Pakistan's Champions Trophy Win 2017

 

Pakistan cricket team's Champions Trophy win in 2017 came as a major surprise as Pakistan were the lowest ranked team in the Tournament ranked 8th. Sarfraz Ahmed was the captain this time and having led Pakistan to Under-19 World Cup win in 2006 this wasnt a new experience for him.

Pakistan began the tournament badly with a crushing defeat at the hands of India in their opening match but they regained form and momentum by defeating South Africa and Sri Lanka in their remaining group stage matches to set a date against England in the Semi Final. England were one of the pre tournament favourites to win the tournament but Pakistan crushed them by 8 wickets in the semi final having restricted them to a below par total of 211 runs.

In the Final against India Fakhar Zaman scored a match winning century with Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez scoring half centuries allowing Pakistan to post a mammoth total of 338 runs on board. Muhammad Amir then took the early wickets of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shekhar Dhawan to set up Pakistan's Champions trophy win by restricting India to a score of 161 runs. 

In the end what I would like to say is that Champions Trophy is the only ICC event where Pakistan have defeated India thrice.

Pakistan's 2009 World Cup Twenty20 triumph

 

Pakistan's 2009 Twenty20 World Cup win came as no surprise as they were very close to winning the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup against India in the Final had Misbah ul Haq not played that atrocious shot of scooping the ball in Sreesanth hands off Joginder Sharma's bowling. 

Nevertheless after defeating Netherlands with a higher net runrate than Netherlands Pakistan reached the Super Eights after losing to England in their opening game. After losing to Sri Lanka in their first match of Super Eights Pakistan finally found form against New Zealand with Umar Gul being the chief destroyer. After defeating Ireland Pakistan reached the semi final against South Africa.

Shahid Afridi played a match winning innings coming at No.3 in the batting order to ensure Pakistan scored a decent total of 149 on board. Then Pakistan restricted South Africa to a score of 142 runs to set a date with Sri Lanka in the Final. Pakistan restricted Sri Lanka to a below par total of 139 runs and then Shahid Afridi once again played a heroic innings to lift the Twenty20 world Cup 2009 for Pakistan for the very first time.

In the end what I would like to say of the three ICC events that is Champions Trophy, 50 over world cup and Twenty20 world Cup Pakistan looks like a capable team in only Twenty20 World Cups.

Pakistan make 7 changes on their tour of England 2026

 

Pakistan have made several changes to the test team and bringing whiteball coach Mike Hesson as test coach. There was no use making such changes as the new players brought in are inexperienced and will not fare any better than the original squad.

The only good selection made to this new squad is that of Saim Ayub as Saim Ayub is a pretty talented batsman and we shouldnt waste his talent. Also Saim Ayub has an aggressive approach to his batting which will bring positivity to Pakistan's batting especially at the top order where Pakistan is struggling at the moment.

In the end what I would like to say that Pakistan will most probably be thrashed 3-0 in this test series against England because of wrong selection of players.

Pakistan face a daunting task in the second test against England 2026

 

Pakistan will most probably be defeated in the second test in the 4th day's play as England lead by a massive 357 runs on a pitch that is extremely difficult for batting. The Pakistani bowlers did their best in this test match but their batsmen let them down badly by scoring a paltry 110 runs total in their first innings.

The only batsman who has stood out for Pakistan in this test match is Azan Awais who is a youngster and new to international cricket. I think Pakistan should continue with Azan Awais for a long time as he has got talent. 

This Pakistan team is being labelled by cricket experts like Stuart Broad and Micheal Vaughan as the weakest Pakistan team to tour England in 50 years. I am sure that I agree with them.

In the end what I would like to say is that Pakistan will do well if they can avoid defeat in the third and last test match against England in Edgbaston Birmingham.

Pakistan facing defeat in the Second test against England 2026

 

Pakistan face another humiliating defeat at the hands of England in the second test at Lords. Pakistani batting once again collapsed to 110 all out against England in the first innings which might be very disheartening and dispiriting for Pakistani fans.

Our batting certainly doesnt have the technique to face swing bowling and the ball that move a lot either by swing or seam and they get exposed regularly particularly in overseas test matches. Pakistani batsmen are brought on flat pitches at home and when they go abroad especially on pitches like in countries such as England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand they struggle.

In the end what I would like to say is that England are a much better test team than Pakistan especially in their home conditions.

The second test is evenly poised between Pakistan and England 2026

 

Pakistan and England second test is evenly poised with Pakistan slightly ahead as England are 248 for 9 at stumps on Day 1 of the test match. Again I would say that Pakistan let the England lower order to somewhat and to some extent comeback in this test match when they were 122 for 5 with Jamie Smith scoring a half century and Gus Atkinson at 34 not out.

This letting the lower order batsmen to score runs proved to be devastating for Pakistan as Pakistani pacemen dont have the pace to knockout these batsmen with pace. I wonder why they are not playing Ubaid Shah as he has some pace as compared to Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad and Muhammad Ali.

In the end what I would like to say is that Pakistani batsmen will need to bat well in this test match as conditions favour bowlers in this test match as there is lot of seam, sideways movement and swing on this Lord's pitch.

Pakistan's 1992 World Cup triumph

 

These are gloomy days for Pakistan cricket fans as we hardly win any match nowadays especially in test cricket. Therefore I decided to reminiscence my memories of 1992 World Cup won under Imran Khan's captaincy by Pakistan by defeating England in the Final by 22 runs in Melbourne Cricket Ground.

 Pakistan looked down and out losing three matches to West Indies, India and South Africa. Their only win coming against Zimbabwe and with a miraculous escape from defeat and sharing an abandoned match due to rain with one point each after being bowled out for 71 runs against England. In their next match against Australia Imran Khan ordered his pacemen Wasim Akram and Aaqib Javed to bowl as fast as they can on this pitch in Perth without worrying about Wides and No-balls. This inspirational instruction worked for Pakistan against Australia as Australia chasing Pakistan's total of 220 runs folded for just 167 odd runs. Pakistan then went onto beat Sri Lanka and New Zealand to reach the semifinals of 1992 World Cup.

Inzamam ul Haq surprisingly came into form in the semi finals and final of the 1992 World Cup playing match winning knock at a brisk pace of 61 in the semi final against New Zealand and 42 runs against England in the Final. Wasim Akram's match winning performance in the Final against England probably won the 1992 World Cup for Pakistan. Wasim Akram scored a brisk 33 runs in the Final with the bat off only 18 balls and then with the ball he took the vital wickets by clean bowling Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis off consecutive deliveries.

In the end what I would like to say that in the absence of legendary cricketers which were in 1992 World Cup team like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Inzamam ul Haq and Wasim Akram it seems impossible whether Pakistan will win the fifty over world cup again.