Pakistan in New Zealand : Jan/Mar 1994 : Pak Player Profiles
I thought I'd run through the Pakistan tourists that have been
exposed to us on TV during the NZ test series and say a little
about how each has impressed me (or otherwise). This is the first
time, really, I've watched any of them so closely and so what I'm
writing is not coloured by previous impressions. It would be in-
teresting indeed to hear the opinions of those of you who have
seen these players in other series.
Saeed Anwar: It is difficult to believe that someone with this
talent will not make it at test level. He has all the shots
square and in front of the wicket, but his main asset is *tim-
ing.* For me, his two best shots are the push back past the
bowler which races away for four, and that wristy flick to leg.
Additionally. he drives and cuts well. Unfortunately he
doesn't seem to want to play himself in before he starts look-
ing for runs. In particular, he favours the cut and back foot
drive with a cross bat far too early in his innings to wide
balls. Against the best attacks this could lead to a run of
outs. It is o be hoped for Pakistan's sake he can overcome this
problem. Being a good timer, he can look horrible when out of
touch, fortunately very rarely.
Aamir Sohail: A very similar style to Anwar, but without quite
that same natural ability. Essentially a hooker and a cutter, he,
too, gets out chasing wide ones at times, but looks more solid.
His innings in the 1st test, 2nd innings, which won the game
really for his side marked him down as an *intelligent* man. Pak-
istan were in trouble, two down with the bowlers on top and with
no runs being scored. Sohail realised that he had to break that
stranglehold or his team would have folded up. He picked the
right ball to hook, and took a number of quick singles to break
the field up. He all but saw it through for the win. Useful slow
left armers weren't used as much as they might have been.
Salim Malik: Batting wise, a bit of a disappointment. He always
showed what he was capable of but, just as he was getting his
front foot drives working, he'd aim a waft outside the off stump
without moving his feet. Scored well in the 2nd test, but only
after Saeed Anwar had demoralised the attack. Has this tendency
to walk across to the off side before the bowler bowls, sometimes
leaving his leg stump exposed. He wouldn't do that to Shane
Warne for very long. As a captain he was an amiable fellow with
a zany sense of humour who, I'm sure, contributed greatly to
the happy atmosphere, generally, in which the games were played,
AND also to the off the field impression the tourists made with
us all.
Basit Ali: Scored a lot of runs, but I thought he got more than
he was entitled to. If he could learn to respect the opposition a
little more he would tighten up his play considerably. Benefitted
fron dropped catches more than most. Not that this is meant
to belittle his ability of course. When well set, he looked
as solid as anyone and *very* dangerous. More of a power player
than a timer, really, and certainly in comparison to Anwar.
Plays drives of either foot and also favours the cut.
Inzamam-ul-Haq: Not at all what we were led to expect. In the 1st
test, on that difficult Eden Park wicket, he was indisputably the
best batsman on either side. He was the only player who looked in
no trouble during the playing in period, and he did that in both
innings. At Wellington he had a joy ride together with Malik and
was able to get his shots over mid wicket going with monotonous
regularity. Prepared to play himself now in before bringing out
the big stick, the selectors may decide to give him a second go
up the order. Looks the goods at test level for sure.
Rashid Latif: One of the better keepers in the world game today.
He is a vital part of the Pakistani fielding effort, particularly
with the W plan bowling. Can't recall that he put down a catch,
and he took heaps. So much so that he set a Pakistan keeper's
record in that 1st? test. Tidy enough to the spinners and did
well enough keeping to the leggie at Auckland. As a batsman, he
is basically a front foot driver with a very wide, low, stance.
Not easy to get out coming in at number seven.
Wasim Akram: Bowled at a reduced pace for most of the series,
coming through generally, at a round 120kph. He is capable of
much more and got up to 132 very occasionally. Has the most un-
believable variation of any opening bowler you care to name and,
on NZ wickets, was just about unplayable with the new ball. From
an opening bowler you want swing and seam both ways, accuracy,
bounce, and the ability to come back for two and three spells.
Normally pigs might fly, but Wasim, believe me, can do *the lot.*
Not as devastating as Waqar during the reverse swing overs. With
the new ball, the batsmen very seldom got *any* of Wasim's stuff
in the middle of the bat. His fielding was a joke at times.
Waqar Younis: Good new ball bowler but relies on swing only rath-
er than swing and seam. He also cut his pace down on this tour,
coming off an injury. Even then he was between 130-135kph, with
the odd one at up to 138 when he was riled. With the older
ball shined up on the one side he was devastating being able to
swing it either way late at great pace. His best ball is that
inswing- ing yorker. This ball can be delivered at any time, not
just dur- ing the reverse swing overs, but he finds it harder to
bowl when tired. He is the one bowler about whom you feel "this
guy is ca- pable of running through us completely despite our
best efforts." Unusual for two reasons. Firstly he gets such
swing at his pace. Secondly, for such a swinger of the ball,
he has that knack of knowing where to put it, and to do it con-
sistently.
Akram Raza: Better, I thought, than our TV commentators gave him
credit for. Right arm off-break bowler who was capable of de-
ceiving the batsman not only with variable flight, but also vari-
able length. Reasonable back foot batsman who scored some good
runs when they were needed.
Ata-ur-Rehman: There is a bit of controversy over Ata's age, but
we are led to believe he is 19. Accepting that at face value, he
is very promising indeed. Bowls at the mid-to-high 120kph range
and can move it both ways through the air. Has nowhere near the
consistency of the Ws but still very much has the makings. A good
batsman can get on to him at this stage of his development, but
he is capable of getting wickets with his swing.
Aamir Nazir: Only played in the last test. Was capable of getting
prodigious banana swing during the reverse swing overs, but
couldn't control it and didn't know quite where to bowl. Reason-
ably pacey at high 120s, but not anywhere near as promising as
Ata.
Mushtaq Ahmed: Unfortunately we only saw him bowl in one test.
Even then he probably wasn't fully fit. Has all the traditional
orthodox leggie skills and bowls a good googly and toppie. Bryan
Young had no idea which ball he was bowling. Capable of get-
ting anyone out, but a bit inconsistent. Bowls too many "4"
balls, particularly when under siege.
Asif Mujtaba and Atif Rauf, we didn't see enough of, whilst
Shoaib Mohammed, Ashfaq Ahmed, and Shakeel Ahmed we didn't see at
all.