The year started with a nightmare for the Pakistan team following the heartbreaking (read soul crushing) defeat at Sydney and things haven’t improved as we reach end October. Although there have been few bright spots here and there like a strong performance in the T20 world cup and the test win against Australia outside the subcontinent after 27 light years, on the whole 2010 followed a similar pattern of disappointment and anguish for a Pakistani cricket fan that have been emerging since oval test 2005 (Daryl Hair smiles*). Pakistan Cricket Board’s inability to simply do its job has been on display all year long. The long tours abroad have magnified the glaring flaws in how cricket is run in the country.
Despite all what is going around Pakistan will be starting their “home series” against South Africa from tomorrow with the first T20 match. T20 is the format that is tailor made for the volatile Pakistan team. Pakistan have already knocked out South Africa from two tournaments playing in this format so they will have a slight Psychological advantage over them, but Pakistan team seldom conforms with the norms. Pakistan will be relieved to play in familiar surroundings after almost a year and likes of Ajmal and Afridi are sure to cause problems for the South Africans. Pakistan batting even though brittle can yet stand twenty overs of cricket and with Razzaq finding some good form recently we all may be in for a surprise? Amir’s absence particularly in the T20 side is bound to weaken the fast bowling department but the spinners may well do the job for the team in probably spin friendly conditions.
South Africans on the other hard offer a stark contrast to the dysfunctional Pakistan team. They are a well oiled machine of professionals but the juggernaut has been halted before by the men in green (Kallis still blushes on the sigh of Afridi blowing kisses to him). South Africans should be favorites for the first T20 match considering the state of affairs with the Pakistan team, but that is the role the current Pakistani players have grown accustomed to.
