Pakistan cricket team in the Year 2022

 

Pakistan cricket team had a mixed year in 2022 with success in white ball cricket and failure in test cricket.

In test  cricket we were defeated by Australia 1-0 in March and by England 3-0 whitewash in December. We just managed to win one test match against Sri Lanka in Galle and that to thanks to Abdullah Shafique century. In test cricket our bowling lacked ability and experience which often left the batters chasing 300 runs plus target in their second innings whch they often failed to chase.

In white ball  cricket Pakistan had a stellar year defeating Australia in ODI series 2-1 and reaching the finals of Asia Cup and World Cup Twenty20 in Twenty20 cricket. The superb form of Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan in batting led to Pakistan doing so well in Twenty20 and ODI cricket in the year 2022.

In the end I would like to say that had we selected experienced and deserving cricket players in test cricket especially in bowling then we would have done much better in test cricket in 2022. In twenty20 cricket had luck favoured us we would have won the title in Asia Cup and perhaps so even the World Cup 2022 held in Australia.                                                           

Babar Azam

 

Babar Azam is not only the leading Pakistani batsman but a brilliant captain as well. He is the most successful captain in Pakistani history of cricket with a positive winning percentage of more than fifty percent in all formats of the game. He has more wins than losses in all formats of the game as a captain.

     In test cricket he has led Pakistan to 8 wins and 6 losses which is a pretty decent  record as captain. Those 8 wins include a clean sweep against South Africa at home 2-0 which was Pakistan  first test series win against South Africa  in 18 years.        

As twenty20 captain he has led Pakistan to the finals of Asia Cup and World Cup Twenty20 cricket 2022 last year. He also led Pakistan to the Semi Finals of 2021 Twenty20 World Cup.So that's pretty decent going as a captain.

In ODI cricket he led Pakistan to an ODI series win against Australia which is pretty rare as we rarely win against Australia these days.

In the end I would like to say that Babar Azam has performed pretty well  as a captain and as a player. He didnt let captaincy effect his performance as a player.  I think he should continue to play as a captain.

New Zealand's tour of Pakistan 2022-2023

 

New Zealand despite dominating Pakistan in the first test match drew the first test match with Pakistan. Pakistani bowling really looked inadequate, toothless, unskillful and without any experience and ability. This can be judged by the fact that New Zealand easily scored in excess of 600 runs total in their first innings and even a tailender like Ish Sodhi scored a half century.

I think in the test series Pakistan stand no chance against New Zealand and NewZealand might beat Pakistan 1-0 in the test series. I am saying  this because Pakistan dont have the bowling to get twenty wickets against NewZealand.

In the end I would like to say Pakistan will atleast win one  match against NewZealand hopefully in the ODI series and hopefully the ODI series will be much closer as Pakistan is a good ODI side.

England s test tour of Pakistan

 

England have begun their tour of Pakistan on a fantastic note by winning the Rawalpindi test by 74 runs margin .England's win was even more remarkable as they scored at a rate of more than six runs an over in both their innings and their bowlers did a fantastic  job to bowl Pakistan out twice on a flat pitch.

Pakistan didn't get their bowling attack right as they played with inexperienced bowlers. Pakistan handed out debuts to three bowlers namely Haris Rauf, Zahid Mahmood and Mohammad Ali.  No wonder England piled up mammoth total of 657 runs in their first innings.

In the end I  would like to say that England  has a modern approach to test cricket as they score with a run rate of 6 runs an over and their strike rates is much above Pakistani batsmen who play old fashioned cricket. If Pakistani curators prepare huge turning tracks then I hope Pakistan is able to make a comeback in Multan and Karachi test matches.

Pakistan has reached the Semi Finals of the Twenty20 World Cup 2022

The miracle has happened as miraculously for Pakistan the Netherlands defeated South Africa which means Pakistan has qualified  for the semi finals twice in two Twenty20 World Cups. South Africa are chokers and the chokers tag suits them. 

Against Bangladesh which was a virtual quarter final for Pakistan   Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan finally found some form with a 57 run opening partnership. Shaheen Afridi has  also returned to full form and fitness and that is looking like a good omen for Pakistan.

In the end I would like to say that Pakistan is looking good with the middle order looking good and having a formidable bowling line up. This Twenty20 World Cup 2022 in Australia looks like the 1992 World Cup which  also was held in Australia for Pakistan. Well I hope that comes true as I wish Pakistan to win the 2022 Twenty20 World Cup.

Pakistan knocked out of of Twenty20 World cup 2022

 Pakistan in all probability have been knocked out of Twenty20 World cup 2022 in the super 12s. South Africa will most probably beat Netherlands and India in all probability will beat Zimbabwe in their last super 12 matches.

I can't understand Pakistan cricket team that how can they defeat a strong team like South Africa and lose to a minnow team like.     Zimbabwe. To me Pakistan couldn't recover from the shock defeat to India in their earlier match when Virat Kohli stole the match from Pakistan's grasp. That shock defeat resulted in Pakistan's failure to win against Zimbabwe.

In the end I would like to say had luck gone in Pakistan s favour against India and Zimbabwe, Pakistan would have qualified for the semi finals in the Twenty20 World cup 2022 in Australia.

Review of Pakistan vs England T20 series 2022

 

Pakistan's performance in their home series was not that good as they lost the series  3-4 to England.. Their performance in the last two matches was pathetic to say the least as England defeated them like school boys and they were very one sided contests. If Mohammed Rizwan and Babar Azam dont perform as openers they are doomed for a low score. Pakistan's middle order is a cause  of big concern.

   The middle order batsmen comprising of batsman like Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah and  Asif Ali always lets the team down.  They not only score few runs but when they do score they score these runs with a pathetic strike rate. 

  Shan Masood did well at number 3 or 4 in the batting order scoring two fifties.in the series. He is one batsman who is consistent and provides the middle order with much stability. I think Fakhar Zaman should be in the team as he is the only reliable power hitter in the team. 

In the end I would like to say Pakistan did well in the series uptill the fifth match in the series but their performance in the last two matches was not upto the mark. If their middle order starts clicking the Pakistan team will be hard to beat.