The Curious Case of Pakistan Cricket Team: Part 5

Pakistan played the Asia Cup in June 2010 and did not qualify for the final. Next, was the tour to England. Pakistan faced Australia in 2 T20s (and won both) and 2 tests in England. Shahid Afridi left Test captaincy after losing the first test. Salman Butt was made captain for the second. The test series was drawn 1-1. Then Pakistan faced England for four tests. The series was lost 3-1 and everyone knows the "shenanigans" for which the tour is famous. The T20 series was lost 2-0 and the ODI series 3-0. 
Pakistan flew to Abu Dhabi to face SA. Greenshirts lost the ODI series 3-2 but surprised everyone by drawing both Tests under the captaincy of Misbah-ul-Haq.
Pakistan travelled to New Zealand next. The T20 series was lost 2-1 but the Greenshirts showed composure and won the tests 1-0 and the ODIs 3-2. Next assignment was the World Cup 2011. Pakistan surprised everyone by qualifying for the semifinal after beating Sri Lanka, Australia and West Indies. India spoiled Pakistan's party and Greenshirts headed home after the semifinal.
Next was the tour to West Indies. Pakistan lost the only T20 but won the ODI series 3-2. The first test saw Pakistan's trademark collapse. Chasing 219, Pakistan were bundled out for 178. The second test was won by Greenshirts and series ended 1-1. Shahid Afridi had some concerns with the management and Waqar Younis and he quit captaincy after the WI series. Misbah ul Haq was made captain for all three formats.
Pakistan won all their games on the tour to Zimbabwe. Waqar quit coaching after this series.
 Next was the series against Sri Lanka in the UAE.Mohsin Khan was installed as an interim coach. Pakistan won the tests 1-0, the ODIs 4-1 and also won the only T20. Pakistan travelled to Bangladesh where they won all the games.

England came to the UAE to face the Greenshirts. They were humiliated in the test series where they had no idea where the doosra of Saeed Ajmal was spinning. Pakistan took the Test series 3-0 but the ODI series saw a total reversal and Pakistan lost 4-0. The 3 T20 series ended 2-1 to England. PCB felt Misbah was not the perfect T20 captain and Hafeez was installed as T20 captain. Dav Whatmore was made coach and Mohsin Khan was removed, although he had done wonders as coach of the team.
Pakistan went to Bangladesh to play the Asia Cup 2012. Pakistan won the final against Bangladesh (although they were beaten by India in league games).
Next was the tour to Sri Lanka. Pakistan drew the T20 series 1-1, but lost the ODIs 3-1 and the tests 1-0. Australia came to UAE in September 2012. Pakistan lost the ODI series 2-1 but won the T20s 2-1. 
Next was the ICC T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. Pakistan showed impressive form by beating Australia but lost the semifinal to Sri Lanka. 
A small series was scheduled in India. Pakistan showed great skill in the entire series. Although the T20 series was 1-1, a great innings by Mohammad Hafeez was about to win it for Pakistan. The Greenshirts manhandled India in the ODIs 2-1 but it could easily have 3-0 had Pakistan's batting shown some strength in the final ODI.
The tour of SA proved horrible for Pakistan as they were whitewashed 3-0 in the tests. They won the T20 1-0 but were beaten again in the ODIs 3-2 due to lacklustre batting performances.
ICC Champions Trophy also was dreadful for Pakistan as they lost all three group games and went out of the tournament.
The tour of West Indies was beneficial as Pakistan won the ODIs 3-1 and the T20s 2-0. But the following tour of Zimbabwe was marred by poor batting of the Greenshirts. Pakistan lost an ODI in the series but won the series 2-1 to match with the T20 win of 2-0. Unfortunately, a test was also lost after a collapse and the series ended 1-1.
South Africa faced Pakistan in UAE in October 2013. Pakistan won the first test but a batting collapse meant the series was tied 1-1. The ODIs were lost 4-1 although it was closely contested. Pakistan blew off two ODIs. The first one was lost by a single run and the fourth one saw a batting collapse while cruising on 239-5 while chasing 270 odd. The T20 series was also lost 2-0.

Conclusions:

The purpose of this circumlocution was not to bore you, but to make you understand that it is not just a lack of consistency that has left Pakistan cricket in the state that it is today. 
* Pakistan have tried being consistent. First giving Waqar Younis a reign of 2 years. Then Inzimam a reign of 4 years. Shoaib Malik had a reign of almost 2 years and now Misbah has been the captain for almost 3 years in tests and 2 in ODIs. But we haven't seen huge performances from the team during these consistent eras as well. Yes, there have been strong performance like against India and England in tests, but they are soon forgotten due to poor shows in the following series.
* Changing captains does not work. From 1999 till today, Pakistan has had 13 captains. 
* It does not matter whether the coach is foreign or local. Mohsin Khan did great work with the team, something Geoff Lawson and Dav Whatmore haven't been able too. Pakistan did win under Woolmer but there are no major world events to brag about.
* Interestingly, Pakistan won the T20 World Cup under Younis Khan who was made captain just 5 months prior to the event. The coach in the series was Intikhab Alam.
* The domestic structure was changed from departments to regions in 2007 apparently after the advice given by Imran Khan to Dr. Nasim Ashraf. Cricket greats say that cricket has been effected badly by this change. I'll say, cricket wasn't touching heights before the change either.

So as I conclude, Pakistan get ready to play their 2nd ODI in South Africa. I hope they win the series.There are rumours of Waqar Younis joining the team as coach after the board fires Whatmore. But bear this in mind, changing captains, boards or coaches won't help Pakistan cricket. It will stay the way it has for the past 14 years.

The Curious Case of Pakistan Cricket Team: Part 4

The year 2006 started with India touring Pakistan for a second time in two years. The first two tests were tame draws but the third test in Karachi produced a demons for the Indian batsmen. Chasing around 600 in the fourth innings, India crumbled losing by over 350 runs. Pakistan won the test series 1-0 but where thrashed 4-1 by India in ODIs. Reasons were the loss were a failing batting line, one-dimensional pace attack and great Indian chasing ability. Next, Pakistan travelled to Sri Lanka and won the ODI series 2-0 and the test series 1-0. A 2 match DLF Cup in Abu Dhabi was shared 1-1 by Pakistan and India.
Next was the fateful tour of England. Pakistan lost the test series 3-0 after forfeiting the fourth test, thanks to Inzimam's refusal to play after the hare-brained Daryll Hair declared that Pakistan had tampered with the ball. The ODI series was ended 2-2.

Pakistan lost in the group stage of the Champions Trophy after back to back defeats against New Zealand and South Africa. Pakistan lost both Shoaib Akhter and Mohammad Asif due to a positive dope test. Next was the home series against WI which saw Pakistan win the tests 2-0 and the ODIs 3-1.
Next, the Greenshirts flew to South Africa. They lost the test series 2-1 and the ODI series 3-1. Another botched tour before the World Cup meant Pakistan went into the World Cup 2007 under pressure. The pressure showed itself as Pakistan lost to both West Indies and Ireland (minnows) to exit just two days after the start of the World Cup. Bob Woolmer suffered a heart stroke and passed away. The lacklustre performance meant another operation cleanup. Inzimam was removed from captaincy and youngster Shoaib Malik was made captain. Jeff Lawson was hired as coach of the PCT.
Pakistan started well under Malik, beating World Cup finalist Sri Lanka 2-1 in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan went into the inaugural World T20 and surprised everyone by making it to final after beating Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Luck wasn't on the Greenshirts side as they lost by 5 runs in the final to India.
Next, Pakistan faced SA at home. Pakistan lost the test series 1-0 and the ODIs 3-2 after a batting collapse in the final ODI. The team travelled to India and lost the ODI series 3-2 and the test series 1-0.
Pakistan started 2008 by clean sweeping Zimbabwe and Bangladesh 5-0 in the ODI series. Pakistan defeated India in the final of the Kitply Cup to win the triseries.
 Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup in June-July and did not qualify for the final. A T20 series was arranged in Canada, where Pakistan played Sri Lanka in the final and lost. Coach Lawson's contract was not renewed and he was ousted and Intikhab Alam was made coach. The Greenshirts faced WI in Abu Dhabi and won the ODI series 3-0. Next, in January 2009 they hosted Sri Lanka at home and lost the ODI series 2-1 after losing the third ODI at Lahore in uninspired fashion. This led to Shoaib Malik's sacking as captain. Younis Khan took over captaincy.
The first assignment was the Test series against Sri Lanka. The series was drawn 0-0 after the third day of the second test saw the biggest drama in cricketing history. Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorist metres away from the Gaddafi Stadium. This shamed PCB as the SL team had favoured the Board by coming to Pakistan while other teams were not willing to.
Pakistan faced Australia in May and lost the ODI series 3-2 after a collapse in the third ODI.  Pakistan did win the T20 against the Aussies. Next was the ICC T20 which Pakistan won against all odds beating South Africa in the semifinals and SL in the final. Younis retired from T20 and Shahid Afridi was made T20 captain. Sri Lanka took revenge by winning the next series against Pakistan. The tests were won by SL 2-0 and the ODIs 3-2. Pakistan took a consolation win in the T20s.
Next was the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa. Pakistan went into the semis after beating India and West Indies and coming close to beating Australia as well. The semifinal was won by New Zealand after Younis Khan dropped Grant Elliot. The maniacs in Pakistan's parliament and the PCB started asking questions and suggested that the catch was dropped as a match fixing scheme. Younis was grilled by the parliamentary committee and resigned as captain under protest. It took efforts from PCB to pacify the right-hander and he was asked to continue as captain. Next was the series against NZ in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan lost the ODIs 2-1 after a farcical performance in the third ODI. There were rumours of grouping inside the team and Younis was "rested" for the Tests (to be played in NZ). The following T20 series was won by Pakistan 2-0.
Waqar Younis was chosen as the bowling coach for the team. Mohammad Yousuf was given the captaincy for the NZ tests. The first test was lost by the Greenshirts in trademark fashion. Chasing 251, the team were restricted to 218. The following test was won by Pakistan and the three match series ended 1-1. Yousaf led Pakistan to Australia. The test series was lost 3-0 after Pakistan failed to chase 179 in the 4th innings of the 2nd test. The ODI Series was lost 5-0. Yousaf too wanted "rest" in the final ODI and the reigns were handed to Shahid Afridi who bit the ball and was removed from the following T20 games for ball tampering. Shoaib Malik was made captain for the T20 game which Pakistan also lost. Mohammed Yousuf alleged that Shoaib Malik was responsible for the teams losses in Australia since he had made groups within the team while Malik called Yousuf a terrible captain. After all the hubbub, Malik captained the Greenshirts in the two T20s in Abu Dhabi against England. Series ended 1-1.
In March, an operation clean up was undertaken by the PCB with regards to poor performance in Australia. PCB shocked everyone by banning Younis and Yousuf indefinitely and Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Umer Akmal were fined for unruly behaviour on the tour. Shahid Afridi was made the captain for all three formats.
Pakistan went into the World T20 2010 and were defeated by a master knock by Mike Hussey in the semifinal. Needing 18 of the last over, Hussey clobbered Saeed Ajmal around the park, reaching the target with a ball to spare.

-- to be continued