ABU DHABI - Pakistan is all set to take New Zealand in the fifth and final One-day International here at Abu Dhabi International Stadium today (Friday).
Emotions run high when Pakistan faced Kiwis in the fourth match. The players were looking clearly upset, shattered and were finding it really difficult to cope with the tragic incident that took place back home in Peshawar, but now things are bit cool down, and the players are looking focused and wanted to pay tribute to the departed souls with victory and wanted to leave on a high note.
Pakistani team management committed a few blunders in the last match, as the selection was not conducted as per situation of the match. Nasir Jamshed should have not been included; instead either Zulfiqar Babar or Yasir Shah should have been given nod. Now it looks highly likely Pakistan can finally enter the last match with regular specialist spinner, as the team could easily make room for both Zulfiqar and Yasir, if they decide to enter the match with two spinners. Sarfraz and Nasir Jamshed should make way, as Waqar had already admitted Sarfraz needed rest so it is the best time to give him the much-needed rest. Pakistan can’t rely on part-timers always to produce result-oriented performances, so commonsense should prevail.
Pakistan batting looks quite balanced and had scored enough runs in the last two matches. Had proper batting order been followed, Pakistan could have inflicted highly unlikely victory on New Zealand in the fourth ODI. Asad Shafiq should be given permanent rest from the limited overs cricket. It is all about all-rounders and the team direly needs all-rounders now but the team management is not taking this area seriously. Hafeez can’t bowl now so he is out of thisc category. Umar Akmal should be sent top of the order, and also must be put behind the wickets, which would help the team include fifth regular bowler, which could ease the pressure on Haris Sohail and Shahid Afridi. Emotions were high in the last match, as the players were looking very down and it clearly looked from their faces they were controlling their emotions and playing the match forcefully with heavy hearts. But now they are relatively looking calm down, communicating well and enthusiastic to win the series.
Pakistan team looks favorite once again to win the match and take the series as well. Odds are although in favor of Black Caps who look confident with the victory in the last match. Pakistan team did manage to give excellent performance and no one can even dare to write off green caps.
Inconsistency is the major problem, and the coaches must concentrate on removing flaws of the players rather than making tall claims. It is not because of extraordinary coaches performance that team is playing well, but it is because of players who are very talented and can adopt to any situation. Pakistan must pick the best available XI for the match, and any leniency can cost them dearly and if they lose the match and series, they have to share the sixth position with Black Caps according to the ICC ODI rankings. Pakistan team should come all guns blazing and mustn’t rely heavily on their inspirational stand-in skipper Boom Boom Afridi, who always raises the tempo of the team and he is more than capable of dictating terms to any given opponent. Pakistan team holds the key in the last match but they must beware of leniency and causal approach. Afridi knows only one way of handling opponents and that is aggression. His positive and fighting nature will help the team a great deal in the last match. If Pakistan team fails to win the match it will be because of their own mistake.
Pakistan should enter with full-fledge bowling options and select the squad purely on merit. Moin must have pity on the entire nation and give rest to his favorite Sarfraz Ahmed for the sake of cricket to ensure Pakistan team should have the best available selection options open. If the team fails to do so, it will be too tough for green caps to win.