“Most people are content to let perfect days happen at random rather than PLAN for them”, a famous quote by British political writer Edmund Burke, perfectly fits Pakistan’s display in their semi final with the New Zealand outfit.
The loss left Pakistan packing their bags and heading back home. Over 160 million people back home are extremely disappointed to see their team lose to a moderate Kiwi team, plagued by injuries.
After the match, analysts discussed key moments in the match that led to Pakistan’s demise including Umer Akmal’s LBW decision, a few appeals Afridi was hard done by; Younus Khan’s dropped catch and Rana Naveed’s undisciplined balling. All these incidents undoubtedly contributed to our loss in the match but I would like to mention a few points where I believe Kiwis outsmarted Pakistan.
After losing the toss, the Kiwis captain, Daniel Vettori made it clear that they would be happy to chase anything less than 300. This statement casted doubt in not only in the minds of Pakistani batsmen but all the commentators and people watching the match. Everyone started believing that the pitch indeed was a 300 runs wicket. The Pakistani batsmen got themselves out clearly in their effort to achieve a total equal to or more than 300. After Umer Akmal was unfortunately ruled out by Simon Toufel, all other batsmen soon followed suit. Afridi, Rana and Gul threw their wickets away in an effort to play big shots, something that was not required on every ball. A winning score on that wicket would have been between 260 to 270 comfortably. Had these batsmen played sensibly and batted through the overs, they would have achieved the total easily.
This move by Vettori was deliberately done and paid dividends for the Kiwi outfit.
Right from the start of the match, the Kiwi bowlers bowled accurately and fed their bowls to the weak areas of all the batsmen. Their field placement and fielding were both outstanding. Imran Nazir was teased by in-swingers bowled by Bond and we all know that he isn’t very comfortable playing the incoming deliveries. An unplayable short ball subsequently got him caught in the slips. Kamran Akmal was fed with bowls outside his off stump inviting him to drive and cut (his strengths) with fielders placed at deep point and deep extra cover. Eventually he got out caught on deep extra cover. Muhammad Yousuf who is well known for nudging the bowl around to third man and fine leg for his singles was choked by placing both these fielders. Eventually he consumed more than 75 balls for his hard earned 44 runs.
Hats off to Vettori in successfully outsmarting Pakistan in his mind games, and this shows how much they had planned and prepared off the field for the big game. They had not only studied each player’s strengths and weakness but also ensured that their plans were executed properly on field. Although the Pakistanis tried hard and played well, the Kiwis off-the-field-preparation and planning was certainly better than the Pakistanis, which eventually changed the outcome of a match that was being hailed as dead rubber by the pundits.
Unfortunately, the Pakistani team is a prime example of complacency getting the better of you. They wait for perfect days to happen at random rather than PLAN for them. We are stuck with coaches like Intikhab Alam and Javed Miandad who are not only ignorant of the use of technology but persistently discourage its usage in coaching. I remember Miandad ridiculing Bob Woolmer for using a laptop in pre and post match analysis. It’s the time that these people realize that you may win a battle on a good day but you cannot win a war without effective planning which is done Off the field.
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Catches certainly win matches but umpires did the rest. The catch dropped by the skipper was detrimental, whereas there was very strict so called umpiring show off as well. Umpiring standards needs to be upgraded. One wrong decision and many visible chances denied and all went against Team Pakistan.
ReplyDeleteKiwis dropped kangroos and they loose in yesterday's game. Although they gave in all they wanted to. But they were in the same scenario as were we two days back. So all the planning rests on the table once you are on the field.
Our coaches have done very good given the number of chances our team had to play ODIs. The battered circumstances and abashed consequences made our game lackluster, but even then they came back strongly.
Lets talk about technology now... Almost all the analysts and critics have been hammering the coaches and teams for not employing technology for improvising the mostly darned Batting Power Play. Ramiz Raja and Aamir Sohail commented that why they sit with so many laptops if they can't provide decision helper. I would also comment that the use of technology be also incorporated in umpiring. There was a teaser tester in this regard when the teams were given three chances to avail against the umpire and directly appeal to the third umpire.
It hurts to loose, but its part of the game.