Pakistan faces Sri Lanka in a must-win Asia Cup encounter today, with a place in the tournament final on the line for the victor.
A critical factor in Pakistan’s recent struggles has been a reliance on “bits and pieces” all-rounders who fail to make a significant impact with either bat or ball. This selection strategy has consistently undermined the team’s balance, a problem evident in the underutilization of players like Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan in recent T20 World Cups.
Nawaz, despite being the player of the series in a recent tri-nation tournament and taking a match-winning hat-trick against Afghanistan, was bafflingly used only as a batter against India. Similarly, Saim Ayub’s recent form highlights the issue: after scoring just 21 runs in four Asia Cup matches, he was entrusted with the ball against India, only to concede 35 runs in three expensive overs. The decision to bowl him ahead of a specialist spinner like Nawaz raised further questions about team strategy.
For Pakistan to succeed in high-stakes matches, a balanced side composed of specialists is essential. The current lineup, featuring Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz, captain Salman Ali Agha, and Faheem Ashraf in ill-defined roles, lacks clarity. If players like Faheem and Nawaz are considered bowling all-rounders, they must be trusted with the ball consistently.
A more effective combination would feature six specialist batters, one genuine all-rounder, and four specialist bowlers. The choice between Nawaz and Faheem should be dictated by pitch conditions—Nawaz on turning tracks and Faheem on surfaces favouring seam. Their batting ability should be a secondary consideration to their primary role as bowlers. The pace attack, comprising Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Wasim Jr., can be rotated, while a specialist spinner like Abrar Ahmed or Sufiyan Muqeem should be a permanent fixture, with both potentially playing on spin-friendly pitches.
Players who fail to deliver in their primary discipline have no place in the starting XI. Ayub is not a frontline spinner, and Nawaz has not proven to be a reliable batter. Pakistan would be better served by fielding a specialist batter like Hasan Nawaz or a spinner like Sufiyan Muqeem.
The team’s mindset also requires a significant shift. The rhetoric of “aggressive intent” from coaches and players is contradicted by on-field performances. Sahibzada Farhan’s celebration of a 58-run knock off 45 balls, which saw him score just seven runs from his final 11 deliveries, exemplifies this disconnect. In contrast, Abhishek Sharma’s impactful 74 off 39 for India demonstrated what true aggression achieves. Pakistan’s inability to accelerate, managing only 38 runs between overs 11 and 17 against India, further exposed this flawed approach.
Tactical decisions have been equally poor. Benching the team’s most aggressive batter, Hasan Nawaz, against arch-rivals India while Hussain Talat, Nawaz, and Agha slowed the innings was a clear error. While Faheem Ashraf showed promise, promoting him alongside explosive hitters like Mohammad Haris and Shaheen Afridi could have pushed Pakistan’s total beyond 190.
The criticism once leveled at Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for their strike rates now seems applicable to the current leadership. Captain Salman Ali Agha is repeating similar mistakes, and his decision not to promote Haris ahead of himself reflects a lack of tactical courage. This culture of rewarding mediocrity, where personal milestones are celebrated despite team losses, must end if Pakistan is to progress.
The challenge ahead is formidable. Sri Lanka enters the match in strong form, with a potent batting and bowling attack. History also favors them, as Pakistan has not defeated Sri Lanka in a T20I since 2017, losing the last five encounters, including the 2022 Asia Cup final.
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