Misbah, Hafeez, Ajmal will be the Key in Champions Trophy
These 3 are undoubtedly the key who the team heavily rely on for runs, wickets, stability and balance.
Misbah, Hafeez, Ajmal – The Faisalabad trio are the nucleus of the one day side and the 3 most valuable one day players in terms of leading batsmen, leading all rounder and leading bowler as well as experienced respected leadership presences in the case of Misbah and Hafeez that you wouldn’t consider dropping and hence have a longer description in place for them. Ajmal might not be a leader, but there is no disagreement about him being Pakistan’s biggest talking point from the perspective of opposition camps. These 3 are undoubtedly the key who the team heavily rely on for runs, wickets, stability and balance. They are the go to men who have all played over 80 of these 50 over internationals with impressive success. The team is build around them. Starting with the skipper, here I outline the individual strengths with reference explicitly to 50 over cricket:
Misbah – Mr Dependable
1) Patience, temperament, mental toughness, self belief to sit in, absorb pressure when there is a tight passage of bowling and the ball is hard to get away, knowing he has the range of shots and the power game to accelerate and make up for a sedate beginning the longer he is out there and has properly got his eye in. He is a capable and occasional enforcing player while being able to protect his wicket respectfully, hang around and work the gaps
2) Calmness, determination, responsibility to see his side home and remain unbeaten in a run chase, particularly when there is a working total to chase meaning he has the license to bide his time somewhat which he relishes with his grinding game plan
3) Ability to assess and read conditions like a farmer to his soil from a pure captaincy point of view
4) Keeping his side together, priding them on the conduct and overseeing developments closely. In England, this will be of paramount importance given the past events
5) Interacting with the press in a diplomatic and professional manner which gives a strong likeable account of his team
Hafeez – Utility Cricketer
1) Ability to bowl with the new ball for a canny off spinning all rounder. Doesn’t mind the hardness and proud seam despite being a finger spinner.
2) Ability to knock over left handers with his drifters and straighter ones from an around the wicket angle of attack
3) Ability to get through 10 overs; reliably, accurately, economically, almost silently with nagging control
4) Advice and suggestions in the field to captain and bowlers, active vice skipper
5) Can make big runs on flat wickets and is a decent enough batsmen
Ajmal – Mystery man
1) Ability to turn the ball both ways in a disguised manner, making it hard for most to read him, particularly out of the hand. Often players play him off the pitch which can be guess work territory if you don’t pick up the length
2) Control to be able to make the most of his mysteries and variations in his golden armoury, barely giving anything to hit and always testing in the right areas
3) Ability to vary his pace and assess the pace that is right for the surface and ground dimensions. Has the experience and canniness to work it out for him-self.
4) Self confidence to operate in the batting power play time after time. Likes the challenge when batsmen are on the charge and attempting to take him on with all the tricks up his sleeve.
5) Ability to bamboozle players who are playing him for the first time and lower order players in dominant fashion
Azhar Ali – Enduring Grafter
1) Can play 2nd fiddle when forming a partnership and patiently go about his trade unnoticed while contributing to the team cause
2) Can negotiate with the new ball with an efficient technical basis to work from
3) Can hold up an end and control proceedings, ensuring wickets are in tact
4) Handy 6th bowling option as a decent leg spinner
5) Good alert close in fielder to the bat
Asad Shafiq – Man for a crisis
1) Wrist work and general leg side play
2) Ability to manoeuvre the field by playing the ball late
3) Reasonably compact technique
4) Thrives when batting in a crisis
5) Strong catcher and ground fielder
Mohammad Irfan – Big Bird Number 2
1) Extra bounce
2) Surprise batsmen with his Yorker
3) Awkward customer for players playing him for the first time
4) Utilise early morning moisture
5) Complements Junaid well
Junaid – Mohammad Aamir number 2 (minus the corruption fingers crossed)
1) Whole hearted performer
2) Bowls well at the death and back end
3) Quick learner
4) Whippy bowling action
5) Can move it around both ways
Abdur Rehman – Silent Assassin
1) Control with the ball
2) Talented batsmen for a number 8 or number 9
3) Can also bowl with the new ball
4) Operates well in tandem with Ajmal
5) Tricky customer to score off
Nasir Jamshed – Comparisons with Anwar were inevitable
1) Leg side play
2) Stylishness both sides of the wicket
3) Pretty impressive one day form over last year or so
4) Put on many 100+ stands with Hafeez, 4 already, decent understanding developed
5) Gives a left right hand combination to disrupt bowlers line
Malik – Ice Cool Finisher
1) Cool headed finisher
2) Quick runner between the wickets
3) Likes milking the spinners in the middle passages
4) Outstanding outfielder
5) Handy off spin option, relying a lot on flight deception
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