Just a week ago, this team was proudly announcing its squad a day before the games to signify that they are entering the season of mega-events with a settled team, which they have ripened over 4 years. A week later, the ‘settled’ team is again drowning in currents of uncertainty. Pakistan’s spin attack is in shambles, their main pacer is injured and very likely to miss the entire tourney and the morale is competing with the country’s GDP for glory. You can’t make this stuff up if you try.
One minute down, next minute up. But how long is a minute, really?
If you are an extraterrestrial being planning to use humans as a subject for a science fair project, it would be wise to avoid selecting Pakistan cricket as your representative example. Doing so would surely get you an F, for the human race is nothing like this part of the cricketing world.
A wise man once said that this team is one minute down, next minute up. Wise, though he may be, he still is naive in terms of knowing this team. Disclaimer for those who think this one minute is counted in Earthly time, the minute they are up, it seems they will never suffer a fall, troughs are not made for them.
The minute they are down, rising again looks by no sane means possible. Let’s take the example of Pakistan’s main spinner, Shadab Khan. Taking a 4-fer on Multan’s belter pitch? No problem for him. Controlling line and length to take help from Sri Lanka’s rank turners? He’ll pass on that.
Problem with Pakistan’s spin attack
Going on a hiking trip, you have been planning with your friends for an eternity, you can be anything but unprepared. Your shoes are a proper fit, the backpack is not too heavy, you are hydrated and the weather seems to be nice too. You start the hiking. Suddenly, a realization dawns upon you. Your shoes are not as comfortable as they felt earlier. Maybe the backpack could use a little trimming. Your throat initially quenched, now feels as parched as the aridest desert. The weather, seemingly out of nowhere, begins to betray you, wrapping you in a suffocating blanket of humidity.
This is precisely what happened with Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Blame it on Murphy’s Law as much as you want. The reality is that it’s the universe avenging the over-exploitation of its miracles by this team since its inception. In Pakistan’s Achilles, the heel was its spin attack. And so it stung the most where it was already stinging. The failure of spinners to rise to the occasion cost Pakistan two games, especially after their troika of pace attack broke.
Pakistan’s spin attack boasts no specialist spinner. Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz have been handling the affairs of the spin department quite efficiently by aiding pacers in destroying batting lineups. At a venue like India, against teams who know how to ruin a bowler’s figures in middle overs, Shadab and Nawaz would do better with someone to cover for them.
Tweakers timing their fall perfectly
It came as a blessing in disguise for Pakistan, though we can only know it for certain after the World Cup. Just before the World Cup, the team realized how the absence of a proper spinner would hurt their chances of bringing the silverware home. Thus began the quest for finding the appropriate pick. Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Muqeem, Faisal Akram, Imad Wasim, and many options were blurted out by fans and pundits. Though Abrar’s name is making the most noise, others on the list have proved to be deceivers with the ball in their careers. Who will be the most beneficial addition to the squad of these players? Let the numbers decide.
The above chart depicts List A bowling stats of a few spinners who are fan favorites to sneak into the World Cup-bound squad. Barring Qasim Akram and Mehran Mumtaz, none of the others have adequate List A experience. Abrar Ahmed, however, is the only one with the Test cap. Harry Potter, as they call him, has played the pure format of the game against the likes of Bazball intoxicated England, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.
Who is more likely to crash the party?
Owing to his figures, international exposure, and ability to tweak the ball even on the flattest of decks, Abrar has the most chances to visit India. The fact that he has bowled in three-Test series in varying conditions and still has decent figures (despite being a leggie) makes him more special. It is understood across the cricketing world that it is not easy to bowl long spells as a leg-spinner. Since his debut, Abrar has bowled more overs than any other bowler from Pakistan in Tests. This should erase any doubts one has related to his consistency in bowling miserly lines and lengths.
Why not get an experienced bowler on board?
Unfortunately, as of now, Pakistan has no experienced specialist spinner available. Bowling or batting all-rounders who can spin the ball could make a case for themselves. Will they be any different from the three spin all-rounders Pakistan is already planning to take along?
Imad Wasim has been in contention to be included in the squad as well. Likely, replacing one of the three spin-all-rounders, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, and Usama Mir. His figures, too, in the ODIs with the ball are not impressive enough to force the selectors to open the doors for him.
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