It has been a long time since a debutant shone for Pakistan.

Mohammad Aamer comes to mind. Nasir Jamshed had a good debut. Umar Akmal had an awesome test debut. All that was over 3 years ago.

Its been some time since Pakistan fielded an exciting prospect.

Last night, however, there were two!

Not sure how great a prospect a 34 year old is, but given that it was Zulfiqar Babar's first ever international match, he looked extremely fresh and can easily be around for another 4-5 years.

What a debut the man had.

A wicket in his first international over, 3 crucial wickets of Samuels, Simmons, and Bravo, and a match winning six off the final ball of the match ala Javed Miandad.

That was surely a dream debut.

The other debutant, Umar Amin, top scored for Pakistan hitting a fluent 47, which was by far his best international innings.

He has played tests and ODIs before and has never looked like a batsman in command. But last night he looked like Hashim Amla in disguise.

His drives and pulls were crisp and in no time he had raced into the 40s with the help of 9 boundaries.

That was a match winning inning by Umar Amin.

Two great debuts in the same match coupled with a super knock by Shahid Afridi - what a game it was for Pakistan.

Afridi played a completely un-Afridi-like innings.

He controlled the innings from the moment he walked out to bat. He played sensibly, controlled the strike, managed singles and double while punishing the bad deliveries, continuously kept talking to Babar, and ensured that Pakistan was on top of the chase.

By the time Afridi left, he had got Pakistan into a winning situation.

Unfortunately our tail is so bad that 8 off 7 looks difficult, but for any other team it would have been like a walk in the park.

Babar got us over the line eventually, but it probably would not have happened had it not been for Shahid Afridi.

A couple of years ago it was unthinkable to have an Indian team take the field without the names Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, and Harbhajan Singh.

We’re just one test into the Ashes and the turbulent, exciting tie was already typical of a series between England and Australia.

You won’t need telling that it was littered with contentious cricketing calls – from Stuart Broad neglecting to walk and Ashton Agar surviving a stone-cold stumping to Brad Haddin losing his final wicket with just 14 runs to go thanks to an uncertain video replay.

But in the grand lexicon of Ashes controversy, those incidents are not alone. Here are the three most controversial cricketing calls and dubious decisions in the history of the Ashes:

Bodyline

It’s easy to underestimate the importance of bodyline. It provoked what Wisden called “the most unpleasant test ever played”. It led to Australian wicketkeeper Bert Oldfield being knocked unconscious. It nearly provoked riots. It caused commerce between England and Australia to fall significantly. It took World War II (a World War) to put the two Allies back on good diplomatic terms.

To modern cricket fans looking back, bodyline will seem a bit of an over-exaggeration, of precious Aussies getting in a bit of a tizzy – after all, isn’t it merely Englishmen bowling bouncers? But back then it changed cricket permanently from a gentleman’s game governed by ancient unspoken rules into something slightly harder, with ‘intimidatory short-pitched bowling’ rules later restricting the amount of bouncers allowed in each over.

Even though the militant tactics were the idea of England captain Douglas Jardine, fast bowler Harold Larwood, the chief proponent of bodyline, was blamed for the debacle and never played for his country again. Still, the tactics worked – legendary Don Bradman’s batting average was reduced to a comparatively miniscule 56 and England won the series 4-1.

Alastair Cook reprieved by a no-ball

An Englishman would opine that there are fewer worse sights than a celebrating Aussie. Even better than that, however, is watching one revelling in a wicket that hasn’t actually been given.

That’s what happened on the second day in the crucial fourth test in the 2010-11 Ashes. After Australia were humbled all out for 98 on Boxing Day in the iconic MCG, England wasted no time in exerting their authority with the bat. But the hosts smelt blood after dismissing a middle order of Pietersen, Collingwood and Bell in quick succession and when Matt Prior was caught behind off Mitchell Johnson, the pendulum flirted with swinging back towards Australia.

Umpire Aleem Dar had other ideas. Johnson had overstepped the linemarking paint on the grass. No ball. Matt Prior went on to support Jonathan Trott in a partnership of 172 as England won the test, the next test and the Ashes, in style. 

Michael Kasprowicz gets the mother of all bad calls

On the 8^th August 2005, England hadn’t won an Ashes series since 1987. 18 long years. And after losing the first test, it looked like they might have to wait a little longer – if they lost the second then surely it’d be over.

It all changed at Edgbaston. But it shouldn’t have.  England built a substantial lead in Birmingham and set the visitors a substantial target of 282 to win. At the close of play, Australia had lost six more wickets and still needed 107 runs.

English fans turned up on Sunday morning in party mode, but they were disappointed by Brett Lee, Shane Warne and, when the spinner stepped on his stumps, Michael Kasprowicz. Their dogged defiance was as annoying as it was quintessentially Australian. The Australian tail wagged and wagged until they were two runs from victory. And then it happened.

Kasprowicz, trying to fend off a Steve Harmison bouncer, glanced the ball into the overjoyed arms of Simon Jones. England erupted – but it was only later on that Kasprowicz was found to touch the ball with his glove while not holding his bat, rendering the umpire’s decision incorrect. England tied the series and went on to win the Ashes but it could, and should, have been so different. 

A day that was supposed to be about Pakistan's new well balanced ODI XI turned out to be a Shahid Afridi comeback show; what a great comeback show it was.

In the matter of 109 deliveries, Shahid Afridi turned the match upside down and made the day his own. It was a record breaking comeback.

In 55 deliveries, he smashed 76 runs with the help of 6 boundaries and 5 sixes - in a match where no other batsman could hit more than 2 boundaries! In the next 54 deliveries, Afridi picked up 7 West Indian wickets while giving away only 12 runs.

Such single handed dominance in an ODI is extremely rare. There have been only 16 instances in ODI cricket where a player has scored 50 runs (or more) and picked up 5 wickets (or more). The feat has been performed by 14 players in 42 years of ODI cricket and only one cricketer has repeated it - not once but twice - Shahid Afridi!



Last night was Afridi's third time; and in doing so, he also picked up his best ODI haul and created the record for the best bowling figures by a Pakistani, breaking Waqar Younis' record of 7-36 against England (2001).

Afridi's 7-12 is now also the second best ever bowling performance in an ODI, behind Chaminda Vaas' 8-19, and ahead of the 7 wicket hauls of McGrath, Muralitharan, Bichel, Waqar, Aaqib, and Davis.

Afridi could not have asked for a better comeback game than the one he got last night. He picked up his 30th man of the match award and increased his lead over all other Pakistani match winners with the most MOM awards.

I can go on and on about Afridi's records for Pakistan - better to go here and catch up on what he has done for Pakistan cricket over the past 17 years.

The pertinent question after last night's game is - "Is Shahid Afridi Back?"

I think he is. Not because of his 76 off 55 - he managed a similar 80 odd against South Africa 3 ODIs before this one. Not because of his record breaking 7-12 either. Purely because he looked like his old 2011 self as a bowler. The drift, the zip of the pitch, the varying pace - it was all back.

Shahid Afridi bowled like he owned the world, like he did during the period between 2007 and 2011, during which he was Pakistan's leading and the world's second highest ODI wicket taker.

This is what Pakistan had been missing throughout 2012 and it was good to see it all come back last night.

Afridi's critics are still complaining about how this performance will keep him in the team for another 5 years, how he has not been consistent, and how this is a once in a blue moon performance.

I have serious concerns about such critics.

Between the period 2007 and 2011 Afridi played 99 ODIs, in which he picked up 140 wickets at an average of 28.95 and scored 2013 runs at an average of 25.80.

Only Mitchell Johnson picked up more ODI wickets during that period.

And not to forget that during that same period he was the man whose performances led Pakistan to a World T20 Title, a World T20 Final, and semi finals of a World T20 and the ICC World Cup.

In which world is that inconsistent?

I agree that 2012 was a bad year for him. In fact, it was his worst year ever in his 17 year career.

In 16 ODIs during 2012, Afridi picked up only 15 wickets at an average of 43; and scored 182 runs at an average of 15. Afridi has not had this bad a year in ODI cricket since his debut in 1996.

Did he deserve to be dropped after this? Definitely.

Pakistan had the chance to try out new and young all rounders, but what they did instead was replace Afridi with Shoaib Malik, a cricketer well past his sell by date.

Those crying over Hammad Azam not being given a chance, should be blaming the PCB selectors and team management for not giving young cricketers like Hammad Azam a chance while Afridi was on the bench.

Malik did himself and Afridi's critics no favors at all, as his failure made the PCB turn back to Afridi. And now, Afridi is back and here to stay.

I reckon that by the end of the year, Afridi might even be leading Pakistan's ODI team. Misbah's term as ODI leader is nearing its end, and Pakistan can't find a better man to lead them till the 2015 World Cup than Shahid Afridi.

Afridi's bad phase has passed. Last night, Afridi looked fitter, hungrier, and he was back at his boom boom best.

He is not inconsistent and definitely does not perform once in a blue moon. He is a match winning bowler for Pakistan and his presence on the field lifts the team like nothing else does.

He is a pure match winner and he is here to stay for some more time for sure.

There was a time when Pakistan used to have wicket keepers who used to add valuable runs lower down the order. In those days, besides Alec Stewart, no other team really had men as capable with the bat as Moin Khan or Rashid Latif; especially when it came to getting some fast runs near the end of an innings.

There was a time when Pakistan also used to have players like Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood, Abdul Razzaq, and Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik in their prime. Men who could bowl and bat. Genuine allrounders.

The team also boasted of players like Aamer Sohail, Salim Malik, and Ijaz Ahmed - batsmen who could turn their arm over and were more than just part time bowlers. (Did you know Aamer Sohail bowled his full quota of 10 overs in the 1992 World Cup Final).

No wonder Pakistan was such a great team during the 90s. Genuine allrounders, wicketkeepers who could bat well, batsmen who could fill in with a few overs - what more can an ODI team ask for!

Sadly, gone are those days.

Azhar Mahmood's career was prematurely ended due to PCB's mismanagement; Abdul Razzaq fell to politics and has since then been in and out of the team; Shahid Afridi lost his magic with the bat and then his bowling form ditched him too; and Shoaib Malik became a specialist boundary catcher leaving Pakistan with no allrounders.

Kamran Akmal got tangled in fixing allegations, became an eternal dropper, and then forgot how to bat, leaving Pakistan with no wicket keeper batsman.

Mohammad Hafeez provided some balance to the side as his bowling improved with every match; there was a time when he was ranked higher than Saeed Ajmal. Hafeez undoubtedly has become one of the best ODI bowlers for Pakistan; but that is all he is now. He has forgotten that he came into the team as an opening batsman with the prime responsibility of making runs; not stopping them.

Shahid Afridi can no longer be trusted to bat as high as number 6. Actually even number 7 seems too high for him. Wahab Riaz has shown that he can throw his bat around but he is not the allrounder that Pakistan need.

Anwar Ali is considered to be a potential allrounder who could replace Abdul Razzaq in the longer term but his batting is no where close to Razzaq's or Afridi's in their hey days.

Hammad Azam seems to be the public's favorite, but I don't see why. The boy can bat and hit hard, but he cannot bowl to save his life. He is not a wicket taker and he cannot be trusted to save runs. If he is to become the allrounder that Pakistan is looking for then his bowling needs to develop significantly.

It is a sad situation really that Pakistan has not been able to get the balance of its ODI team right. It is always in a situation where they are either a batsman short or a bowler short. It is always a risky situation to go in with only 5 specialist bowlers and whenever Pakistan has tried to play a 6th bowling option, they have weakened their batting line up.

What has been sadder is that no one has done anything about the situation.

Till now.

A major step has been taken in naming Umar Akmal as the first choice wicket keeper for the ODIs and T20s against the West Indies.

It is a great move. In fact, it is a very bold move. It is a move that will go a long way in giving Pakistan's ODI team the much needed balance it requires.

With Umar Akmal batting in the top 6 and donning the gloves, Pakistan can actually play 5 bowlers, in addition to Hafeez.



























It also allows them to fit Shahid Afridi in the XI, as it is difficult to include him in place of a pacer, and he can't really replace Ajmal or Hafeez.

What is also heartening is that the Pakistan management has come out and openly talked about this move. The chief selector has stated that Umar has been given the wicket keeping duties as it will help Pakistan improve the balance of their team. The coach has mentioned how this will give added responsibility to Umar.

And Umar Akmal himself has talked about how he is ready for this challenge.

Some critics have argued that it will be an extra burden on one of Pakistan's most talented ODI batsmen. I don't agree with that.

In fact, it might actually help Umar cement his place once and for all in the team. Certain players require that added responsibility to discover their true potential.

Rahul Dravid became a better ODI batsman when he was given wicket keeping duties. Kumar Sangakkara and AB De Villiers have done the same for their teams whenever they have faced balance issues.

Sure those batsmen are in different leagues altogether, but there is no reason why Umar can't handle the added responsibility. He has got nothing to lose.

And neither does Pakistan.

The selectors could not have picked a better ODI squad than the one they have for the tour to West Indies. And for once it feels like some strategical thinking has gone into the composition of the squad and someone has taken the initiative to speak about roles.

Lets hope the same thought is applied on tour and in the composition of the playing XI.

It is not often that men running the Pakistan Cricket Board are praised, because more often than not their acts, statements, selections, and management is so unprofessional that one wonders what these people have done in life besides being friendly with those running the country.