How the 2nd ODI of Pak vs SL Was Lost?

Pakistan lost, but there is no shame in going down fighting. Yes surrender is always shameful. However, if seen in the true objective perspective, our team didn’t lose; the match was lost by the team management and its leadership.

In the next match, Sohail Tanvir must be replaced with Anwer Ali, who is a much better bowler, batsman and a matchless fielder, as well.

Moreover, we only scored 43 runs in the 1st power play (when only 2 fielders are out of circle) of 10 overs, which is absolutely not acceptable. In fact, this was the singular reason for our defeat in the 2nd ODI, which was won by the SL team, on the 4th ball of the last over.

Onwards, we must aim for 80 runs in the first 10 overs of the power play, when only 2 fielders are allowed outside the 30 yards circle, never forgetting that not failure, but low aim is a crime.

Our biggest problem since the advent of the ODI game is that whenever wickets fall, we go into the shell, forgetting that keeping wickets in hand, at the end of the innings, is absolutely useless.

What is the benefit of batsmen like Umer Akmal, sitting in the pavilion, without getting a chance of showing their attacking prowess? And if, his batting is not required, then why not play a specialist wicket keeper, dropping Umer Akmal, altogether.

It must be indoctrinated in the minds of the players that attack is the name of the game, in the ODI matches.

All our planning, strategy and execution of the game, which includes selection of the players, batting order, the decision of batting or bowling first in case of winning the toss, batting strategy and plans during the power play and other segments, with particular emphasis on minimising dot balls (very few people know that a research revealed that Pakistani cricket team plays the maximum number of dot balls), bowling plans and shrewd field placings, must be based on just one premise “OFFENCE IS THE BEST DEFENCE”.

Further, Misbah should have allowed to bat Umer Akmal and Bilawal Bhatti, ahead of himself.

We must not forget that Pakistan lost, on the 4th ball of the last over, meaning thereby that Pakistan was just short of 8-10 runs, which hard hitting batsmen like Umer Akmal and Bilawal Bhatti, would have quickly scored.

Anyway, we must learn from our mistakes, which caused defeat, which was not inevitable for Pakistan, in the 2nd ODI.

Better luck next time, but the team management (chairman of the tour selection committee, head coach and the captain) is solely responsible, for this absolutely avoidable defeat.

Tags: My Views