Tour Review

On the whole, the New Zealand tour has been a resounding success. Finally, we successfully managed to break the shackles and win a Test Series and ODI series after several attempts and that too on foreign territory.

There were plenty of encouraging signs. Thanks to New Zealand Cricket for having us and providing an excellent tour schedule. It was an exciting, thrilling, significant and well contested tour where many great on field moments were witnessed.

Overall we have won 5 out of the 11 encounters across all formats on this tour. And we have only lost 4 out of 11 encounters (2 being iT20s). The next step is the World Cup which the whole Pakistani fan base is very excited about and it would be reasonable to feel more hopeful and optimistic about Pakistan's overall chances of doing well in the grand tournament now after some refreshing and pleasing outcomes.

Positives
-Misbah Ul Haq: Was absolutely outstanding throughout. By far the stand out performer.
-Umar Gul: In the Test Series was the leading wicket taker with 13 scalps at an average of just 20. Coped with the added responsibility of leading the attack magnificently.
-Wahab Riaz in the ODI series: 8 wickets for 145 runs in 3 outings effectively. At an average of approximately 18 and a SR of 20 was certainly an in form bowler who grew in stature and demonstrated his credentials in this starting line up.
-The emergence of Ahmed Shehzad who should be an integral part of our World Cup Plans. The youngster thrived, made his mark and impressed one and all. His backers and supporters who were demanding for him to break into the national team certainly showed their worth and accurate assessment of his usefulness and capabilities as an exceptionally talented young opener.

Negatives
-Razzaq's batting form in the ODI series where he averaged 9.
- Shoaib Akhtar's fitness levels which is a significant area of concern.
-Sohail Tanvir's shocking and highly expensive bowling performances in the ODI series.
- Younis Khan's contributions in the ODI series which were poor by his high standards.
-Not playing a specialist spinner in the starting line up when you have 2 available in the 15 man squad and one of them will play in the sub continent during the World Cup with the assistive conditions. Questionable selection here as neither got any valid preparation and therefore face the possibility of being undercooked when the World Cup gets under way in 2 weeks time.

In short, 2011 has provided the magical change Pakistan Cricket needed. So far everything is running well. It would also be good if we could take this opportunity to congratulate the all important figures in Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi, Misbah Ul Haq and Intikhab Alam for their hard work, continued support and achievements during this Tour. All have played their parts with their leading authority and can take a great deal of credit for the conduct, personal performance and team performance.

3rd ODI Reaction: Pakistan Win =D

A memorable scorecard indeed.

Sorry for the lateness of the reaction guys! I stayed up for the whole game, but immediately had many things to do once the match had finished so couldn't afford to get carried away too much! Obviously I am absolutely overwhelmed as I am sure you are with today's 43 run victory at Christchurch to level the series with 3 to play in due course. We all should be really pleased for Mohammad Hafeez aka Professor for reaching his maiden ODI century in his 61st appearance. Finally he reaches the magical all important 3 figures which will do a world of good for his confidence, especially with it coming in a winning cause. He deservedly received the MOM award.

Shahid Khan Afridi demonstrated his unique nature today which made great viewing. When he fires with the bat like we saw today, he has the capabilities to take any attack to the cleaners and become a true world beater. Never has one doubted that. Although it may only happen in rate proportions, when it does happen, it feels so damn good. Well played BOOMBOOM. That was a breath taking 65 from just 25 deliveries which absolutely dominated proceedings. Nonetheless, I reserve my judgement about him NOT being the best man to lead Pakistan as our chances of success and playing more consistently are significantly easier under a more cool and composed figure. However, individually we must give utmost credit where its due and if the team performs like they did today and makes the equation straight forward, then his mediocre captaincy limitations can be compensated for.

Additionally, the skipper bowled beautifully. He beat the bat on numerous occasions and his variations were coming out really nicely. One can only hope that he has regained his effectiveness and venom in the bowling department which could be a key factor in Pakistan's World Cup prospects.

Umar Akmal also came to the party which was a refreshing sight. His 29 ball 44 helped the innings acceleration at the death. His involvement in the field was fantastic with 3 cool catches and one crucial outstanding run out which probably sealed New Zealand's fate. Pakistani fans and followers can only hope this young tiger has re-discovered his international cricketing brilliance after a sparkling display today. Is this the Umar Akmal we all know? The star teenage attraction which took the world by storm in 2009?

Credit also has to be given to the middle order anchor role stability Misbah Ul Haq provided. Not every player in the team has to be a match winner and we have to notice the contributions of structured methodical players and the underappreciated significance they bring to the team. Misbah played a significant hand and engaged in an important partnership which battled through the potential difficult patches. This enabled the big star power houses to play with freedom, positivity, intent as soon as they arrived at the crease rather than them being exposed earlier in the piece where things would not have been easy without a platform set where they could unleash.

Pakistan will now be looking to consolidate on the good work by winning 2 of the next 3 ODIs which are to be held on the 1st,3rd and 5th of February respectively and subsequently win the series too. Will this thrilling tour come to a series decider on the 5th at Eden Park? Watch this space and watch out for the cornered tigers!

Good News: Pakistan's premier spinner Saeed Ajmal will be fit and fully available for selection in the 4th ODI. He is a key part of our plans. It's important they draft him into the starting line up somehow. Squad rotation perhaps?

Cool and collective Umar reminded us of his outfielding usefulness

On the 4th innings marvel that is YK and eternal whiners

The fact that Pakistan won their first test series in almost 4 and half years didn’t prevent some rather immature fans from whining about the result of the 2^nd test. The whiners complained that Pakistan teams approach to the target was gutless, tame, and what they called “phattu mentality” of the captain and coach robbed us from clean sweeping the miserable Kiwis.

Some of them would rather have Pakistan lose and draw the test series then to DRAW a test match from a winning position so shamelessly. The legacy of the cornered tigers they say has been disgraced by the utter nonchalance Misbah ul Haq displayed in the afternoon session chasing 274.

Maybe my fellow fans are forgetting that this is test match cricket and this team is still a work in progress. The team only has one world class batsman in the shape of Younis Khan (when he was on the crease the chase was still on) who can be expected to chase down totals in excess of 250 on a 5^th day wicket.  I didn’t expect them to chase down the total after we were in trouble at 43/3 and risked losing the match. Considering how much turn a part-timer like Mohammad Hafeez was getting on the 4^th day it was always going to be a challenge for the sometimes brittle Pakistani batting lineup to go for the win.

Image Courtesy: Marty Melville/Getty Images

Only 3 things are certain in life, taxes, death and a Pakistan batting collapse. Could the team think tank really risk losing a series, that too after 4 long years just to win one test match? Would you have done the same, considering that only a keeper who is playing his 4^th test match and the tailenders were left behind?

This is exactly what has been ailing Pakistan cricket for the past 4 years, the disability to look at the bigger picture, the incapacity to stick on the wicket and tough it out.

Younis - Pak Crickets hottest commodity

Sure we all want some entertainment out of it, but this is REAL TEST CRICKET. The still relatively inexperienced team cannot slog their way out to a win when they do not have the necessary experience to deal with a collapse. This is test cricket we are talking about folks, not a gulli danda T20 slog-fest.

To sum it up, I think Misbah ul Haq and his men made a brave choice when they gave more importance to a long awaited series win rather than a senseless chance at glory.

Speaking of Younis Khan, has Pakistan ever produced a batsman more capable of handling the pressure of the 4^th innings the way he does? Well the stats definitely say a big NO to that. The man is a class above everyone who is playing test cricket for Pakistan right now, a true winner.

The incomparable Khan from Mardan has been there more often than not when the team is in crisis. It was absolutely cruel of the PCB and his fellow players (who rebelled against his captaincy) to keep him out of the test side for almost 2 years.

Here are some amazing stats of Younis Khan in the 4^th Innings of a test match. Oh, and Cricinfo tells me that he is second only to The Great Don Bradman in 4^th innings batting average.

Younis Khan 4^th Innings Stats

Matches – 23 | Innings 21 | Not Out 6 | Runs 887 | Highest 131 | Average 59.13 | 100’s 4 | 50’s 4

Pakistan tour of New Zealand - Schedule

Pakistan Tour of New Zealand - Complete Schedule