Pakistan Cricket Trio – The Triangular Series and the three Cricketeers

Don’t jump to conclusions after reading the caption. No guys when the three words – Pakistan, Cricket and Trio – combine they don’t necessarily mean Butt, Aamir and Asif. Pakistani team is all geared up for the World Cup. The team has been hurriedly announced by the selectors with the World Cup fast approaching and like most things done in hurry one keeps forgetting important things. The answer to the question that Mr. Ijaz Butt must have kept asking himself over and over during the process ‘am I forgetting something?’ is elusive and seems to slip away every time Mr. Butt gets close. If it hasn’t occurred to you yet Mr. Butt – It’s the captain that you are forgetting dammitt!!

No but he isn’t forgetting. He might be old but not that old. While World Cup will be played for millions of cricket lovers, PCB has set up its very own Triangular series to be played in New Zealand for their amusement. The triangular series of 6 matches is set between Misbah, Afridi and Younis Khan. Be careful you three. You have already run out of all lifelines on your quest to PCB’s latest presentation ‘kaun banay ga captain!!’. Seems the PCB weren’t watching while Afridi, Misbah and Younis Khan played 306, 58 and 207 ODI matches respectively. In 5 matches against New Zealand, the three will try to present their cases to PCB to help them answer that dreaded question. After that triangular series, PCB is supposed to have that ‘Aha’ experience that had Archimedes running naked.

In all honesty, this should rather be termed as a dual. A dual between Afridi and Misbah as Younis seems out of favor and, as we all know, favors matter when in Pakistan. However, I have included Younis into contention for the sole reason of his being the captain of T20 World Cup winning team which demands that we take him a bit seriously. What follows is not intended to be judgmental, so let the games begin.

Misbah ul Haq: A person who likes to keep a low profile which is a rarity in Pakistan Cricket. A late starter, who came into lime light in the first T20 World Cup. Good thing about Misbah is that he doesn’t go places doing ‘Captain Corner’ and the morning shows while captain. He knows to keep quiet and concentrate on cricket. No one in his team is looking to be a captain or feels up to the task which has showed in the results. No Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Afridi or Salman has definitely helped. Selected as a captain out of nowhere and has delivered the goods in the recent Test matches. In great form during the test matches, however, his class is questioned by some. Good Luck Misbah. May the best man win.

Shahid Afridi: His greatest achievement to date has been his under-achievement itself. He would have made a great politician as he likes to play to the gallery and seems to allow his decisions to be shaped by his fans and media. Thinks captaining a cricket team is defined as patting on players’ backs most times and bashing them the other times. Aggression to him is hitting two sixes in a row only to be held out in the deep. There is definitely no dearth of passion when he is around. He virtually lives cricket, sleeps cricket and literally ‘eats’ cricket. Known for his appetite for everything red, his batting is over-rated by the fans and selectors and his bowling is under-rated by the man himself. He does not seem to recognize that he has the potential to become arguably the best leg spinner in World Cricket today with his drift. His lack of self belief is evident in his defensive line, length and field setting on his own bowling. He appears to be someone who always needs someone like Wasim Akram to take performance out of him. He seems to have bowled his best under Younis Khan. Consistency principal requires that he should be maintained as captain. Bon Appétit, Mr. Afridi.

Younis Khan: Wanted to be Imran Khan and that can be a good thing and a bad thing depending on your political inclinations. He needs to realize that he is his own man and a great cricketer in his own right. Seems to take himself too seriously and needs to control his tantrums and his sudden willingness to resign from captaincy. Imran Khan was always willing to resign but having the then President as fan helped. It’s a luxury that Younis Khan does not seem to have. He is not a known felon to have served time with the president to deserve his favor. Younis Khan was the only man prepared for the job by the system while vice captaining under Inzimam and Bob Woolmer. This is the guy who was churned out by the system to be the captain. He was fresh, aggressive, creative and imaginative while captaining short sessions in India compared to Inzi’s defensive attitude although many would question his decision to throw the ball to Fawad Alam to date. But his greatest merit is that he has led a Pakistan team to T20 World Cup win and hence knows the pressures associated with such a venture as a leader and has dealt with them successfully to bring the Cup. A feast shared with the Great Imran Khan. Good Luck Younis Khan.

So have you made up your mind yet Mr. Butt??........... Lock ker doon kya??