Imagine, if Messi is your defender and Ferdinand your attacker, how many matches you can win? None I guess. Talent is a thing that needs genius to handle. Talent is one thing, productivity is another. Pakistan cricket was never about lack of individuals who are equally talented to world’s best but unfortunately grooming them, utilizing them to attain desirable outputs have always been an issue. Aamir and Co. is just a new episode, there have been dozens of world class players which never emerged at international level or their career was jeopardized due to certain reasons.
To me, current Pakistan cricket team has only one plus, may be the only plus we have always needed i.e., absence of any super star [Afridi apart]. We have seen in past that individuals were stronger than board, administration and in some cases judicial. Imran, Wasim, Waqar, Akhtar all in their peak times were above rule and law of board and selection committees and all.
Misbah’s team has got the talent. Fortunately, young energetic talent but the lack of consistency and some defensive approach across all formats of the game is not something this nation wants from their most favored sport. We have seen that either we are missing with opening partnerships or if we have a good score from top three, middle and lower middle order never capitalized as in this recent match against Bangladesh in Asia Cup.
The problem remains there, which is nothing but current combination of the team. Bowlers have been winning matches for Pakistan since ever but in modern day cricket, you need to score runs against any team anywhere on the planet under any type of conditions. Pakistan have not been able to do this, their batting order remains so good on paper and never good on ground. Playing with 8 batsman and winning matches due to bowling is just a shame.
Nasir Jamshed’s addition at top of the order has indicated resolution of opening problems. Young talented Asad and Umar must be utilized and trained as per team’s requirement not individual performances. With Hafeez and Jamshed at the top and Asad at number three and Younis at number 4, it looks like that Misbah is no more required in the shorter versions of the game but it should be too early to fire the captain who ‘unwillingly’ has provided some stability to the team.
Absence of genuine all-rounder is being felt seriously now. Pakistan need fast bowling all-rounder who can bowl 5-8 overs and bat according to the requirement of modern day cricket. Hammad Azam can be one but young kid doesn’t possess special skills either in batting or bowling. Similarly, a proper wicket-keeper-batsman is required. Sarfraz should be given a chance sometime soon to play at top of the order to see if he can be a long term progress.
Gul need serious partner who can bowl fast and take wickets, not like someone who bowls just to complete 50 overs.
These issues should be addressed soon else by newly appointed Whatmore and young kids should be grown as per the standards of international cricket. Winning or losing doesn’t matter, but this team should be grown in systemized manner so a visible improvement can be seen. Outputs in terms of winning matches and tournaments will be seen accordingly. 
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