Pakistan limited overs tour of NZ, Jan 3-28

[meninblue]

3 fours in Boult's 2nd over of this spell though.

Fakhar and Faheem playing some good shots. But how long can this strokeplay be sustained.

[meninblue]

Rain break.

[meninblue]

New Zealand won by 61 runs (DLS method )

[meninblue]

Pakistan team will be needing a change. But there is not much depth. Hafeez, Azhar and Shoaib are not steering the batting lineup. However, Harris Sohail is not a major upgrade. Still he could be accommodated just to try some fresh energy by dropping one of the 3. Preferably Hafeez or Azhar as Shoaib will be important as spin bowling option considering Hafeez has been banned from bowling.

Fakhar Zaman was good. Currently their best ODI batsman. Bowled in nets as well as warmup amtch. Picked a wicket today too. He has lived upto the expectations.A lot will depend upon his form in this series. Still he will need support from middle order. Pakistan's lower order has to bail them out far often.

[andy]

Where's Fawad Alam?

[meninblue]

Where's Fawad Alam?

Was dropped after Bangladesh series in which he played badly..The major fitness test which was done in Pak iirc. Fitness was one reason the selectors gave. Strike Rate was his issue. Struggled with power hitting. Shoaib was there in middle order and PCB politics was one reason. Babar was a player they had an eye to get in the ODI format. Inzy even made a rule that players over 30 will not be picked in LIst A. So Fawad does not gets chance in List A as well.

[andy]

No one over 30 to play list A?! what kind of stupid rule is that?!

[meninblue]

It's not a rule which has been written. We can say it was Inzis policy to not include players who were above 30 as he wanted players under 30 in List A also he did not want players in the A team who represented 5 times. Unable to clear boundaries was a issue as well.

Inzy has done some good things, some bad. But PCB in itself is a mess. This mess flows down as well. More unfit players than Fawad were in team at the point when Fawad was dropped in fitness test. Not that he was a good ODI player but he could have been kept as option somewhere down the line. Babar is a good find and I would give credit to Inzi for that. But his continuous selection of non performing seniors is not good. One of Azhar, Hafeez and Shoaib has to be dropped. At least from playing 11's if not from squad. The CT final win against India has increased their problems rather than sorting selection issues.

[meninblue]

Personally I would never have Fawad as well in ODI. He struggled with power hitting or finding gaps.

Tests maybe he had a chance. Think he scored 167 once. That was the best format his game was suited to than ODI. Maybe he could have been developed by selectors but he was not preferred.

[meninblue]

Mickey Arthur and Inzi have taken some harsh decisions, some of them controversial or contradictory.

Pak played exactly the same warmup match team today in 1st ODI. So they did not give rest to seniors or so. They had nets sessions, they hit gyms as soon as they landed in N. Shady was also called from Big Bash and joined the team on same day.

It will be interesting to see how Mickey reacts after first ODI or will he wait for one more loss in order to give them some continuity here in NZ.

[backfootpunch]

Puzzling decision to bat first

Plenty of movement on offer

[Arthur Crabtree]

Boult and NZ-Tim in good form at the moment.

[meninblue]

Pakistan have given slightly better performance than WI gave in NZ recently. Still they are 0-2 behing with 3 ODI's left.

NZ are now the favorites to win this series. Pakistan would like to win one or two ODI's at least. But they have problems to many in their playing 11.

The presence of Azhar Ali, Hafeez and Shoaib in the same line up is hampering their performances in ODI. Sarfraz their captain is also not contributing with the bat. There are too many non contributors. Fakhar Zaman their most aggressive batsman is lineup needs to be fit for next ODI. Without him they are just left with Babar Azam who too has been out of form in both matches played so far.The bowling remains Pak's strength and their bowlers can be more relied upon than their batsmen.

Kiwis on the other hand are doing well. Guptill has striked form, Munro and Taylor carry their form from WI series into this , Kane has striked form with a 100. Nicholls has been consistent against WI as well as Pak. With Southee picking wickets upfront in first spells, which was something being missed in his recent past, there are now two wicket taking opening bowlers. Lockie has a very good pace and on his day he has picked his share of wickets in couple of matches as well. Todd Astle has been a welcome addition to the Kiwi bowling alongside Santner. I think the advantage Todd gives is that he can beat the other edge of the bat as well.

CDG has been named as part of squad for remaining 3 ODI's. Kiwis squad will be more strengthened.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Guptill scoring slowly recently, since his return.

[meninblue]

Superb by Kiwis !! They had Pak at 16/6 in 14.5 over. All out for 74 in 27.2 overs.

Kiwis leading 3-0. Can Pak avoid a whitewash.

Sarfraz, Mickey Arthur and Inzamam have a lot to answer.