzad is one who is being left out on the basis of form, The rest three i.e. Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Usman Khan have been excluded on the grounds of injuries. Pakistan is blessing with some amazing fresh talent at the moment that despite the team is missing three frontline bowlers who performed so well in the last matches, The team still has frontline bowlers like Aamir, Hasan Ali and Rumman Raees, Had Junaid and Usman Khan been fit to bowl, The competition would have been tougher as well to grab spots and it would not have been an easy way for one of them to grab the permanent spot. Overall, This squad is best for the tour as said and very much capable to put on a great fight with the mighty Newzeland in their home soil.
In some way, Newzeland matches up with Pakistan in style and nature, There is a common theme between them which is "being unpredictable" Though this tag applies to Pakistan more Newzeland isn't too from it as well.
Pakistan would surely like to continue their ODI winning streak, while Newzeland would strive to have a great start and demoralize Pakistan early to clinch the series.
Pakistan has though won the warm-up game quite convincingly, I don't think so any Pakistani spectator would fall into the trap of winning warm-up games, All importance holds the International game. History says that Pakistan has always been good at warm-up games virtually in overseas tours but not so up to the mark in actual games. However, this time the scenario is little different as this is a new emerging Pakistan team having an energetic leader Sarfraz who would be at his 110% to win the series. The only cause of concern for him is when he attempts to do 200 to sometimes 400% efforts to win games that lead to desperation and hurts the overall team morale and creates panic within the team. A leader has to be quite calm in most of the situations, the team members take inspiration from the leader as he sets the mood of the game. We have noticed that at-times Sarfraz gets little harsh on his team-mates and gets panic even when the team is at the very strong position to win the game. This is the problem which Sarfraz knows himself as well that he needs to overcome his temperament.
The other problem I have noticed with Sarfraz that he mistimes the bowling changes sometimes, When there is a time to kill the opposition through pacers, He generally introduce part-time spinners and don't go for a kill, This always costs Pakistan extra runs, We saw that glimpse in the CT final when Pandya was whacking every spinner for huge sixes.
Not to worry much as every captain learns through the process, I am quite hopeful that with each and every game Sarfraz would get better tempered and would be sharper in his bowling change plans. Winning or losing is a different ball game. Sometimes, Its very important to lose some games because you always learn more with hard experiences and become better in your future works.
Newzeland key players would be their Opening pair, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, While Pakistan would bank heavily on Azhar Ali, Hafeez and Shoaib in batting department, While Aamir and Hasan Ali are key as far as bowling is concerned.
This series should be a good decider for Azhar Ali as a permanent top order batsman for ODI. I disagree with this rotation policy that Azhar should only play as opening batsman in seaming and tough tracks, thats not fair with him as well, If he is your opening batsman then he should hold a permanent slot for any series whether it is home or away. Shoaib Malik has been performing like a cornerstone middle order batsman, He is in the batting form of his life and if he carries this till 2019 World Cup, It would be great for the team. This series will be a good test for him as well.
Final Remarks
Both teams share a competitive historical rivalry as well as who can forget their World Cup encounters. The end result is that matches will hopefully be very interesting. Pakistan, If managed to take off a flying start it would be tough for Newzeland to stop them, Newzeland if wins the first game by a massive margin, Pakistan can then come even harder because you always expect unexpected from cornered tigers. My final judgment for this ODI and T20 series is 50-50 percent chances to both sides.
About the Writer:
A passionate Cricket lover and likes to opine his views on things related to Cricket from real-time matches to cricket video games
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