Pakistan team’s Test ranking is on the decline for quite some time now. Pakistan cricket team currently ranks seventh (7th) in ICC rankings just above West Indies and Bangladesh. This is largely due their poor recent performances on away tours against England, Australia and New Zealand cricket team.
Pakistan team has seen numerous player changes, management, and coaching staff changes which has brought even more inconsistency in the performances in Test cricket.
Misbah-ul-haq who was nominated as the chief selector and the Head coach of Pakistan cricket team has been largely unsuccessful in bringing about a change in team’s performances. Instead Pakistan team has stooped to lower rankings even further.
Pakistan Last 10 Test series results: L W D W L L L W W L L
Pakistan vs South Africa is the first home series for Pakistan in a long time. Pakistan team has made big changes in the team and included several young players upon their performances in the domestic circuit. This has lead to the exclusion of several seasoned players from the team including, Hafeez, Mohammed Abbas, Asad Shafique, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Maqsood and many others.
Young Nauman Ali is added to the playing XI against South Africa. Hassan Ali has also made a comeback in the Test Squad after a long injury break.
Pakistan cricket team was heavily criticized upon losing the New Zealand series. Team management and coaches were heavily criticized for their failures. South African series is therefore a very critical series for Pakistan team to win and show some improvement.
Shoaib Akhtar says “Kiss your coaching jobs, good bye if Pakistan fails to win the series against South Africa”.
Pakistan cricket team was deprived off any home cricket for more than a decade. Now that the things have normalized for the Pakistan cricket. Teams have started to tour Pakistan, and the home advantage is back for Pakistan to make full use of it.
Pakistan played most of its home series in U.A.E where there was nothing much to work with in terms of conditions and the options were limited. Pitches were dead and dry and the conditions were hot through out the year. Factors like breeze, Due, pitch grass, outfield and the crowd absence was consistent and predicable. Home advantage was just not available for Pakistan while playing in U.A.E.
Pakistan used this home advantage to perfection in Karachi in the first test match against South Africa. After a successful campaign against Sri Lanka, South African team played in the trying bating conditions in Karachi where Pakistan made full use of its spinners and bowled out South Africa on just 220 runs. Furthermore, the local boy Fawad Alam’s experience came in handly who has played ample amount of first class cricket in Karachi. Fawad came in to bat at a time where Pakistan was once 33/4. Fawad not only played the anchor role and built partnerships but also scored a century. This was his 2nd century in three matches.
Pakistan’s recovery from 33/4 to 378 runs with 158 runs lead was no more than a miracle for the team only made possible with the grit and resolve of Fawad Alam.
Though the crowd is missing due to the pandemic crisis, and there is no crowd support in the stadium. Pakistan has made full use of the conditions and the pitch to their benefit.
Many local analysts believe that South Africa kept on bowling short and length where they should have given more air to the ball in order to get more reverse swing. Pakistan already knew the conditions well and adjusted to this with perfection.
Pakistan cricket team has certainly got the home advantage back and this will improve their performance in the Test cricket as well. However, As Pakistan team largely banks on young talent and natural skill, the biggest advantage of playing at home will be that the young kids and players will be able to see their stars at home and get the inspiration needed for them to shine. Which in return further improve the young talent pool of Pakistan cricket.
Lets hope that Test cricket once again thrives in the cricket loving nation of Pakistan and world cricket gets the same old quality cricketers from Pakistan.
