Team selection for the first test against Australia raised several eyebrows, with no frontline spinner in playing 11, going with 4 fast bowling options and part timer Agha Salman. As expected Faheem was disappointing with both bat and ball. Being a lone spinner in playing eleven is adding pressure to genuine batter to perform with the bowl. The pitch was likely to turn but the selection panel persisted with Agha Salman, the Australian counterpart Nathan Lyon while completing his 500 test wickets scalped 5 wickets in a game.
Sarfaraz Ahmed the wicket keeping batsman was not looking comfortable behind the stumps and on bouncy pitch was dismissed by Starc in both innings. Fielding was again a concern as many chances were put down. Shaheen never looked threatening with new and old ball with debutants Jamal and Khurram looking impressive in both the innings.
The coaching staff and captain should make tough calls for the 2nd test as there is scope for improvement. Pakistan has not won a single test match in Australia since 1995 but this bunch of talented players are capable of breaking the losing streak if managed in the proper way.
After the world cup debacle, Pakistan cricket team – one of the favourites to lift the world cup in India, lost confidence when supporters and former cricketers openly criticised the performance of team and captain Babar Azam. The off field drama of Inzamam ul Haq (then chief selector of national cricket team) resigning from the post became the first casualty of possible overhaul by PCB led by Zaka Ashraf.
Former South African fast bowler and bowling coach Morne Morkel also resigned immediately after the world cup, babar Azam resigned from captaincy, PCB first shift coaching staff to NCA Lahore, then all together suspended and renamed new coaching staff.
Mohammad Hafeez was named head coach and director of cricket while Wahab Riaz was named head of the selection committee. Later on, veterans Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul were named spin and fast bowling coaches respectively.
Shan Masoood (averaging 28.52 in tests and 18 in ODIs) was named captain of the test team while injury prone fast bowler Shaheen Afridi having a mediocre world cup was appointed to lead the team in T20s.
There have been numerous flaws in PCB in recent times, with Najam Sethi taking over as chief and without completing his term was sacked and Zaka Ashraf was appointed to lead PCB. It is very much possible that off field drama has affected the on field performance of the team in the recently concluded world cup. The personal WhatsApp chat leak of former captain Babar Azam on national television channel says about the state of affairs of PCB.
The tough time on PCB is not going away any time soon as wicket keeper batter Azam Khan was fined 50% of match fees for breaching clothing and equipment regulations (displaying unapproved logo/political messaging) during the National T20 tournament in Karachi.
The pressure from fans Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to lift the penalty imposed on batter Azam Khan.