Hassan Cheema
The pitches don't encourage the development of world-class talent, so what can the captain, or anyone else, do?
For decades, the team from down under was held up as an example of everything Pakistan cricket needed to aspire to being. Things are a little different now
They've gone seven series without a loss for only the third time in their history, but this just might be as far as it goes this time
Sure the fast bowling unit picked for the New Zealand tour is second-string, but it has delivered more often than not
Looking at their "home" record brings to light a number of reasons why their one-day game, particularly, is leagues behind that of other teams
This Pakistan team's ability to prove people wrong time and again is remarkable. So also the shaping influence of two elder statesmen
Or, the Pakistani way of judging talent and contributions
The world watches to see whether they will validate their current form as one of the world's top teams or return in tatters, having become tabloid fodder
It just might be their most significant series in years - not that you could tell by the way they've gone about preparing for it
That the PCB is implementing some of former coach Waqar Younis' recommendations is good news. But will the optimism last?