So we start from where we left off last time. In late 2001, Pakistan toured New Zealand under Moin Khan's captaincy and the coaching of Javed Miandad. The ODI series was tightly contested, ending 3-2 in favour of the kiwis. The Test series raised some eye brows with Pakistan leading 1-0 at the start of the third test. A poor batting display led Pakistan to a loss by an innings. The series ended 1-1. There were rumours of match fixing too. Moin Khan and Javed Miandad were both sacked and Waqar Younis was made captain.
Waqar's first challenge was ARY Gold Cup featuring New Zealand and Sri Lanka. After winning all round games, Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka in the final by 77 runs.
Richard Pybus returned for a third time as coach for Pakistan's tour to England. After getting hammered in the first test, Pakistani pacers helped the team level the series 1-1. Natwest Tri-series followed the Test series. Pakistan qualified to the final after beating England in all games and defeating Australia once. Unfortunately, the final was a replay of the 1999 World Cup. Pakistan were bowled out for 152.
Next, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in the 2nd edition of the Asian Test Championship, and qualified for the final with Sri Lanka. Muddasar Nazar was named Coach after Pybus left the job citing security concerns in South Asia after the 9/11 attacks. The Greenshirts headed to Sharjah (second time this year) for the Khaleej Times Trophy featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka easily in the final.
Next Pakistan went to Bangladesh and won both tests and all ODIs. West Indies flew to Sharjah (due to security situation in Pakistan), where Pakistan won both tests and also won the 3 match ODI series 2-1.
Pakistan were defeated in the Final of the Asian Test Championship. This defeat only bit temporarily since Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka a month later in the final of Sharjah Cup (April).
New Zealand visited Pakistan in April-May 2002 after serious security concerns caused a series to be cancelled in 2001. Pakistan won the 3-match ODI series comprehensively (3-0) and also won the first test handsomely thanks to Inzimam's 329. The second test was cancelled after a bomb exploded near New Zealand team's hotel. Pakistan won the series 1-0.
Pakistan headed to Australia for a 3 match challenge. The tightly contest series was won by the Greenshirts 2-1. In August Pakistan went to Tangiers for the Morocco Cup featuring SA and Sri Lanka. Pakistan lost 3 out of the four round games and did not qualify for the final. Next came a PSO tri-series in Kenya, featuring Australia and Kenya. Pakistan lost both games to Australia, getting bowled out less than 120 on both occasions but qualified for the final by beating Kenya. Luck helped Pakistan share the trophy in the final as rain halted Australia's chase of 228.
Pakistan were knocked out of Champion Trophy 2002 by Sri Lanka in the very first game. PCB tried shaking things up by employing Richard Pybus as coach for a fourth time. But the worst
was to follow. Pakistan faced Australia in a first "international home test series" with the first game played in Colombo and the rest being placed in Sharjah. Pakistan were in control of the first test, on 173-3 chasing 316 but trademark inconsistency came to haunt the team, the match was lost by 41 runs. More misery awaited Greenshirts as they were bowled out for 59 and 53 in the 2nd test match and lost this one as well as the next one by an innings.
Next, Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe 5-0 in the ODIs and 2-0 in the tests. Pakistan were annihilated in South Africa. The greenshirts lost 4-1 in the ODI series and and then were embarrassed 2-0 by SA in the test series where they followed on in both tests losing the first one by 10 wickets and the second one by an innings.
Such "fruitful" preparation before the World Cup brought "reward". Pakistan were sent home before the Super-6 stage and their only victories were against Namibia and the Netherlands. Please note that Pakistan had the services of Wasim, Waqar, Inzamam and Yousaf at this time. Coach Richard Pybus and Waqar Younis were both removed from coaching and captaincy respectively.
* Second, people blame inaction on part of the PCB that leads to Pakistan team's poor performance. PCB tried using a foreign coach four times with the national team, but nothing came off it as Pakistan lost both Champions Trophies and World Cups.
* After every series loss, people cry out for change in PCB as well as the captaincy. We saw what happened under Saeed Anwar and then Waqar Younis. Moreover, the board was changed 3 times in 1999-2000. Had change been the catalyst to success Pakistan would have shown great success during this period.
* Another criticism is that younger players are not included in the side. Many youngsters were included after the 2000 loss to Australia, but the nation cannot tolerate loss and after every series there is hue and cry to bring back the legends. Same is true today about Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.
* Wasim & Waqar era is a bit over-rated
Waqar's first challenge was ARY Gold Cup featuring New Zealand and Sri Lanka. After winning all round games, Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka in the final by 77 runs.
Richard Pybus returned for a third time as coach for Pakistan's tour to England. After getting hammered in the first test, Pakistani pacers helped the team level the series 1-1. Natwest Tri-series followed the Test series. Pakistan qualified to the final after beating England in all games and defeating Australia once. Unfortunately, the final was a replay of the 1999 World Cup. Pakistan were bowled out for 152.
Next, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in the 2nd edition of the Asian Test Championship, and qualified for the final with Sri Lanka. Muddasar Nazar was named Coach after Pybus left the job citing security concerns in South Asia after the 9/11 attacks. The Greenshirts headed to Sharjah (second time this year) for the Khaleej Times Trophy featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka easily in the final.
Next Pakistan went to Bangladesh and won both tests and all ODIs. West Indies flew to Sharjah (due to security situation in Pakistan), where Pakistan won both tests and also won the 3 match ODI series 2-1.
Pakistan were defeated in the Final of the Asian Test Championship. This defeat only bit temporarily since Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka a month later in the final of Sharjah Cup (April).
New Zealand visited Pakistan in April-May 2002 after serious security concerns caused a series to be cancelled in 2001. Pakistan won the 3-match ODI series comprehensively (3-0) and also won the first test handsomely thanks to Inzimam's 329. The second test was cancelled after a bomb exploded near New Zealand team's hotel. Pakistan won the series 1-0.
Pakistan headed to Australia for a 3 match challenge. The tightly contest series was won by the Greenshirts 2-1. In August Pakistan went to Tangiers for the Morocco Cup featuring SA and Sri Lanka. Pakistan lost 3 out of the four round games and did not qualify for the final. Next came a PSO tri-series in Kenya, featuring Australia and Kenya. Pakistan lost both games to Australia, getting bowled out less than 120 on both occasions but qualified for the final by beating Kenya. Luck helped Pakistan share the trophy in the final as rain halted Australia's chase of 228.
Pakistan were knocked out of Champion Trophy 2002 by Sri Lanka in the very first game. PCB tried shaking things up by employing Richard Pybus as coach for a fourth time. But the worst
Next, Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe 5-0 in the ODIs and 2-0 in the tests. Pakistan were annihilated in South Africa. The greenshirts lost 4-1 in the ODI series and and then were embarrassed 2-0 by SA in the test series where they followed on in both tests losing the first one by 10 wickets and the second one by an innings.
Such "fruitful" preparation before the World Cup brought "reward". Pakistan were sent home before the Super-6 stage and their only victories were against Namibia and the Netherlands. Please note that Pakistan had the services of Wasim, Waqar, Inzamam and Yousaf at this time. Coach Richard Pybus and Waqar Younis were both removed from coaching and captaincy respectively.
Half time conclusions:
* Usually we blame PCB's adhoc policies for Pakistan Cricket's sorry condition. But if you look at both the previous part, PCB showed great restraint by keeping Waqar Younis as captain from April 2001 till the World Cup 2003 although Pakistan lost series during the two periods.* Second, people blame inaction on part of the PCB that leads to Pakistan team's poor performance. PCB tried using a foreign coach four times with the national team, but nothing came off it as Pakistan lost both Champions Trophies and World Cups.
* After every series loss, people cry out for change in PCB as well as the captaincy. We saw what happened under Saeed Anwar and then Waqar Younis. Moreover, the board was changed 3 times in 1999-2000. Had change been the catalyst to success Pakistan would have shown great success during this period.
* Another criticism is that younger players are not included in the side. Many youngsters were included after the 2000 loss to Australia, but the nation cannot tolerate loss and after every series there is hue and cry to bring back the legends. Same is true today about Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.
* Wasim & Waqar era is a bit over-rated
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