SHARJAH // A limited-overs series which had, at one time, seemed set to be a glorified farewell for an old hero of Pakistan cricket is instead feeling increasingly like a seminal moment in the emergence of the next generation.
Shahid Afridi was denied the swansong he craved at the end of 20 years of service for Pakistan’s international team, even though it had been mooted for the Twenty20 series against West Indies.
Without the veteran all-rounder, Pakistan’s new breed coped just fine, thrashing the world champions of the 20-over game in three matches last week.
A switch to a format which has long troubled the side, for Friday’s opening one-day international, proved seamless, too.
The 111-run success was built on a 21-year-old batsman, and a 22-year-old spinner. Babar Azam made his first international century for Pakistan, before Mohammed Nawaz took four wickets to put them 1-0 up ahead of Sunday’s second match in Sharjah.
According to Azhar Ali, Pakistan’s ODI captain, the youthful vigour that has latterly been applied to Pakistan’s white-ball cricket has been a great boost.
“We are trying to find the right combination and trying to bat deep as well, which is very important in one-day cricket,” Azhar said. “Fitness levels are also going up, so we are starting to tick the boxes. Limited-overs cricket is always a young man’s game, so the way they are absorbing pressure and delivering is good to see.
“Every game, we talk about needing to come out with the right attitude, hopefully we can keep doing that.”
Babar gave his more experienced colleagues – and counterparts, for that matter – an object lesson in the importance of staying at the wicket in his 131-ball innings of 120 in the first match.
“I have had the experience of playing in Sharjah and it worked well for me,” Babar said. “I just stayed aimed to stay till the end and get as many runs as I could.”
Babar’s busyness at the crease starkly contrasted that of the West Indians when they emerged to bat in reply.
The Caribbean batsmen’s method appeared little more scientific than block or slog. That gameplan fared just as unsuccessfully as in their pitiful displays in the T20 games.
Jason Holder, the West Indies ODI captain, suggested his batsmen have to find a way of reducing the amount of dot balls they face if they are to bring about a change in fortunes.
“It is a situation where we need to turn things around and we really need to look at ways to improve,” Holder said. “Obviously one big area is out batting. It is a matter of rotating the strike better. If we can do that we should be in better stead.
“Spin has played a heavy part in our downfall. We need to find a way to tick over the scoreboard then maximise our boundary options. We need to buckle down better against spin.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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