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Thursday March 28, 2024

Do-or-die for Azhar as England eye clean sweep

By Khalid Hussain
September 01, 2016

With the series lost, Pakistan look for face-saving win at Headingley

NOTTINGHAM, England: When Azhar Ali was asked to fill in the shoes of Misbah-ul-Haq and resurrect Pakistan’s fortunes in the 50-over format, there were fears that the docile and not-so-charismatic player might be a bad choice.

After what happened at Trent Bridge on Tuesday night, such fears have magnified and there are widespread demands to axe Azhar and replace him with a more aggressive captain. For many, Sarfraz Ahmed — Azhar’s deputy — is the obvious choice.

It was evident that Azhar was well aware of the gathering storm around him as he walked into the makeshift press conference room located in one of the squash courts at Trent Bridge on Tuesday night. His team had slumped to a 169-run defeat after conceding a world record 444 runs against England. It was one of Pakistan’s worst losses, something that has added weight to calls for sweeping changes in Pakistan’s ODI squad.

But Azhar tried to carry himself even as the British scribes snubbed him. Not a single local reporter asked him a question as it was evident that they were waiting for Alex Hales to comment on his record-breaking 171. Their copy was about England’s heroics. Pakistan’s agony seemed old news.

There is a possibility that Azhar, too, might soon become old news in the ODI format. Barring a miraculous comeback by his under-performing team in the next two games in Leeds (today) and Cardiff (Sunday), Azhar is in clear and present danger of losing both his positions in the squad — as captain and as an opener.

It’s apparent that Pakistan have been unable to evolve which is the primary reason why they are unable to catch up with the leading one-day teams.

While other top teams have power-hitters both at the top and down the order, Pakistan’s only pinch-hitter is the inconsistent Sharjeel Khan.

In the current Pakistan team, there are too many batters like Azhar himself, who are more suited to 90s-style cricket when 260 would, more or less, be a winning total.

“It’s all about the basics,” Azhar told ‘The News’ still adamant that even the current Pakistan team, no matter how toothless it looks, was capable of doing much better.

“This is the best Pakistan team at the moment,” he said. “Yes we need power-hitters, yes we need better fielders. But the thing is that if you see (Pakistan’s) domestic cricket the totals that are being scored in international cricket are not being score there. To catch up (with international teams) we will have to change our culture.”

When asked whether he was feeling the pressure, Azhar conceded that after Tuesday night’s thrashing the entire team was shattered.

But he was quick to add that the team will quickly overcome the nightmarish defeat and give its best at Headingley, where the fourth game will be played on Thursday (today).

With England enjoying a 3-0 lead, it’s a dead rubber but Azhar knows that the last two games might prove to be his final chance as captain.

“These are international matches and remain very important for our team. We haven’t been able to give our best but will try harder now.”

Pakistan could make two to three changes in their line-up with the likes of the unimpressive Wahab Riaz, who finished with horrific figures of 0-110 at Trent Bridge, getting an axe. There are indications that the trio of Umar Gul, Mohammad Irfan and Imad Wasim (subject to fitness) will be part of the playing eleven.

But Intikhab Alam, Pakistan’s manager, said that a final decision on the line-up will be taken by the team management after taking a long, hard look at the wicket and weather conditions in Leeds.

Pakistan, who took the team bus from Nottingham to Leeds at around noon on Wednesday carried out a training session at Headingley later in the evening.

 

Today’s match

Pakistan vs England 06:00 pm (PST)