England Series; an opportunity or thread

2012 starts with a challenge in its hands, as the winning run continue in Bangladesh, the real test is now in front of Pakistan team with they face England in coming January. This encounter composed of 3 Tests, 4 ODIs and 3 T20s. World T20 champion England has put up a consistence show accept the last series against India in India. It was quite an unfortunate series with not much good memories.

On the other hand Pakistan also being consistent, considering the aftermath of spot fixing controversy. They are spot on with six consecutive ODI series wins. And three Test series win this year, with Bangladesh Series yet to decide. But in this victory run no big teams like India, England or Australia is included. But with SA they manage a drawn series. So it would be tough to say which team has dominant factor, as England only play once in low bounce, slow tracks this year and terribly disappoint their fans. And Pakistan has a challenge to play against strong batting and bowling unit. 

Among the two teams Pakistan’s batting has continue to be as uncertain as any associate team. Ups and downs in wicket-keepers continues, last two series three different wicket-keepers for three different format is a question, do keeping techniques changes with the format of play? The same question mark is whether Pakistan could continue with the winning run and make another record, and show the world that we are as good as any world’s top team. We’ll see . . . . .

Christmas Gifts for Pakistan Cricket Team

This Christmas brought happiness and gifts to not only Pakistan but also to the players, closing the year with a series win against Bangladesh. The stats favoring players, some of which are as:

Ø  With a comeback this year making a strong statement as Taufeeq Umer added 831 runs with an average of 46.16 to his account, he is leading scorer among Pakistani players.

Ø  Younis Khan another batsman added 781 to his account with 85 avg. and become the 4^th Pakistani to score more than 6000 runs in Test career.

Ø  In ODIs the other opener has emerged as the best all-rounder this year, made 1075 runs and took 32 wickets over the year.

Ø  While talking about wickets we cannot complete it without Shahid Afridi, who has a great run in world cup and continue it through the year, the leading world cup wicket taker not only took 45 wickets in year 2011, but also reached the milestone of 300 ODI wickets.

Ø  Also in same calendar year among top ten leading wicket takers in ODI three are Pakistani players, Shahid Afiridi, Saeed Ajmal & Mohammad Hafiz.

Ø  We cannot ignore the efforts of Saeed Ajmal, as he took 50 Test wickets to become leading wicket taker of the year.

Ø  Among the top ten leading test wicket takers Pakistan has its three players, including Saeed Ajmal at top, Abdur rehman with 36 wickets at 4^th position, and Umer Gul with 34 wickets at 6^th place.

These are the few record holders of this year, but the contribution of middle order and also seam bowlers are there to help Pakistan in record of six consecutive ODI series wins, also this year Pakistan named four Test series to itself. Some other bright features of the unit are:

•  Pakistan Team gained 5^th position in rankings of both format.

•  Younis Khan climbs to 5^th position in Test ranking.

•  The 8^th spot in the Test ranking chart belongs to Saeed Ajmal

•  Talk about ODI ranking Umer Akmal is at 10^th, just manages to  stay in Rankings.

•  In bowling Department Pakistan has Three of its players among top ten, Saeed Ajmal leading the chart, as Mohammad Hafiz follows him at 2^nd spot and Shahid Afridi manages the last (9^th) rank in charts. 

• Two of Pakistani all-rounder, Mohammad Hafeez (2nd) and Shahid Afridi (4th) shares the chart in ODIs ranking of all-rounder performance.

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Mohsin Stars Shinning

Series after series the man under considerations of solid position as Pakistan permanent Coach. This been the third time Mohsin Khan is been holding the position for another series this year, where many foreign and local coaches are under consideration during last few months, the man is not ready to leave the position for anyone. Then the question arises how efficient coaching techniques he come up with to collect three consecutive series wins. Is he really a skillful teacher for the team, or the team is so much on song that they does not need any coach at the time, or else the previous coaching team, including Ejaz Ahmed, Aqib javed & Waqar Younis has helped the team that is now fruitful.

Considering all the fact we cannot ignore that Pakistan throughout this year performed consistently, the change of captaincy doesn’t hurt them nor the change in coaching depart. So far every combination comes out to be a winning one for Pakistan. One could conclude that it is gel that bound the team so well that contributes six consecutive wins in ODI series, and some great individual efforts, shoulders high looking forward for England series.

Pakistan's interim coach Mohsin Khan 

While praising the cricketing efforts of Pakistani Players, some of the credits should be given to Mohsin khan for not carried away the team with wins. Blessed with good coaching skills or good luck never the less PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) decides to give another chance to glance. Instead of criticizing one man let us wish the whole team to continue the walk on the winning track.  

The year concluded with great findings!

The year is about to its conclusion for Pakistan cricket team, hopefully with a series win against Bangladesh. And around the noise of World cup fire, the Pakistan may not bring cup home, but the pride and talent is been riches through this year. Young and promising findings for Pakistan helped throughout the year and expected to deliver with more. Asad shafiq, 25 right hand batsman solid with his technique and prove his point repeatedly on many occasion, considerably playing as second choice but whenever there is a opportunity, he deliver it to best, and made him preferable choice in all three format of game, giving though time to his mate to secure the position.

Azhar Ali on the other hand steadily holds the crease and makes it easier for experience player. 26 years old with great temperament and command over his technique praised him throughout the year. The third on the list is Junaid Khan 21; the young man has his impression in his third match picking 5 wickets against Sri Lanka. The left arm seamer is now in consideration when Amir is banned for the game.

Azhar Ali celebrates his century

We wish best of luck for the Young blood to keep the standards of cricket high, and reach the further heights of achievements in their carrier and benefits Pakistan cricket. So we remember their names in the Glory of Pakistan. 

Spinners dominant the year for Pakistan

In past it was Pakistan bring two spinners playing on same match sharing the same ground. It was the time spin was not taken as match winning ability. But the things turn around quickly, we witnessed some great, and nearly impossible wins because of spinner. And once again Pakistan comes up with three and sometimes four spin bowlers in the ground just not amazed the opponent but fans and folks.

The spin department made it possible for Pakistan to qualify for semi-finals of world cup 2011, and not only that spinners made it quite essay to defeat the opponent, with the high expectations Shahid Afridi picked up 46 wickets this year, the 2^nd highest ODI wicket takers of 2011, Saeed Ajmal toping the chart with Hafeez following him at two. But also Saeed Ajmal is leading Test wicket taker this year.

Celebration of  Shahid Afridi and Hafiz  

These are no amazing facts for the Pakistan followers as they witnessed the thrilled wins not only during world cup nut also in recently concluded series against Srilanka.  With all the available varities of Dusra, wrong’un, Flippers, Cutters, and Gugly, bowlers like Shahid Afridi, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik took all the benefits and joy of rattling the stumps everywhere in ground. They had their moments and we want it more ….