Date-stamped : 08 Feb2000 - 10:23 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. Contributed by Geoff.Bethell (srg3lib@*grace.cri.nz)