A NEW PAKISTAN
They have changed immensely since the Bangladesh series.
SOURCE OF PIC: ESPNCRICINFO
The Pakistan team has shown immense improvement.
As
Shoaib Malik slammed the final six over midwicket, the fans cheered like they
each had received a million dollars. As the SL players trudged back, you could
see the disbelief in their eyes. You could also see the happiness in the
Pakistan player’s eyes. Forget the series, even winning a match seemed
impossible for Pakistan. But it all changed with this tournament. Mohammed
Hafeez sprung back into form, Ahmed Shehzad finally clicked, and the bowlers
did outstanding, especially Yasir Shah. Even the match they lost, they lost to
Kusal Perera’s brilliant fifty, not Sri Lanka. After his fifty, SL collapsed
and But most of all, Azhar Ali’s captaincy
changed.
When Azhar Ali became a captain after the World
Cup, he looked confused. A man who was dropped from the ODI squad, suddenly
came back as a captain. And with a new captain, Pakistan became chaotic. Without
Misbah and Afridi, Pakistan was flabbergasted on what to do. Bangladesh took
full advantage of that and creamed them. Azhar Ali’s form drastically improved,
but the team was in chaos. Pakistan did okay in the tests, winning 1-0, but
Bangladesh made it no cakewalk, and denied an easy whitewash. Pakistan cricket
was in confusion. Then came a shining light. The Zimbabwe tour.
In my opinion, Zimbabwe was the reason behind
Pakistan’s success. They took the risk that no other team took, and even after
being attacked once, they still continued. Pakistan had been suffering without
international cricket at home for 4 years, and although PCB found a temporary
home, Sharjah, it was not home. So when Zimbabwe stepped up, Pakistan found
their bright light. They had found water in a lost desert. Many, many things
came out of the tour. Relief. Joy. And mostly, determination and confidence.
The determination to go on, the confidence of winning.
Pakistan has not just changed in ODI’s. T20’s, it
is too early to decide, but they have changed in Test’s too. A BIG change. When
Pakistan were to tour Sri Lanka, it became a certainty that they wouldn’t win
one game. But look at the comeback they made. They won a test, but Sri Lanka
won the next one. The third one, Sri Lanka dominated for three days. Pakistan
showed their mettle then. 377 to win, Pakistan made it look like a cakewalk.
Shan Masood and Younis Khan dominated SL’s bowling, and took Pakistan home
easily. That victory made many records; highest successful chase for Pakistan,
highest successful chase in Sri Lanka, second highest in Asia, and sixth
highest in all cricket. But there was another historic reason; it marked a new
time in Pakistan cricket.
Now, Pakistan are owning the ODI series, almost
got Champions Trophy qualification, and will most likely win 4-1. In the beginning
of the tournament, they looked to gift a whitewash to Sri Lanka in both Test,
ODI, and T20. We’ve seen their mettle in Test and ODI, now we have to see it in
T20. One thing is for sure; the Men in Green are not little speck to brush
aside- they’re lions.
Will Pakistan Win The Series 4-1 and the T20 series?
If Yes, Then Comment Yes
If No, Then Comment No
If You Don't Know, Then Comment IDK
