The 4-year long wait is over! The eagerly awaited ICC Cricket World Cup is just around the corner with top 10 teams ready to clash with one another. The hosts England, possibly enjoying the best form in their cricketing history, are being attributed as favourites for the tournament. But teams like Australia and India, are not going to easily let their hands off the world cup. The Aussies have become a stronger unit with the inclusion of Captain Steve Smith and David Warner after both completed their one-year ban on charges of match-fixing. India enters the world cup with arguably the best batting lineup of the tournament, led by their fearful captain: Virat Kohli. On the other hand, underdogs like Afghanistan and Bangladesh are all charged up to cause major upsets.
Sarfaraz and his boys landed in the UK about a month earlier before the commencement of the tournament, to play a 5-match ODI series against the world cup hosts. The first match was subjected to the cold showers of London, but in the ODIs to follow the Pakistan XI could not achieve much against mighty England. To what turned out to be a 4-match series ended with the Shaheens whitewashed 4-nil subsequently registering their 11th consecutive ODI defeat. This was also the very first time in history that a team had conceded the greatest number of 300+ scores in an ODI series.
The Myth & Reality
So, where do I see Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019?
Well, let me start off by refuting some common myths circulating around the social media, most pointing towards the sheer assertion that history might just repeat itself this time around too.
- “We won the last edition of the champions trophy in 2017 and our players are well suited for pitches in England”
Sure, Pakistan’s track record in the UK may be better than other teams but it’s not phenomenal to say at the very least. The Champions Trophy was a culmination of unpredictability with odds luckily landing in the favor of Sarfaraz. I do not believe that we can actually draw an equivalent comparison with this year’s world cup for two main reasons. The latter, promises to be much more competitive this time, with Pakistan having to face all participating teams (unlike the case in CT’17). Second and more importantly, we can see a drastic change in the way pitches in UK have behaved recently. Opponents with a stronger batting line-up have certainly gained an advantage over those with a weaker batting department. Additionally, the pitches offer little or nothing for the bowlers which is itself a big cause of worry for Pakistan.
- “We have a feeling this world cup is going to bring back memories of ‘92”
Simple answer: A lot has changed since then! Perhaps, if we had bowlers who could match the likes of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram or consistent middle-order batsmen like Javed Miandad and Inzamam-ul-Haq then we could possibly draw a better comparison between ’92 and 2019
Optimism in Times of Despair
From all that appears, there seems to be no room for optimism with respect to Pakistan’s prospect in the world cup. But having said that let us not forget that Sarfaraz and his boys have the tendency to turn the tables in no time. With high spirits coupled with prayers from the homeland, there is still a flicker of hope……
The Amir-Kohli Clash
Kohli in an interview said that Mohammad Amir is the only bowler in the world who had given him a tough time batting. But its hard to forget the final of the Champions Trophy when the world’s best batsman fell prey to the fast in-swinging delivery of Amir. Fans from both sides of the borders will be glued to their television, anticipating yet again a tough competition between the two.
Brilliance of Babar Azam
Babar’s presence in the team is a breath of fresh air for his teammates and coach Mikey Arthur. Currently ranked 7th in the ICC ODI Batsmen Ranking, he averages above 50 and has 9 centuries to his name. Fans are hopeful that Babar will carry the tremendous form he has exhibited into the World Cup. There all the more reasons to be optimistic when you have a master-class player like him.
Fakhar-Imam Duo
Imam-ul-Haq, for long, has been criticized for failing to justify his position in the team. However, the much-needed score of 150 against England came at just the right time and selectors had finally something to cheer about. Fakhar Zaman, on the other hand, known for his hard-hitting ability can provide with the early momentum in the first few overs of the innings. Fans are hopeful that the Fakhar-Imam duo is the opening pair, the team was desperately in need of.
A Strong Pace Attack
If the batting lineup was subjected to collapses, the bowling department was there to provide with some sort of support. Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq made the final call of including 3 left-arm and 2 right arm pacers for the world cup. Amidst the controversy sparked by the non-inclusion of Junaid Khan, fans seem adequately satisfied with a right arm-left arm combination balance. Wahab Riaz returns back after a gap of 2 years and his three quick wickets against Afghanistan in the warm-up game has certainly bolstered his confidence. But it’s the 18-year-old Mohammad Hasnain who has surprised everyone with his astonishingly fast pace. There is simply no denying that when Pakistani bowling is at its best, nothing can stop the Shaheens from winning!
Hope Against All Odds
Pakistan will officially start their world cup proceedings on 31st May against the out-of-form West Indies. Every game cannot be considered anything less than a do-or-die situation. A win against the Windies will do much to raise the team morale when they next face the favourites for the tournament: England. 16th June marks the day when the ultimate rivalry between India and Pakistan takes place at Old Trafford, Manchester.
It is definitely hard to predict how Pakistan will end up performing in the world cup because the unpredictability factor can possibly never be ruled out. This team over the course of its cricketing history has at various points chased down mammoth totals. But numerous instances can be recalled where a meagre total of 150 seemed a task too arduous in its undertaking.
That being said, there is room for optimism as long as both the batting and the bowling departments are able to excel in their respective areas. The fans back home will be praying for the team’s success in the holy month of Ramzan. It’s about time Sarfaraz and his boys give in their best atleast for the well-wishes of their beloved fans.
Here is to hoping!
