Is This The Turning Point for Pakistan Cricket?

[Dhondy]

They have been in doldrums for a few years. Not helped by off field distractions such as doping allegations, sectarian violence on the streets, high level assassinations, and a fierce civil war. On field, there has been little to cheer for as well. Sixth in the Test table, 4th in ODIs. Yet, positives abounded in this championship. Umer Gul, Md Amer, Saeed Ajmal, Younis' calm batting and above all, the return of the iconic Afridi. Pakistani bloggers on Cricinfo identified the final as a watershed event not just for the cricket fans but the nation, as if a distinction needed to be made. Cricket in Pakistan defines its nationhood. Remember 1992? Pakistan came back from dead there and went on to be a great side for the next five years before fading away slowly. The difference is that they were not doing exactly badly before that Cup. Will this set off a new era of excellence for that nation? They have certainly won our respect for the way they literally came in from the cold and did the job. Can they keep it?

[Jai Ho]

I hope so it will be great for cricket!!!! :two_thumbs_up:

[Params7]

Well they are the current T20 Champions (a side that didn't play in the IPL). That itself is a huge turning point for the team.

[jf1gp_1]

turning point ? NO this win means current set of joker (likes of afridi) will continue for yrs to come; i cant imagine them going anywhere. 92 Pak team had great mix of exp and youth

[Cricketics]

Surely may be, if along with that their country's situation can improve. Today the way afridi batted, if he can do that consistently and show such patience in 50 over game too then it's a real positive for them as he has loads talent in him and his bowling is doing wonders for his nation. Umer Gul is fantastic bowler. Injury prone and would be in an out, but pak continues to produce few crazy bowlers on and off so that won't really hurt them if he stays out from the pak team for a certain period. Razzaq's reintroduction to the team has helped them too.

[Dhondy]

turning point ? NO this win means current set of joker (likes of afridi) will continue for yrs to come; i cant imagine them going anywhere. 92 Pak team had great mix of exp and youth

That is one POV. Yet, they had the two highest wicket takers in this competition, and Afridi played sensibly to score two vital half tons when it really mattered. Younis was rock solid as usual, remember, he is still the top ranked Test bat in the world, and Md Aamer, Umer Gul and Md Asif will constitute a seriously good bowling attack along with Saeed Ajmal. Kamran Akmal is like a pint sized dynamite with the bat, albeit admittedly with poor WK skills, but with Md Yousuf to come back, a return to the halcyon days is distinctly possible. Somebody in the stadium said on a banner: "Be Afridi. Be very very Afridi". Herald or hype?

[jf1gp_1]

That is one POV. Yet, they had the two highest wicket takers in this competition, and Afridi played sensibly to score two vital half tons when it really mattered. Younis was rock solid as usual, remember, he is still the top ranked Test bat in the world, and Md Aamer, Umer Gul and Md Asif will constitute a seriously good bowling attack along with Saeed Ajmal. Kamran Akmal is like a pint sized dynamite with the bat, albeit admittedly with poor WK skills, but with Md Yousuf to come back, a return to the halcyon days is distinctly possible. Somebody in the stadium said on a banner: "Be Afridi. Be very very Afridi". Herald or hype?

If the idea is to have a team which can cause major upsets and win every now and then ; in that case yes all the players you have listed above can do it. Akmal, afridi are way to inconsistant plus i dont think they are good enough to be in test team; except for gul they have handy bowlers but thats all they are handy . yes one thing they have is a solid test middle order but they are not going to win test series by having 3 good test batsman, they will be in NZ later this year we won there lets see how they fair. Unless they start investing in youth; this team will bring more pain than joy to pak fans.

[DravidDaBest]

IMHO, the win is both good and bad for Pakistan cricket Positives ---------- 1. It'll revive pakistan cricket in general (both internationally and locally) 2. It gives enough confidence to the current players 3. Team spirit will be high 4. Likes of Afridis, Razzaqs will feel at home and perform better in the immediate future Negatives ------------ 1. They'll continue to recycle existing players 2. They'll continue to suck in test cricket especially against good teams as no new fresh talent will be given chance 3. The deficiency at the administration level (PCB, selection process and cricket infrastructure) will continue

[vvvslaxman]

I don't think they were very bad in the first place. They were better than West Indies has been for years. They were always dark horses to win this. No surprise there.

[Shehezaada]

I don't think it's the turning point. They still don't have a great test team. The only man who can take them to greatness is Shoaib Akhtar in this generation. They don't have settled openers in the test team although the middle order of Yousuf, Younis, and Misbah is pretty good. IF Pakistan gets their ICL players back and get Shoaib back, then they might have a chance. Malik Jamshed Younis Yousuf Misbah Afridi Akmal Razzaq Akhtar Gul Kaneria now that's a pretty good lineup. But until Akhtar comes back....Pakistan won't be a great test team. In the ODIs yes this could well be a turning point.

[Guest Hiten.]

I don't think it's the turning point. They still don't have a great test team. The only man who can take them to greatness is Shoaib Akhtar in this generation. They don't have settled openers in the test team although the middle order of Yousuf, Younis, and Misbah is pretty good. IF Pakistan gets their ICL players back and get Shoaib back, then they might have a chance. Malik Jamshed Younis Yousuf Misbah Afridi Akmal Razzaq Akhtar Gul Kaneria now that's a pretty good lineup. But until Akhtar comes back....Pakistan won't be a great test team. In the ODIs yes this could well be a turning point.

How exactly will a huffing and puffing Akhtar strengthen Pakistani test team ? He hardly bowls his quota of overs in ODI's, how do you expect him to toil for 5 days ? Its about time Pakistan get out of the Akhtar time warp and pick some fresh talent ahead of him.

[vvvslaxman]

Nothing is a turning point for Pakistan in my view. They never sustain their momentum. It happened even when the greats like Waqar/Wasim played. They could never string together series of good wins. It is a curse. Full of mavericks. One day heroes. Next day zeroes.

[THX_1138]

More than a turning point, this win will prove to be a major injection of self confidence that the team lacked as they languished in the doldrums of cricket anonymity. While resumption of cricket at home is still as unlikely as ever before, they might plunder a few unexpected victories against quality oppositions in away games. Nonetheless, i dont think their test status would improve much, but with the blooding of two new performers: mohammed aamer and (while not new to the scene) saed ajmal, their previously weakened bowling squad will receive considerable support. i do not expect the likes of akhtar to return to fold, or atleast not for long, asif might be a regular pick inside of 12 months. with a bowling attack comprising of asif, gul, and aamer... supported by ajmal or razzaq or both, they will possess quite a strong lineup for the limited edition of the game. however, outside of asif and gul, none of the above will improve the team's fortunes in the longer edition of the game. i expect afridi to live on for another four years, or atleast till 2011. gul however, deserves considerable praise. he has been a diamond in a coal mine for pakistan. no frills, no scandals, no penchant for injuries and combined with his remarkable skills, he deserves the praise that was heaped erroneously on asif. i do hope pakistan cricket is revived, but i not expect them to break the glass ceiling of the top three teams in the world. those three spots are still avidly contested by australia, south africa, sri lanka and india.

[cowboysfan]

i dont see how if teams dont want to play in pakistan.do they really hope to play their home games now in UAE for the immediate future?.there is also a small problem of them being overrun by extremists.no one will be playing any cricket in pakistan if that happens.

[Jabu]

Soon will be U turn also. let us hope..

[King]

Just wait till the next series, it will go down as usual. It's not the lack of ability they suffer they have problems in the administration, the set up changes quicker than Obama's change of dress. The team is still going to be isolated by the international community. Not because of players or the ones involved in the sport but their radical population screws it up for everyone unfortunately. That country has far too many bigger problems than worry about cricket. On top of that the players seem to behave OK under Younis Khan but you never know with them, someone like Abdul Razzak right after this world cup could already start hatching a plan to captain this team now that Younis Khan has retired from the T20 team. That said, I have always had fantastic respect for Younis Khan. He has the right attitude and unlike the past few captains he knows how not to mix religion with sports. Pakistan should do everything to keep him at helm.

[punjabi_khota]

Younis Khan is a true champ, respect. :adore:

[Rajiv]

Well, they reached the final last time and just lost by 5 runs so 2nd close champions, did things turn around since then Let them play more cricket and they will find out

[ali0786]

I certainly hope it's the turning point. It seems like Younis Khan does command some respect and can get the guys to play together with unity, which is the most important thing for Pakistani team. With Mohammad Yousuf coming back, middle order for test matches will be strong again. It will be interesting to see how they perform in SL tour coming up in few weeks.

[Guest gaurav_indian]

Just wait till the next series' date= it will go down as usual. It's not the lack of ability they suffer they have problems in the administration, the set up changes quicker than Obama's change of dress. The team is still going to be isolated by the international community. Not because of players or the ones involved in the sport but their radical population screws it up for everyone unfortunately. That country has far too many bigger problems than worry about cricket. On top of that the players seem to behave OK under Younis Khan but you never know with them, someone like Abdul Razzak right after this world cup could already start hatching a plan to captain this team now that Younis Khan has retired from the T20 team. That said, I have always had fantastic respect for Younis Khan. He has the right attitude and unlike the past few captains he knows how not to mix religion with sports. Pakistan should do everything to keep him at helm.

If india can raise their game after winning T20 WC why cant Pakistan?Look at their team now after the return of Razzaq,Yousuf and younsgters like Ahmed Shehzaad and Mohammed Aamir are their future. Their bowling attack is much better than indian bowling attack right now.Batting is not bad either when you have Razzaq batting at 7.In tests they will struggle becoz of lack of matches but not in ODIs and T20's.