Strategy and Pakistan’s Fortunes

Mofeez, its good to see you back. I was hoping you would write something on the world cup matches.

Going by your previous articles, I believe you have played first class matches in Pakistan, with some of the current Pakistani players. Just wondering, how team spirit is during those matches amongst the players who are on the Paksitani team now.

I think it was alright for Pakistan to bowl first, against Australia. The strategy actually worked, with Aus 89/4. Symonds, a guy who couldn`t score more than 25 normally, ended up getting a huge score. It would be like Afridi scoring 140. There is no way Pakistan would lose if he got such a score. Waqar should have used Shoaib and Wasim to break the partnership, as you have stated.

I think Inzamam and Saeed should open. Inzamam started out his career as an opener. They should see off the new ball for ten overs or so, regardless of the score. Pakistani batsman tend to be heavily dependent on openers` performance. After than Wasim should come in as a pinch hitter to make up for the slow start. I think he would be at least as good as Afridi.

Pakistan needs good Captains more than most teams. Wasim is the natural Captain, and should have had an unbroken captainship till this world cup, once Miandad left. I am not sure who will the next captain. If Waqar doesn`t make it to at least the semis, I think he will be history. Saeed is leaving as is Rashid. I think Wasim will stick around for ODIs. That will leave him and Inzi as the only senior players.

Who do you think is the next Captain material. My vote goes to Yosuf Yohanna.

If writing about Cricket is your forte then may God help you. This is a stupid article with almost no insight or understanding of the game. X should come in before Y and A should bowl Chinamen to left-handed Australians whose names begin with D. Subhan Allah. ``Josh ke sath aqal bhi chahiye``.

``You DO NOT start by winning the toss and chasing against the best team in the world!!!!``

``What is Pakistan’s strength? Everyone will scream out bowling I presume. That would be correct.``

Now put the above two statements together and sing Pak sar zameen shadbad 20 times....................backwards!!

``I thought that was just bad captaincy. They should have kept attacking.``

Right ho! It was time for Zohr prayers and they decided to take a nap afterwards.

Its about time we shipped all these self-styled experts (Peter Roebuck,Sidhu and ROmair included) to Gwadar, have Gavaskar do the commentary with Sonali Bindre wheeling out the water cart when it gets boring and ban all Monday quarterbacking...specially in print.

later
-sac

When your start to think and preach that winning and losing has something to do with religion, and you believe that all the matches have been fixed by Allah and the way to change that is by reciting prayers, then you are nowhere in the 50 miles circle of ``strategy``.

I doubt Waqar Younis can spell the word ``strategy``!