Younis Khan as Captain

  Younis Khan was another successful captain of Pakistan. Besides being Pakistan's all time highest scorer in Test cricket with over 10,000 test runs. He led Pakistan to a number of memorable victories like the Twenty20 World Cup 2009 and also leading Pakistan to Semi Finals in Champions trophy 2009. Besides leading Pakistan to a memorable Karachi test win over India in 2006 in the absence of Inzamam ul Haq.

Younis Khan led Pakistan to its only title in 2009 Twenty20 World Cup. Younis Khan retired from Twenty20 internationals after that. This Twenty20 World Cup 2009 win was a tremendous achievement as Pakistan's performance in 2014, 2016 and 2024 Twenty20 World Cups was below par. 

In the end what I would like to say is that if Pakistani players didnt revolt against Younis Khan after Pakistan's disastrous tour of Sri Lanka in 2009 where they lost the ODI series 3-2 and test series 2-0 to Sri Lanka then Younis Khan would have led Pakistan to more glory as captain.

First test between Pakistan and Bangladesh 2024

 Pakistan lost to Bangladesh in the first test at Rawalpindi by 10 wickets. This is a big blow for Pakistan's chances in the World Test Championship 2023-2025 making it almost impossible for them to reach the final of World test championship 2023-2025. Pakistan's selection was flawed in this test match especially in bowling as they selected 4 fast bowlers with no genuine spinner in the team. They should have played Abrar Ahmed instead of probably Mohammad Ali who is inexperienced at this level.

This was also Bangladesh's first test win in it's history against Pakistan. Pakistan cricket is at its lowest ebb at the moment and there seems no respite in the near future.

On the otherhand Pakistan has a lot of talent but they are not playing upto their full potential. They should also make sporting pitches when they know their main strength is fast bowling. Rawalpindi pitch for the first test pitch was a flat track hardly supporting the bowlers both fast and spin.

In the end what I would like to say is that Pakistan has the potential to level the series if they play according to their strengths.

Saqlain Mushtaq the inventor of Doosra

 

Saqlain Mushtaq was one of the finest off spinners in the world produced by Pakistan. He had one mystery delivery the doosra which was a ball that Saqlain Mushtaq invented which was a ball that turned away. This ball turned in opposite direction to his stock ball which was the off break. Saqlain Mushtaq used this delivery pretty cleverly and often bamboozled and outfoxed the opposition batsmen by it.

Saqlain Mushtaq's best performance came in 1999 test tour of India in which he bagged 20 wickets in the series taking 5 wickets in each innings in the two test series which was drawn 1-1. Pakistan won the Chennai test by the narrowest of margins of 12 runs when Saqlain Mushtaq dismissed Sachin Tendulkar caught by Wasim Akram with just 17 runs still needed.

Saqlain Mushtaq was a brilliant ODI bowler often bowling incisive spells with great economy rates. He played a key role in Pakistan's triumph in Carlton and United Series in Australia. in 1996/1997.

In the end what I would like to say is that Saqlain was not only an amazing off spin bowler but a great coach of Pakistan cricket team as well. Coaching Pakistan to semi finalist standing in 2021 Twenty20 World Cup and runners up in 2022 Twenty20 World cup.

Wasim Akram as Captain

Wasim Akram led Pakistan to many great victories as captain. Under Wasim Akram's captaincy Pakistan reached the 1999 World Cup final. This was Pakistan's last great performance in a 50 over World Cup. Otherwise Pakistan had very disappointing campaigns in 2003, 2007, 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cup. The lone exception being 2011 World Cup when Pakistan reached the semi finals under Shahid Afridi's captaincy.

A great achievement under Wasim Akram's captaincy was the Carlton and United Series in Australia in 1996/1997 when Pakistan beat West Indies in the best of three finals to win the tournament. Australia which was the World best test side in that era failed to reach the finals and won just three matches out of eight in the competition.

As a test captain Wasim Akram won the Asian test Championship beating Sri Lanka in the final in 1999 in Dhaka. Besides defeating England in England  in 1996 in the test series 2-0.

In the end what I would like to say is that if Wasim Akram had been allowed to stay as captain till the 2003 World Cup he would have led to Pakistan to more and better victories.

Pakistani Legend Muhammad Yousuf

 Muhammad Yousuf formerly known as Yousuf Youhana when he was a christian is a true Pakistani legend and a Pakistani batting genius. Amongst his list of achievements his achievement a world record of highest tally of runs in a calendar year is the best. Muhammad Yousuf scored 1700 runs in a calendar year in test cricket in 2006 beating another great Viv Richards record.

Muhammad Yousuf was a very elegant batsman and a stylish batsman with sound technique. He rescued Pakistan a number of times from losing positions. In the 2000 Carlton series against India in a match at Brisbane GABBA Pakistan were in a losing position when they were at one stage 70 for 6 Muhammad Yousuf saved Pakistan from that position helped them win the match by 2 wickets chasing the Indian total of 195. Muhammad Yousuf also played a number of memorable innings like his century against India in champions trophy in 2009 which resulted in India's elimination from that tournament.

In the end what I would like to say is that PCB treated Muhammad Yousuf unfairly which caused his early retirement from the sport.

Gary Kirsten as Pakistan's white ball coach

 

Gary Kirsten's tenure as Pakistani coach didnt begin well as Pakistan lost the Twenty20 Series 2-0 against England and they had a terrible Twenty20 World Cup 2024 not going beyond the first round. Although the results so far havent been good so far I back Gary Kirsten as coach of white ball cricket.

I am saying this because Gary Kirsten has had a pretty decent record as coach of India and South Africa. He needs time to settle down as Pakistan's white ball coach. First of all he needs the support of Pakistani players. Also the problem with foreign coaches in Pakistan is that of communication gap as most of the Pakistani players are illiterate and they dont understand the English language.

In the end what I would like to say is that Gary Kirsten has the ability to inculcate skills, technique, tactics, strategy and temperament in Pakistani players.

Misbah ul Haq as Captain

 Misbah ul Haq was Pakistan s most successful test captain. Under Misbah ul Haq Pakistan very briefly were ranked No.1 Test team in the world. He won many memorable test series for Pakistan in UAE as Captain. He Captained Pakistan to 3-0 whitewash of England in 2012 when England were the No.1 ranked team in the World. He Captained Pakistan to 2-0 whitewash of Australia in 2014. He captained Pakistan to 2-0 test series win over England in 2015. All these series wins came in UAE which used to be Pakistan's adopted home.

As an ODI captain Misbah was successful but not as successful as he was a test captain. Pakistan defeated India in India's home in the ODI series played in 2012-2013 by a margin of 2-1. This was a tremendous achievement as defeating India in their own backyard is not easy at all. He was the first Pakistani Captain to defeat South Africa in South Africa 2-1 in 2013. He won Pakistan's only the second Asia cup title in 2012 defeating Bangladesh in the final. He captained Pakistan to Asia cup title in 2012 after a long gap of 12 years.

In the end what I would like to say is that Misbah ul Haq was a very shrewd, master strategist and a great Pakistani Captain.

Pakistan vs India

 Pakistan and India matches are always exciting and thrilling to watch. In the past Pakistan always started as favourites against India but now the Indian team is better than Pakistan.

This is because all of a sudden Pakistani legendary duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis retired from international cricket in 2003. From then onwards mostly India has got the upper hand against Pakistan. This can be seen from the fact that Pakistan s last ODI win against India came in the final of the Champions Trophy in 2017. Pakistan s last test win against India came in 2006 in the historic Karachi test. Pakistan s last Twenty20 win against India came in Asia Cup in 2022. Otherwise India have really dominated Pakistan in recent times. 

In the end what I would like to say is that when it's Pakistan s day no team can defeat them not even India. 

Pakistan vs India ICC events

 India has a superior record against Pakistan in all ICC trophies. In Twenty20 World Cup India has won 7 times, and Pakistan has only beaten India once. In 50 over cricket World Cup matches India has defeated Pakistan 8 times while Pakistan hasn't won even a single time against them.

I think India is mentally tougher than Pakistan when it comes to world cup matches. Maybe Pakistani cricketers are unable to take pressure and panic against India in world cup matches. Also of late India has more talented, skilful and experienced players than Pakistan. In recent times India has the edge over Pakistan.

In the end what I would like to say that Pakistan can take heart for having a better record over India in Champions Trophy. In Champions Trophy Pakistan has defeated India three times and lost just twice to India.