Pakistan > Reviews (23)

When England last played in a test series in Pakistan the series was most famously remembered for the disgraceful confrontation between England captain Mike Gatting and local Test umpire Shakoor Rana. Whilst that incident had the positive development in the use of independent umpires it partly resulted in the temporary cessation of Test tours by England until this winter season. Other incidents also occurred and whilst the series was concluded largely according to the original schedule the fact that the England team was given a hardship bonus for playing in Pakistan was regarded by many in that country as a bit of an insult. Conditions are said to be much improved for the current touring party and I fervently hope that relations between the England and Pakistan teams are warm and encourage more frequent tours.

The absence of tours means that none of the present England touring party has had any experience of the conditions on the Indian sub-continent which can have a significant bearing on the outcome. The Pakistani test team though is very strong and may be too strong for this England team. A significant factor here will be which team hits the ground running. It is only a three-match test series so there will be little time to recover from a bad start.

Pakistan will be captained by their wicket keeper Moin Khan. Moin is a very vocal captain perhaps best known for his interjections from behind the stumps. His ability as captain is untested but he will be ably supported in his duties by senior players like Wasim Akram and Inzamam-ul-Haq. Moin though is a capable batsman and may improve on his test average of 28 in this series. Much of his good batting ability comes from his reading of the spinners on turning wickets in the Indian sub-continent.

Pakistan’s batting line-up is particularly strong. Saeed Anwar is one of the world’s best openers but doubts exist on his fitness. If he is fit further centuries look inevitable. Ijaz Ahmed is vastly experienced and possesses a huge array of shots. Vying with them for a place at the top of the order will be the latest teenage sensation Imran Nazir who at 19 already has a test century behind him.
It is interesting to nat that in terms of test centuries Pakistan have 10 potential players for this series who have scored test centuries - England have 5 - Atherton ,Hick, Hussain, Stewart and Thorpe.
If Nazir falls out of favour, possibly due to his slightly impetuous nature, then Salim Elahi may be given his chance. Elahi is better known for his one-day ability but has been in good form in Pakistan this year.

Following these players at 4 or 5 will be Inzamam-ul-Haq who has now played over 100 test innings and has a batting average of over 45 in those innings. Put in context that is 5 runs average higher than Alec Stewart who has the best test average of the England touring party. Inzamam is a superb batsman who has got his runs against the best pace and spin attacks. England’s bowlers will hope to get him early because if he gets in one fears for the England bowlers.

I predict Inzamam to be the man-of-the-series.

If Pakistan elect to play six batsman Yousuf Youhana will play. Again though his test average is on a par with Hussains and higher than Hicks. Yousuf is a very steady player and like Chanderpaul for the West Indies is a player who does not score particularly quickly but does not give his wicket away.
Pakistan is fortunate to have three excellent all-rounders. Firstly there is Wasim Akram who has improved as a test batsman now that the responsibilities of the captaincy are no longer with him. Though age has probably reduced the speed of his bowling it is Wasim’s ability to swing the ball in both directions which will make him the most dangerous bowler in the Pakistan team. Wasim has over 400 test wickets and could possibly move towards Courtney Walsh’s record. However with Walsh still paying and Shane Warne and Murilitharan both taking so many wickets I don’t feel Wasim will hold the record.

The other all-rounders are Abdur Razzaq who is another Pakistan cricketer to have played test cricket as a teenager and Azhar Mahmood. Abdur has been used further up the order than you would normally expect for an all-rounder but his bowling is little more than a useful back-up. The arrival of Abdur has pushed Azhar Mahmood down the list of choices which given his arrival in test cricket with a century on his debut is a surprise. Azhar is still potentially the greater prospect and is a more useful seam bowler. The important thing from Pakistan’s point of view is the enormous flexibility having such all-rounders gives them in determining the shape of the team in test matches.

The absence of Shoaib Akhtar will be a big blow to Pakistan. Shoaib is the world’s fastest bowler at present who on his day is practically unplayable and a huge joy to watch.
His absence means the main pace duties will fall to Waqar Younis. Waqar is fondly remembered at Surrey where he was a tremendous bowler. Like Wasim he has lost some pace but still moves the ball at pace throughout the innings. The rest of the pace attack will have to come from one of the all-rounders if Pakistan feel they need it. It is more likely though that turing wickets aiding the spinners will be prepared and in this area Pakistan are streets ahead of England.

Main spinner will be Saqlain Mushtaq who is growing in stature and bears comparison with Warne and Muralithiran for the variety in pace and flight in his bowling. On the wickets he will play on in Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi he will be certain to be among the wickets. His confrontation with Hick, normally a good player of spin and one who can murder the bad ball, will be crucial. Who operates with Saqlain is not known. Pakistan have Mushtaq Ahmed who is a world class spinner but now getting a little old. Pakistan have always blooded their youngsters early and that can mean a test regular suddenly leaves the scene. This might mean Mushtaq making way for leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Pakistan seem too strong for England. Whilst England may be helped by the current good atmosphere among the team Pakistan also appear settled but in Pakistan cricket the next crisis always seems around the corner. However I predict Pakistan to take the test series 1-0.