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Pakistan could have done better Salahudin Ahmed (Sallu) - 11 June 2001
England was depleted in the absence of Graham Thorpe and Andrew Caddick, with Nasser Hussain already out, but even that is no excuse keeping in view the margin of defeat. This was a remarkable win, and showed that Pakistan's ascendancy at Old Trafford was no fluke. More so because Pakistan seemed superior in all departments in that game. In my view the only disappointing things in that match were Razzaq and Youhana getting run out.
Azhar Mahmood followed suit, and Saeed Anwar having done the hard work gave his wicket away too, rather casually. Younis Khan was given leg before by Peter Willey when he was not; the star-crossed Younis must be wondering what he has to do to get the umpires to rule in his favour! That too, when he is in form and can make a really useful contribution. Since he has been 'adjudged' three times in last five visits to the crease, I do hope he does not lose confidence or start believing in conspiracy theories. A word about Inzamam. The way he got out trying to blast Warne out of the ground was really distressing. He is the vice-captain and a batsman on whom the team banks on to perform. He should show more responsibility, and especially because he is in fine fettle these days. He has made the most of it so far, but he shouldn't loose his composure, even once.
Rashid Latif has more than justified his selection by his performance, both in front of the wicket and behind it. He is a tremendous fighter who never says die. This is also one reason why he keeps resurrecting his career when it seems to be all but over. But he seems to have health problems at this point and it would be advisable to keep a replacement handy. I think Moin Khan in the circumstances deserves a recall, and the selectors should look into sending him over to England. The Aussies, thorough professionals as they are, went about the task of getting the runs by going after the Pakistan attack. They were helped along by the fact that with Shoaib and Waqar's pace, batsmen only need to get a reasonable touch and the ball disappears to the boundary, particularly in the first 15 overs. Waqar should have brought Saqlain Mushtaq on much earlier than he did, and once the off-spinner was given the ball he removed Ricky Ponting but by then the horse had bolted.
As Pakistan seem determined to do well, when they take on England on Tuesday, they would need to keep things tight while bowling and the batting order requires a change or two as well. For instance, why not promote Younis up the order, to number three? Razzaq has not been contributing many runs, and Younis with his characteristic aggression may make a difference. Going up the order may also change his luck with the umpires. It might relieve Razzaq too, for down the order he may discover the form while batting aggressively, which he perhaps cannot, going into a defensive groove at number three.
© CricInfo Limited
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