Can Misbah-ul-Haq’s boys win the World Cup for Pakistan?
After their recent success against Australia in the Test series, Pakistan supporters have now started to feel confident about their team’s chances at the World Cup which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in February and March next year.
Humiliating the Australians
Not many people had expected the Pakistani team to fight back in this manner after losing the ODI series 3-0 to the same opponents just a few days before the Test series had started, but Misbah-ul-Haq and his teammates had other ideas as the Aussies suffered a humiliating defeat much to the delight of the Pakistan fans.
Looking back, it was star batsman Younis Khan who led the fightback in the Test series for his team. Had it not been for his back-to-back hundreds, Pakistan would never have been able to come back so strongly. A lot of credit must also go to skipper Misbah for the way he led the team and also for his record-breaking performance with the bat.
As far as Pakistan’s chances in the World Cup are concerned, things are looking very bright indeed after the recent success against Australia. It is now upto the selectors to support their players and pick the right combination for the World Cup which is not that far away. All that the senior players need is a bit of encouragement from the selectors and the PCB should take this opportunity to resolve their differences before the big event starts next year.
Pakistan have always been a side known for their controversial ways. In the past, many senior players had clashed with each other which had left the team in a state of turmoil. The latest controversy involving Younis Khan and the PCB almost killed Pakistan’s chances in the recent Test series against the Aussies. However, better sense prevailed and the star batsman was allowed to play and the result was a convincing triumph for a team which had been written off by most experts.
These kinds of internal differences and controversies could have a disastrous impact on the Pakistan side before the World Cup. Although they are an unpredictable side, there is no doubt regarding the talent in this Pakistani team. With players of the calibre of Younis, Misbah and Shahid Afridi in the team, the Pakistanis are capable of taking on any side in world cricket. Apart from that they also have some very talented young players like Asad Shafiq, Sohaib Maqsood and a few others in their line-up.
Bowlers and all-rounders could make the difference
In the bowling department, they have Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz and Junaid Khan who are all capable of picking up early wickets. Among the spinners, the return of Seed Ajmal could provide a big relief to the Pakistani supporters. The off-spinner has been working hard to make an early comeback to international cricket after being banned for a suspect bowling action.
The presence of quality all-rounders like Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez should also help the team to do well in the coming days.
Overall, Pakistan have a very good side going into the World Cup and they have a really good chance of doing well in cricket’s biggest event with high hopes of winning the trophy that matters most in the world of cricket. A lot will be expected from Misbah’s boys as they prepare to capture glory in Australia and New Zealand next year in the same way that Imran Khan’s team had done in 1992.