Pakistan test tour of Sri Lanka proved to be a highly successful tour for Pakistan. Pakistan were dominant in both the test matches.
While first test proved to be a close one with Pakistan winning by four wickets Pakistan completely outclassed Sri Lanka in the second test match winning the second test by an innings margin.
In the end what I would like to say is that this tour has proved that Pakistan have improved a great deal as a test team. They are no longer pushovers in test cricket.
Pakistan emerged victorious in the first test against Sri Lanka. Great batting by Saud Shakeel, hard work, incisive bowling and great fielding and catching were the reasons for Pakistan win.
Inspite of Babar Azam. Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique failing with the bat in both innings Pakistan won.
Despite having Sri Lanka at 65 for 4 in their first innings Sri Lanka recovered to 312 total in their first innings.
In the end I would like to say Pakistan have found a great dependable batsman like Saud Shakeel who has had a phenomenal start to his career. Pakistani bowling and fielding was also sharp in the first test but I am not sure Pakistan will win the second test as well as Pakistani teams in recent past tend to relax after a win in their first match.
Sri Lanka start as clear favourites over a struggling Pakistani test side. Sri Lanka not only hold the edge over a pathetic test team like Pakistan but are clear favourites to whitewash Pakistan having home conditions advantage.
Pakistani batsmen play old fashioned defensive cricket which has been replaced by attacking shots type of batting that the English men or Australians play.
Pakistani bowling lacks experience and penetration. They don't have any quality spinner in their side and Abrar Ahmed is a novice in international cricket.
I must say Sri Lanka are a better test team than Pakistan and they start the test series as clear favourites over Pakistan.
Pakistan has been ranked No.2 ODI team in the world according to latest ICC Rankings. Pakistan very briefly for three days were ranked no. 1 ODI team in the world after defeating New Zealand in the 4th ODI played in Pakistan at National cricket Arena in Karachi.
Much to do with Pakistan's success in international cricket is the unity brought by Babar Azam in the team. Babar Azam may not be as shrewd a captain as Sarfraz Ahmed and Imran Khan were at their peak of their captaincy days but Babar Azam has united the team giving respect to both the junior and senior players.
Notable series win by Pakistan's ODI team include defeating Australia 2-1, defeating South Africa 2-1 and recently defeating New Zealand 4-1. Pakistan have been the most consistent ODI team since the last world Cup in England in 2019.
In the end I would like to say that Pakistan is playing like a unit nowadays and there is hardly any weakness in their ODI team.
New Zealand s tour of Pakistan proved to be a tough tour for the tourists and a fruitful one for the home team Pakistan. While the twenty20 series proved to be a closely contested one Pakistan completely out played New Zealand in the one day international series leading currently 4-0.
Due to this result at home, Pakistan is the no. 1 ranked ODI team in the world.
The first three ODI s were closely contested ones while Pakistan thrashed New Zealand by 102 runs in the fourth ODI.
In the end what I will like to say is that Pakistan in ODI s apparently don't have any weakness and will be one of the favourites for the upcoming world Cup to be held in India in November 2023.
Pakistan's home series against New Zealand will be closely contested one with New Zealand going in to this series as slight favourites over a struggling Pakistani side. I am saying this because Pakistan recently lost an Afghanistan Twenty20 series in Sharjah and their morale will be down whereas New Zealand are coming fresh from their series win in all three formats against Sri Lanka so New Zealand's confidence will be sky high.
Having said that New Zealand will dearly miss the services of their star batsman Kane Williamson who is missing the tour due to injury. Whereas Pakistan are going at full strength with five key players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf returning to their squad.
Pakistan might lose the twenty20 series against New Zealand as the boys arent in form as can be seen in the Afghanistan series but they will give a tough fight to New Zealand in the ODI series. I am saying this because we have quite a brilliant ODI side,
Afghanistan upset Pakistan 2-1 in the Twenty20 Series which was held in Sharjah. Pakistan were playing with a second string squad with five key team members missing and its no wonder that Afghanistan managed to beat Pakistan easily.
The five key members include Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Fakhar Zaman. Pakistan clearly missed the experience and quality of these five players.
International cricket is no joke and every international series should be taken seriously by PCB.
On the other hand we did found talented and promising players like Ihsanullah and Saim Ayub in this series.
In the end what I will like to say is that Pakistan's morale will be down after losing an international series and Pakistani selectors should have selected the best possible team for the Afghanistan International Twenty Series held in Sharjah.
