Consistent cricket?

Pakistan’s otherwise disappointing tour of New Zealand couldn’t have ended on a better note. After getting thrashed 5-0 mercilessly by the Black Caps in the five-match One-day International series, the Pakistanis bounced back with a vengeance as they won the tour-ending Twenty20 series 2-1. Their emphatic victory in the series-decider at Mount Maunganui on January 28 catapulted Pakistan to the number one position in the ICC T20I rankings. While the T20 success is a fair cause for celebration, Pakistan’s downslide in the 50-over format is highly alarming considering that they will be featuring in the ICC World Cup in England next year. Last June, Pakistan confounded a growing list of critics with a stunning title-winning triumph in England. Hopes were high among Pakistan cricket supporters that under Sarfraz Ahmed, Pakistan would show further improvement in the ODI format in the lead up to World Cup 2019. But New Zealand managed to get the better of them in the ODI series. Mickey Arthur, the Pakistan coach, has blamed a lack of match fitness for his players’ below-par performance in the ODI series against New Zealand. He has stressed that his charges returned to national duty “in a far worse state physically and technically” after a five-week break.

That is simply unacceptable. Apparently, some of the players carried injuries while others – like match-winning pacer Hassan Ali – seemed too jaded to give their best. The PCB has assured that more care will be taken in the future but for now the damage has been done. Pakistan were on the rise following the Champions Trophy success but their ODI stocks have stumbled and it will take a long time – and great efforts – to put the team back on track in the 50-over format. Pakistan’s slide in the aftermath of their Champions Trophy victory seems like a continuation of a trend. Each time they do well in a particular event, they fail to capitalise on it. It shows that the team lacks consistency. That is one key area on which the PCB and Coach Arthur will have to focus more attention, otherwise Pakistan’s chances of regaining the world title will remain bleak.