Analyzing Pakistan’s Cricket challenge in Australia
In the current cricket tour of Australia, Pakistan’s team selection has been a test of resilience, akin to a scenario where the last man standing assumes significance. The team has grappled with a cascade of challenges, primarily injuries and a depleted pool of options.
Due to the relentless onslaught of injuries, second and third-choice players have found themselves unexpectedly thrust into the playing XI. Furthermore, in a scramble to address the shortage, a couple of players have been hastily flown in from Pakistan to provide cover.
The list of absentees for Pakistan is formidable, including Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, and Abrar Ahmed due to injuries, Noman Ali sidelined by acute appendicitis, and Haris Rauf opting out of the series altogether. This extensive list does not even account for potential tactical changes necessitated by the team’s performance in the Perth Test, leaving the selectors with numerous considerations as they navigate the complexities of team composition.
As the Pakistan cricket team prepares for the upcoming match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the only potential uncertainty in their top six, Imam-ul-Haq, has solidified his position with a reassuring half-century in Perth. However, the real conundrum lies in the composition of the bowling unit at the opposite end of the lineup, where options are limited.
The absence of a specialist spinner in Perth, due to Abrar’s injury, disrupted the traditional balance and effectiveness of the bowling attack. A reluctance to adopt a similar lineup of three right-arm fast bowlers with a constrained pace ceiling is evident, particularly with Shahzad sidelined by injury.
Additionally, Faheem Ashraf’s underwhelming performance in the first Test implies that he might be excluded. Despite Ashraf’s batting shortcomings, replacing him with another bowler risks elongating the tail for a team that recently suffered a quick collapse, being bundled out for 89 in just 30.2 overs in their most recent innings. The selection dilemma intensifies as Pakistan aims to strike a balance between a potent bowling attack and a resilient batting lineup.
With limited all-round options and a reluctance to field an all-seam attack once again, the logical choice for Pakistan emerges: the return of Sajid Khan. Despite his relatively ineffective performance against Australia and struggles against a young Victorian side in the past, Sajid’s inclusion is necessitated by the unavailability of other spinners. Injuries to Abrar and Noman, coupled with Mohammad Nawaz’s late arrival, leave Sajid as the sole spin-bowling option for the upcoming Melbourne match.
The selection puzzle deepens when considering the identity of the third fast bowler. Aamer Jamal’s impressive debut makes him a likely partner for Shaheen Shah Afridi, but the decision among Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr remains undecided.
Wasim Jnr’s notable attribute is his express pace, a rarity for Pakistan, and his economical performance in the tour game further strengthens his case. While Hamza and Hasan recorded higher economy rates, Wasim Jnr stood out by conceding only 16 runs in seven overs, adding an intriguing dimension to Pakistan’s deliberations on their bowling lineup for the upcoming match.
