Pakistan played its first international match under the new regime of Misbah Ul Haq against Sri Lanka a couple of weeks back and convincingly won the ODI by 60 odd runs.

They posted a 300+ total on back of a Babar Azam century, a Fakhar Zaman fifty, and a late flourish from Iftikhar Ahmed who looked very promising on his return to the international fold.

Pakistan followed that win with another one, this time chasing down a 290 odd score with few balls to spare. They won it comfortably by 5 wickets and Iftikhar was there once again at the end.

The successful chase was set up by the openers - Fakhar who followed his 54 with a 76, and Abid Ali who impressed once again with a well made 74.

Abid looks like a million bucks in the middle.

ODI series won 2-0 and there was hardly any hue and cry about it. Pakistan extended its ODI winning streak to 7 and no one made any noise about it.

That's fine. It was a second string Sri Lankan team so wins were expected.

But chasing 290 odd is not something Pakistan does often, so I feel it was a great win.

Moving on to the T20s and Pakistan could not have started off on a worse footing.

The first public reaction was to the return of Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal to Pakistan's T20 squad. Just this resulted in tremendous amount of criticism for the new Chief Selector / Head Coach, Misbah Ul Haq.

How could he bring both of them back into the team?

Shehzad and Umar Akmal are tried, tested, and failed batsmen at the International level so what really resulted in them being recalled?

For starters, Pakistan's two most experienced T20 batsmen, Shoaib Malik (averaging 44 in T20s since 2016) and Mohammad Hafeez (averaging 31 since 2016) were unavailable due to their CPL commitments.

This meant, Pakistan needed 2 replacements for the squad. But no one expected the 2 replacements to be Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal.

Umar Akmal had not played a T20 for Pakistan since he was axed in September 2016, while Shehzad was dropped in June 2018.

So they must have done something during this time to warrant selection, right? Let us take a look.


AHMED SHEHZAD

In PSL 2019, Ahmed Shehzad scored 311 runs at an average of 51.83 and strike rate of 126.93. He knocked 4 fifties in 8 innings with a highest score of 99.

Shehzad was one of the only two batsmen who averaged 50+ during the PSL. The other was AB De Villiers.

This performance justifies selection in my opinion. But what I don't understand is that while Pakistan's first choice openers in T20s - Fakhar and Babar - are fit and fine and performing, what is the need of an Ahmed Shehzad? And what is the need to drop Fakhar and play Shehzad? And what is the need of playing Shehzad at #3 when all his runs have been scored while opening?

Selection might be justified, but giving him opportunities over Fakhar makes no sense.

UMAR AKMAL
Umar did not even have a great PSL 2019 like Shehzad. He scored 277 runs in 10 innings at an average of 34.62 and strike rate of 137.12.

Decent numbers, but there were many who performed better than this; for example Imam Ul Haq (who is not considered a T20 batsman) and Umar's elder brother Kamran Akmal who was the leading national run scorer in PSL 2019 (behind only Shane Watson).

In December 2018, there was a National T20 Cup played in Pakistan. Umar Akmal played 5 matches scoring 109 runs at an average of 21.8.

Surely this performance does not deserve selection. There was a plethora of local batsmen who were far more impressive than Umar Akmal.

So while Shehzad's case of being selected still holds merit, Umar Akmal's does not.

Both of them however could have proven every one wrong through their performances but their failures in the two T20 losses to Sri Lanka have made them become a laughing stock.

Especially Umar Akmal who registered a golden duck in both games!

Misbah and Sarfraz have to be blamed for selecting them, playing them over the likes of Fakhar, Haris, and Iftikhar, and then persisting with them.

But I feel the reaction from the public has been a bit overboard.

I mean there are people out there calling for Misbah's head over this.

Give the guy a break for God's sake.

Pakistan just won the ODI series 2-0. I didn't see any praise from anyone. In fact no one even discussed the matches.

But the moment Pakistan loses two games, people are out with their knives and guns.

Bit overboard I feel.

The World T20 is a year away. Pakistan will play a dozen or so T20s before that tournament. This is not enough international exposure for new blood to be inducted into the team. There isn't enough time for preparation.

I also feel that Pakistan's T20 team is well set so you don't really need new players.

Shehzad and Akmal were brought back to fill in the shoes of Malik and Hafeez and with the CPL coming to a close, Pakistan's veterans will be back and the two prodigal sons will return to the wilderness.

I really don't think such reaction is warranted over what has happened. 

Pakistan are playing their first series since the World Cup, and while the results in ODIs were heartening, the team has been disastrous in the format in which they have been the top ranked side for some time now.

Before I talk about the series against Sri Lanka, I also want to take note of what happened during Pakistan's off season.

Pakistan got a new chief selector, they got a new head coach who is also the chief selector, got a new bowling coach too who is also the former head coach and former bowling coach, a new domestic structure was put in place, the newly designed Quaid-e-Azam Trophy kicked off, and as always there was an unlimited supply of drama, conjecture, and memes ... 

Misbah Ul Haq at the Helm ...Again!
For 7 years he ruled Pakistan cricket as captain. During that time, Pakistan's Test team reached unprecedented heights, but ODI and T20I cricket suffered like never before.

I feel the same may happen during his time as Head Coach. He is the best person for the job when it comes to Test Cricket, and given the start of the first ever World Test Championship, the timing could not have been more ideal for Misbah to take charge of Pakistan's Test Team.

But we also have two World T20 tournaments in the next two years, and for that I fear Misbah is perhaps not the right man to be coaching the team.

We can ignore ODIs for now as that is what all nations seem to be doing for the next two years.

Head Coach is also Chief Selector
Misbah is not only Pakistan's new Head Coach, he is also the new Chief Selector. This is the first time that anyone has been given this dual responsibility and it makes Misbah the most accountable person in Pakistan Cricket.

Not to mention the most Powerful too.

Pakistan, by all means, has become Misbah's team.

Only time will tell whether this dual role works or not, but in my view this structure has more merits than flaws.

Giving Misbah this dual role has taken away the blame game that has plagued Pakistan cricket for ages. Considering the close relationship between Captain and Coach, they will always get the squad that they want - which is great for Pakistan.

Waqar Younis is Back!
Again!? After several failed stints as head coach and bowling coach, Waqar is back as the new bowling coach of Pakistan. Not sure what Azhar Mahmood did wrong, neither sure of why we had to go back to Waqar rather than bringing in someone fresh.

Waqar has not had a good past as a coach. Pakistan has not had a good time with him as coach.

The only positive out of this is that Misbah and Waqar share a good working relationship.

Hopefully this time Waqar can focus on improving Pakistan's pacers and not worry about power struggles.

The New Domestic Cricket Structure
For 3 decades, Imran Khan has been voicing his opinion on how Pakistan's domestic cricket needs to be improved in order to achieve International success.

All these years, no one implemented Imran Khan's suggestions. But now that he is the Prime Minister, he can ensure that his plans are implemented.

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan's premier first-class domestic competition, featuring 6 regional teams under the new structure kicked off. Imran Khan believed that this format will provide for more quality cricket and will develop better cricketers for international cricket.

I am not too sure that has happened. But what we have seen is a number of tons and big scores by batsmen!

On the opening day, Sami Aslam and Abid Ali cracked unbeaten double centuries. Salman Butt even followed it up with one. Ashfaq Ahmed from KPK has already hit 3 centuries in as many matches, including a 173! International Azhar Ali, Kamran Akmal, and Mohammad Rizwan have both knocked two centuries each. And a number of others have scored tons too including Imam Ul Haq, Shan Masood, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Fawad Alam, Adnan Akmal, and several others.

No bowler has really stood out. Yasir Shah is leading the wicket tally, but he has leaked so many runs resulting in a 40+ average, which at domestic level is quite mediocre. The finger spinners, Zafar Gohar and Bilal Asif have better returns and are a wicket behind Yasir.

Rahat Ali is the only pacer with some decent returns, but I refuse to mention any thing more about him.

While batsmen continue to make merry in the domestic circuit, they have struggled big time against Sri Lanka - particularly in the T20s.

Series vs Sri Lanka
Pakistan's first ODI assignment after the World Cup was a cakewalk. Their main batsmen - Babar, Imam, Fakhar, and Haris - all scored runs. When Abid Ali got an opportunity, he showed why he should be a regular in the ODI XI. And Iftikhar Ahmed, who seems to be the replacement for Shoaib Malik/Mohammad Hafeez, displayed enough potential to get a longer run with the team.

Iftikhar was there at the end in both the games finishing off Pakistan's innings in style.

Pakistan put up a score and defended it, and they also chased one down. Both with quite some ease.

ODIs won 2-0. Job Done. All praise for new support staff and Pakistan who took their ODI winning streak to 7.

Considering this performance, the T20s should have been a walk in the park. After all Pakistan are the #1 T20 team in the World. They have won more T20s and more T20 series than any other team in the past 2-3 years. They have beaten all comers, easily and comprehensively.

Yet, a new look Sri Lanka side has thrashed them in the first two T20s.

Prodigal Sons Return
The T20 series started on the worst possible foot with the inclusion of Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal in the T20 squad.

I ignored it thinking that the presence of Babar, Fakhar, Haris, Asif Ali, Iftikhar, Nawaz, Imad, and the skipper Sarfraz would mean that Shehzad and Akmal will only warm the benches.

But no. They played. They played both T20s. They failed in both T20s.

What else was anyone expecting?

Shehzad and Akmal have been around for 10 years now, having made their International debut in 2009. This is enough time to realize that they will never fulfill the potential of their immense talent at this level. It is time to leave them forever in the domestic structure. It is fine, International cricket is not for them.

Had Pakistan invested this much time and  money in some other batsmen, they would be reaping the benefits by now.

I don't know what Misbah was thinking when including them in the squad and then in the playing XI. I don't know what Sarfraz was thinking when backing them. But at least we all know now that it is game over for them. Forever.

With Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez returning from the CPL and available for future T20 series, there will be no place for Shehzad and Akmal anyway.

Iftikhar is a good talent and he has shown in the 3 innings he has played so far that he is one for the long haul.

I hope Misbah has a better time when selecting and coaching the team for Australia !

The last time Pakistan won the Test, ODI, and T20I series on the same tour was during the 2011-12 season when they defeated Sri Lanka in the UAE, and then Zimbabwe and Bangladesh on tour. It took four years for Pakistan to repeat the feat and notch up a rare successful tour of Sri Lanka, after 9 years, winning a total of 7 international games - 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, and 2 T20Is.

Another rare achievement for Pakistan was winning the three bilateral series under different captains. Pakistan is not accustomed to having different captains for different formats, yet it seemed to be no hindrance to team spirit as Misbah, Azhar Ali, and Afridi led Pakistan's outfits to historical wins across the three formats in Sri Lanka.

One more interesting fact from this tour is that Pakistan sealed each series with a SIX! Misbah launched Jehan Mubarak over long on to complete Pakistan's record chase in the 3rd test; Shoaib Malik hoicked Sriwardana over midwicket in the 4th ODI to take Pakistan to an unassailable 3-1 lead in the ODI series; Imad Wasim smashed Binura Fernando over long on to complete Pakistan's dramatic 1 wicket win in the second T20I.

I wonder if that has ever happened before.

I also wonder when was the last time that Pakistan's batting, bowling, and fielding all fired collectively in a series. Probably not since the 1992 World Cup Final! ;)

THE FIELDING

Before coming to Pakistan's batting and bowling, their fielding deserves a mention.

The way the Pakistanis picked up their fielding on this tour was a revelation. Never before has Pakistan looked like the better fielding unit in any series. Runs were defended and catches were taken, with some so good that it was hard to believe that it was a Pakistani fielder athletically diving across the turf and getting his hands wrapped around the ball.

It was a sight!

Anwar Ali and Mohammad Rizwan have shown that they right up their with the best fielders in the world at the moment.

THE BATTING

The batting on this tour also shone like it hasn't in the recent past.

There was the record chase in the 3rd test; a 300+ total in the 3rd ODI; successful chases of 250+ in the 1st and 4th ODIs; a 175 run total in the 1st T20I; and a record chase of a 170+ target in the 2nd T20I.

Where there was a classic match winning inning from the experienced Younis Khan in the 3rd test, there was also a maiden century in a match winning cause from a novice like Shan Masood. Where there was strengthening of test credentials by Azhar Ali with yet another test hundred, there were monumental knocks by Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed that won Pakistan a match after a familiar batting collapse.

ODI openers, Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad, fired more often than not; and when they didn't the middle order comprising Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, and Mohammad Rizwan cruised the ship comfortably.

Anwar Ali finally came of age and showed that he has the abilities of being an allrounder in both ODIs and the T20s. Shoaib Malik ensured that his comeback was not a flash in the pan and made his presence count in the middle order in every innings in the ODIs and T20s. Umar Akmal also repaid the faith his T20 captain had in him by showing the world his range of shots and ability in the 1st T20I. Imad Wasim also displayed allround abilities.

And then there was Shahid Afridi, doubted by so many, who led the charge in the second T20 and showed the world that he still has it in him to smash the ball to all parts of the park.

THE BOWLING

While Yasir Shah single handedly destroyed Sri Lanka in the Tests and mesmerized viewers by bringing back the shining art of leg spin to Pakistan's test ranks after half a decade, Imran Khan and Rahat Ali also produced some awe inspiring spells.

Rahat Ali translated his test success to ODIs by displaying wicket taking ability, while Anwar Ali produced economical spells with the new ball and also picked up wickets, which he was failing to do in the past. Imad Wasim showed composure with his left arm spin and was the most difficult bowler to get away.

Both Anwar and Imad are valuable additions to Pakistan's limited overs attack, particularly because of their ability to strengthen the lower order batting.

*               *               *

Rarely does a tour end with Pakistan achieving all the goals it set out to achieve.

Misbah wanted a test series win in Sri Lanka to take Pakistan back to number 3. Azhar wanted an ODI series win to ensure Pakistan a place in the Champions Trophy. He also stated that Pakistan would sweep Sri Lanka 2-0 in the T20s with Afridi wanting a strong showing leading up to his swansong in India next year.

There is much to rejoice about Pakistan's performance on this tour to Sri Lanka. It has been one of their most successful tours in recent history. Their Test and T20 performances resulted in a rise in the rankings where Pakistan now sit pretty at number 3 in both formats, while their ODI performance ensured a place in the Champions Trophy.

Shahid Afridi did not bat like Shahid Afridi today.

We all know that Afridi led Pakistan to a T20 win in his first match as captain with a match winning captain's knock of 50.

We all also know that the knock was Afridi's third consecutive 50 in twenty20 internationals, following his effort in the semi final and final of the World Twenty20 a couple of months ago.

But there was more that Afridi achieved during the T20 win over Sri Lanka.

For all the female fans, it probably was.

For me however, the moment to cherish was when Shahid Afridi walked out for the toss.

In Pakistan's colors, in Pakistan's top job.

From calling right at the toss, to the knock he played, to the way he manoeuvered the field and the bowling changes, to the way he led his troops, Afridi did not put a foot wrong tonight.

In his very first match as Pakistan captain, Afridi was in command of everything he did.

He stabilized Pakistan's innings initially; then when the time was right, he broke loose and raced to his third consecutive 50 in Twenty20 Internationals.

He remained calm when Sri Lanka's openers started pounding Pakistan's bowling; more importantly he kept his men calm.

His field placing was immaculate, as were his bowling changes.

The match could not have ended without the world witnessing the one arm raised Afridi salute, so he gave us a wicket.

There was an apparent change in Pakistan's body language tonight; they looked confident; they were energetic; they batted aggressively but sensibly; they played with passion; they fielded with purpose.

What stood out was that they all responded to their captain, Shahid Afridi.

For all those years Afridi has given his all to Pakistan cricket, turning up endlessly for them and doing what he has been asked to do.

Ecstatic should be the appropriate word, though what I'm going through right now cannot be described in words.

I don't want to say I told you so but right now I feel like I should - I called Pakistan the favorites and it wasn't an emotionally optimistic call; it was one I made purely based on history.

Sri Lanka got a spanking. 8 wickets IS a spanking.

Pakistan's doubters got a spanking.

And we got a World Cup victory!

Sri Lanka were so occupied thinking about how to play the Pakistan spinners that they lost half their team to the Pakistan pacers.

Mohammad Aamer was outstanding, as was Abdul Razzaq.

Umar Gul did not finish well but his first couple of overs at back of a length worked to perfection.

And Sri Lanka couldn't have finished their innings without giving Afridi a wicket. We had to see the Afridi salute!

Dilshan, well what do I say; he should have read my letter.

He did top the World Twenty20 with the player of the tournament award, but in my books, for me the man of the moment, the man of the final, the man of competition was none other than Shahid Afridi!

For all the abuses and curses he's got over the last two years, he turned them around in two absolutely fantastic, and match winning knocks, in the semi final and the final.

He was always going to do well with the ball; what he produced with the bat in the last two games is what mesmerized the Pakistani fans.

The 1992 image of Imran Khan with his arms raised is what has been etched into the memories of all Pakistani fans.

After today the image of Afridi hitting the winning runs, taking his helmet off, and raising his arms in glory is what will remain with Pakistani fans forever.

Call it irony or call it karma, it was Shoaib Malik out there in the middle with Afridi taking Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title!

Both did it together.

I have a lot more to say, and I will, but right now I am way too emotional to continue writing.

I am going to celebrate and so should you.

Pakistan are the World Twenty20 Champions!

Read Redemption & Defiance by Well Pitched's Sledgehammer on BCC! for the first time.

Cricket Zindabad!

From the Nightmares of Lahore to the Dreams of London.

It will be a cracking final no doubt.

I will have a detailed preview up tomorrow; right now I want to share a thought that I shared with a friend before we sat down to watch the West Indies vs Sri Lanka semi final.

I told him that I would like to see Pakistan play Sri Lanka in the final; my reasoning was that if Pakistan manage to win the World Twenty20 then they would do so after beating the two best teams of the competition.

And that would put a lid on those going around saying that Pakistan did not deserve to be in the semis or don't deserve to win the cup because of the easy route they had.

Well we had the tougher semi final, and we made it. Come Sunday, we may go a step further than 2007!

Will you still say Pakistan did it because of an easy route to the semi finals?

It kept getting worse with Dilshan and Jayasuriya going great guns.

But then, as always Afridi came on and boom boomed with the ball like he has always done, and brought Pakistan back into the game.

Ajmal provided wonderful support and Gul finished off brilliantly to restrict Sri Lanka to a chaseable total.

Was quite a fight back then.

But Pakistan, who now show their mercurial nature in the same match as well, started their innings of the wrong foot once again.

Salman Butt beaten all ends up of a Matthews dopply bopply. I still don't understand why they continue to persist with him!

Shoaib Malik started off watchfully but got his act together before throwing it away.

Kamran Akmal hardly faced any deliveries and was run out, for which only he was to blame. That 2 second hesitation did him. Why? Why stop? The single was on!

Misbah disappointed. He just couldn't get going.

Shahid Afridi, well what do I say. He's lost it with the bat. He just can't do it anymore and the sooner Pakistan realise that they can't count on him with the willow the better. Let him dominate with the ball.

Despite what everyone has said about Younis Khan being an average captain, not a capable twenty20 batsman, one that doesn't take risks, he has done really well with the bat in all the matches.

But he has had no support from anyone else.

His 50 off 37 deliveries today followed scores of 46* off 31 deliveries against England, and 36 off 20 deliveries against Netherlands.

Good scores, good scoring rates, but no one to support.

That has been the story of Pakistan in this ICC World Twenty20.

They managed to keep the Dilshans, Jayasuriyas, and Sangakkaras quiet, but at the end the Lankan M factor - Malinga, Murali, Mendis, and Matthews proved too much for them.

On the brighter side though, we are still not out.

Pakistan can beat New Zealand tomorrow, and Ireland on Monday to still qualify for the semi finals.

However, for that to happen, they have to get their batting act together. And fast!

Good news is that Razzaq will be back tomorrow, and Pakistan always does well with their backs to the wall.

Not so random, but then I thought this fact was apt for today.

Its true people; ODI World Cup, Champions Trophy, World T20, Pakistan has always had the better of Sri Lanka.

Will Afridi and Ajmal trump the Lankans?

Or will Murali and Mendis have the better of the Pakistanis?

In this battle, I believe the team that plays the opposition's spinners better will come out on top!

I'm backing Pakistan for obvious reasons; on the other hand, we have good friend and fellow blogger, Damith, who is backing Sri Lanka, also for obvious reasons!

Damith and I have clashed and we have clashed on Indian territory over at Bored Cricket Crazy Indians!

Go check it out.

Damith first posted "Questions for Q".

Then bored member, John from the Island Express, posted the "Terms of the Engagement".

Following that, I came out with my "Answers and some Questions too".

The Battle has begun and it will continue on BCC!

So make sure you follow it.

For the record, we have a Pakistani battling a Sri Lankan, in a battle that will be moderated by an Indian - what subcontinental love we have here!

The moderator - Homer of 2cents fame!