Spinners save Pakistan

Contributed by Philip Oliver

Faced with the prospect of an ignominious first round exit, Pakistan, like England did against them, raised their game against Netherlands to secure a place in the Super Eight stage. They produced a performance that had the characteristics which made them pre-tournament dark horses, of flamboyant batting and excellent spin bowling.

The convincing win over the Dutch proves the attraction of Twenty20 cricket. Pakistan were so poor against England that their involvement in the latter stages seemed unlikely, but the manner of their win against Netherlands will have made their rivals sit up and take notice, regardless of the strength of their opposition. Form is a difficult thing to measure in this format.

Pakistan are always seen as dangerous opponents, hard to predict and as likely to produce listless, weak displays as the explosive ones that characterise them at their best. Twenty20 cricket amplifies this, as proven in this tournament already.

Captain Younis Khan was criticised in the wake of the England defeat for dismissing the format as fun cricket that did not deserve proper attention, and although this laidback approach is dangerous, it might actually help them.

Twenty20 is all about playing with freedom, forgetting the occasion and playing without inhibition. Batsmen who can play their shots under pressure and bowlers who keep their nerve in the face of a batting onslaught are usually the ones who are relaxed inside. The lack of expectation generated by their skipper might help the Pakistani players perform at their best.

Pakistan are in the easier of the Super Eight groups and have a strong chance of reaching the semi finals. They have many reasons not to slip-up against Ireland and have the firepower to beat Sri Lanka and New Zealand, two teams who can also veer between the excellent and disappointing.

Pakistan, runners-up in the 2007 tournament, have the pedigree and players to go one better this time around. They have the Twenty20 best win ratio of any major nation and in Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi have the two most successful bowlers in the format.

Afridi was at his best with the ball against the Dutch and his spin double act with Saeed Ajmal could be the key to his team’s success. Spin is important in Twenty20 cricket and these two bowlers are hard to read and capable of reducing the opposition scoring rate. If they continue to confuse batsmen, Pakistan can go far and prove they are more than dark horses.

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