Brittle batting poses problems to selectors

Pakistan's recent successive victories in international cricket is indeed a commendable feat. The credit largely goes to Waqar Younis whose leadership qualities are improving.

Waqar's declaration against West Indies in the first Test at Sharjah was daring and reflected the skipper's confidence in himself and his team. Pakistan is now steadily emerging as a fighting and mature force. But our batting line-up is still brittle and the selectors have to ponder this problem.

We do not lack talent provided it is given chance and exposure persistently. This is particularly important in the case of opening pair. We should not harbour under any delusion after victories against out of sorts Bangladesh and West Indies on easy paced wickets. The quest for better and better should be an unceasing effort. Team spirit has surely returned and Wasim Akram's come-back will reinforce the combination.

Our bowling has been pretty impressive. But let me first deal with batting. Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Abdur Razzaq have been consistent and brilliant. When Inzamam, who has been having a lean patch, regains his form our middle order will become formidable. The opening slot, however, though has problems.

Ever since Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail got separated no pair has settled down, a role Majid Khan and Sadiq Mohammad also discharged with distinction.

If Shahid Afridi gets due and sympathetic treatment, he could be the answer. He has been branded by certain quarters as a one-day specialist. It is just like Saeed Anwar, who was also branded, early in his career as a one-day specialist and then dropped after scoring three consecutive centuries.

Saeed later on proved his critics wrong, establishing himself as a world class opener. Dropping Afridi from the first Test by the tour selection committee was a blunder. It should not be forgotten that he is a valuable utility all-rounder. As regards his batting technique he believes in the dictum that attack is the best defence, a motto approved by none other than Garfield Sobers while coaching the Sri Lankans.

There are two types of openers - one enterprising and motivated and other constant and steady. If in the opening overs an outgoing delivery is bowled to say Geoff Boycott, Hanif Mohammad or Sunil Gavaskar they will leave it. The same if offered to Gordon Greenidge, Roy Fredericks or Sanath Jayasuriya they would have square cut it.

Rashid Latif deserves due praise for his showing, despite a long absence in between. He is an outstanding wicket-keeper and is also establishing him as a dependable batsman.

Pakistan is lucky to have two competent keepers of calibre. Of course Moin Khan is a magician with bat. His memorable record of 257 victims in oneday cricket, three Test centuries and eight hundreds in first class cricket speak for themselves. His impressive showing in the last World Cup with fractured little finger is still fresh, the way he hammered Australia's Glenn McGrath in English conditions was marvellous. Allan Donald also received caning at his hands.

Coming back to our bowling Shoaib Akhtar was amazing with his express deliveries on unresponsive surface. In short spells he is virtually unplayable. Michael Holding's adverse comments were torn to shreds by his performance with the same weight and action.

Waqar, of course, is an established operator with the new as well as the old ball, Abdur Razzaq, in between, was remarkable with his medium pace accuracy. If Wasim Akram comes up to his reputed fame we will have a formidable bowling attack.

In the spinning department Danesh Kaneria has much to learn. He should give a little flight and his deliveries will have a loop only when he takes a slow start. He should follow Shane Warne. Besides his bowling Kaneria must improve his fielding.

One feature about Pakistan bowling is specially noteworthy and striking. We have produced some of the finest fast bowlers on the heart breaking slow wickets. The names of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar and Shoaib Akhtar are inscribed in the Hall Of Fame but we have not been able to produce a high quality left-arm leg spinner since Iqbal Qasim.

As regards West Indies their overall performance was below par. Lara's absence was a big blow. Their fielding was uncharacteristically shoddy. Besides all that the umpires rubbed their wounds. Darrel Hair of Australia gave two most shocking LBW decisions against Darren Ganga and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. The ouster of the former proved a turning point as he was batting beautifully in the second Test.

Hair is the same person who questioned Shoaib Akhtar's action. If such poor judgments had been made by a Pakistani umpire he would have been dishonest while an Australian was guilty of human error.

This was the first series where both the teams were aliens and instead of batsmen getting benefit of doubt bowlers were reaping the benefit, why? The umpires can only tell. Now before concluding a few suggestions for Waqar who undoubtedly did a good job. But he should concentrate on game and refrain from uncalled for statements and interviews with the media.

My sincere good wishes are with Waqar and the team.

(This article was written before the one-day series).