Lack of strategic management off Pakistan

It was very much expected off current Pakistan contingent that the bowlers whom they have been heavily relied on, are gonna have a bad day, and this was what happened today. 

Off a placid deck

Both teams compiled heavy runs and hence it was high scoring but a boring game because personally speaking, I like closely ended game because of which this game got its fame. This is not interesting that One team scores 200 score and other chases it down. But all congrats to the team won the game after competing.

Pakistan's bowling got exposed

Because of mismanagement by our bowling coach, because if we look through opponent team, their bowlers are being rotated, we're not seeing with the likes of Liam Plunkett etc. Otherwise here we're still going on with the same set of bowlers played in the test series and now in the T20i series, without any variation in the bowlers, all bowlers were monotone or in single dimension.

What is the job description of a Bowling Coach?

I am not going to waste a lot of time in writing what is the JD of a bowling coach and is Waqar Younis doing justice with the JD associated with him?

What was the team management doing?

What Haris Rauf was not able to deliver yorkers and were ended up being juicy full tosses, how our team management was to react in reciprocate? Wasn't it their responsibility to convey message to the victimized party to go for contingency plan?

Matter of fact is

Blame is on the management instead of the players, period...

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First T20i between England and Pakistan at Manchester

The first T20i games between the subjected teams, was washed out but Pakistan played the surprise card, but the fact is 2nd T20i is going to test the limits of current Pakistan contingent, hence what I have been listening off different cricketing websites who're praising Pakistan's performance, but I personally feel it is England who is going to come prepared to tackle Pakistan's bowling. 

Pakistan's going to take some strategic surprise tactic 

Because this is for sure, someone from England's dugout must be recording all of the clippings of Shadab, Imad and other bowlers hence Pakistan's bowling coach i.e. Waqar Younis should also act proactive and get the opposition be ready for some other surprise.

Fielding and batting

Pakistan requires to step up into their fielding because next two games are gonna be decided on the basis of which team scores, either by bat otherwise while fielding, and sorry to say England has the upper hand as their batting has been tested and bowling has not been played by Pakistani batsmen.

Speaking of Pakistani batsmen

I personally feel Pakistani batting looks shaky as unlike England, has not been tested yet, hence according to the Murphy's law, we should keep this aspect in mind as well. We have been Banking on Hafeez and Malik who're the most experienced personnel in current Pakistani team, otherwise I don't think Pakistan's think tank might take risk in placing some load over youngsters.

Work load management

One more thing, Pakistan needs a proper workload management strategy and just like England has been strict over destruction of bio-bubble, where it banned Jofra Archer for one game, so they opt for Curran, hence the same strategy Pakistan also requires so that our players do not take these things for granted, just like IPL Management did and now their dozen players have been diagnosed with Day-5 COVID-19 because according to their (IPL) SOP, Day one testing, day three testing and last testing before day six afterwards their players are going to participate in practice and afterwards the main tournament, but just before the third testing before 3rd testing, this catastrophe occurred, and hence their testing has been extended for 7 more days which is exactly 14 days of quarantine period, furthermore because of this incident, IPL 13 itinerary hasn't been finalized as of the timing of writing this blog article. Hence returning back to England v Pakistan, Pakistan think tank has to get rid of this nervousness and strike a rotation policy because the current pandemic situation also requires the same as if someone from our own camp gets this disease, we should have some alternative to it.

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IPL 13 in Jeopardy

One day after news that an Indian international was among ten-plus Chennai Super Kings contingent members to test positive for Covid-19, it has emerged that one more player, uncapped at the highest level, has also tested positive for the virus. This, even as Suresh Raina has returned home because of "personal reasons" and the team's training sessions pushed back until at least after September 1. So far neither the franchise nor the IPL has made a comment on the matter. ESPNcricinfo understands that of the ten-plus members of the travelling party to have tested positive, only two are players, while the rest are members of the support staff members and net bowlers. One of those found positive is the wife of a senior franchise official, though the official himself has tested negative. The infected persons are understood to have been moved to a different hotel from the one the team is housed in, and are being monitored by medical personnel behind closed doors. As a result of these developments, the Super Kings have been forced to postpone the start of their training sessions in Dubai to September 1. According to the IPL's Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs), all those who tested positive will now need to undergo at least two weeks of further quarantine and clear two more tests before they can rejoin the group. It is believed that the positive test results are from the final round of testing in the UAE, which is part of IPL's Covid-19 protocols comprising three tests that are mandatory for every person who is part of the tournament. According to the protocol, every person must be tested at the airport upon landing in the UAE, followed by two tests at the hotel on days three and six. The protocol also makes it mandatory for everyone to undergo a six-day quarantine after landing, when they are not supposed to mingle even with team members or colleagues. Only once the squad members clear all the mandatory tests can teams start their training. The IPL is to start on September 19, but the schedule is yet to be finalised. The development is bound to put the IPL on alert simply because Super Kings, who finished runners-up in 2019, are expected to play defending champions Mumbai Indians in the tournament opener. "If there are 13 cases from only one franchise then it is an issue for sure for everyone," an unnamed official was quoted as saying by PTI. "The biggest aspect will be whether foreign cricketers will now start being panicky as they are more touchy about these issues. We need to keep a tab on players' mental health."

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Too little too late

It was a chance of winning a away series in England, but it was too little too late for Pakistan, as Pakistan was in command during the first test but it was England who had the honor of taking the first test, for which England is definitely to be appreciated for this performances, as among the six tests they played, lost only one game, winning three whereas drawing 2 games.

Honorable Mentions for Pakistan

Unlike the West Indies series, Pakistan at least managed to draw the rest of the test matches, which in statistical manner, is something worth mentioning as the points scoring in this series was 40/20/13 where 40 is points scored when a test match is won, 20 is when a test match is tied and likewise 13 is when a test match is drawn.

Pakistan didn't let England scoring majority of 40 points

This is something which West Indies was found criminal of, at least Pakistan didn't gift excess 40 points unlike the Windies. 

Cons of this series for Pakistan

The Batting

Batting as expected was supposed to be the weak point but prior to this series, on social media like Instagram and Twitter, the social media maniacs were creating so much of the hype regarding Babar Azam and Abid Ali that unlike the hyped expectation off them, they didn't perform as per their prescribed expectation.

Batting Strategies

Pakistan's batting the whole series was like the study of Bell's Curve in Economic Studies, Pakistan was always in confusion whether to play natural game, or otherwise, but according to the the nature of players, I personally felt it was tried to be tamed, because of which we gave chances to England bowlers upon which they got wickets. Otherwise in the fourth innings, the way Pakistani players played, where they spent time and then went for the acceleration, because of which Pakistan lost less amount of wickets because it was according to their mindset. I don't know why their mentality was tempered with?

Statistical Aspects

1. Draw Ratio

Pakistan's draw ratio among the championship is on the higher end, i.e. 37.5% which is typically higher on the participating nations. Now either we can claim it as a win-win situation but for me, it depicts mentality draw back where we were opting for a defensive approach, because if you go through statistics of all the teams, most of the series were having a result outcome, hence this high number of draw percentages clearly depicts the mere defensive approach means you're afraid of taking strategical risks. Furthermore, the lost ratio too stands on 37.5% which means it is an equalizer whereas 25% is winning percentage for Pakistan.

2. Runs per wicket ratio for Pakistan

Runs per wicket ratio for Pakistan reduced from 0.9 to 0.85 whereas it was supposed to be at increase just like England did, hence it was England who was the winner on all aspects where England had it checked on all aspects, unlike Pakistan which lost the momentum amid the first test match and from where England took the momentum, having said that, England was without the services of Ben Stokes following the first test match but still England is to be appreciated for the game they showed.

Why Over-Hyped Pakistan?

Why our social media idiots created so much hype over our cricketers, why can't we be acting sensible and being proactive? I know Babar Azam and Abid Ali were playing awesome cricket, but why flashing all the spot lights over them so that opponents are given a chance to work them out? This is what we did with the careers of Babar Azam and Abid Ali, and hence if both of them, didn't upgrade their game to an optimum level, opponents have now drilled them out and hence both of them are now supposed to be exploited again and again.

 

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Poor Strategic Management from Pakistan

What is Strategic Management?

Strategic management is the ongoing planning, monitoring, analysis and assessment of all necessities an organization needs to meet its goals and objectives. Changes in business environments will require organizations to constantly assess their strategies for success. The strategic management process helps organizations take stock of their present situation, chalk out strategies, deploy them and analyze the effectiveness of the implemented management strategies.

But strategic management and Pakistan Cricket...

After watching 15 minutes highlights of today's game between England and Pakistan, I found it astonishingly alarming that the way our coaching and think-tank staff were literally dormant, which meant that 11 Pakistani players' inside the playing ground were on their own.

Where was PLAN A, B, C and D?

We have always been criminal in making opposition team players' stars and champions like we did with ZAK CRAWLEY.

Using out our bowlers...

The way our management used our bowlers were ridiculous and hence if you go through bowling stats, and literally it was openly adamant that after 1st test, the management tea, was stagnant and dormant hence we were over dependent on Yasir Shah and Muhammad Abbas, Shah got some wickets but sorry to say, England team worked Abbas out but where were our strategy regarding sustaining with MA? This is a shame, as when you have been reimbursed so heavily in the country, you're supposed to be working with more zeal and commitment. Furthermore when the coaching staff is being specialized, means one fast bowling coach, one coach for spin and a separate batting coach and still we are lagging so much... This is a shame.

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England v Pakistan - story of day one of third test

Not a good day for Pakistan on the field

It was nothing for the Pakistan team, as Pakistan managed to take 4 wickets but not before England initiated to score 300+ score on day first of the test match.

Mayhem on captaincy but...

As accordingly to Social Media platforms, everyone is blaming captaincy, but my point of view is otherwise as blame continuously goes on team management. Even if they feel their captain is not going according to the plan laid down during the team meeting(s), they should indicate the same or send water boy with the reminding of strategy, but it was otherwise as when Crawly was cruising, they should have had been switching gears from Plan A to Plan B and/or likewise, but nothing was seen like that. But sorry to that for guys like Waqar Younis who have been involved with Bowling Coach stint multiple of times now but same mishaps have been repeated continuously, but still we persist with guys like him.

The Captaincy

Not all the blame is on the Coaching staff but also on what grounds, Azhar Ali was elected/selected as the test skipper of Pakistan National Side? Upon Social media uproar? Now instead researching on what we require off a captain, we elect/select skipper on social media fan following, this is ridiculous. Why Social Media is being given so much of the importance when it is an alien concept in our society? What we have been experiencing on first test series after COVID-19 pandemic, is an eye opening for so called "Social-Media-Gurus" and whatever we have watching is because of these social media gurus, they should be answerable because we have been trying to incorporate a concept which is as I repeat again, an alien concept in our society, hence it is still a BETA Version in Pakistan.

Outcome of this test match

Otherwise Pakistan plays extraordinarily from today onward, it is one more point to England i.e. 40 points and/or a Draw i.e. 30, but winning for Pakistan is totally out of the box, as first Pakistan have to score MORE THAN 400 score and afterwards attaining a sustainable lead to challenge England batting on the 2nd innings, which is (I do not want to admit) highly unlikely, but this is unpredictable Pakistan Cricket Team, like Nasser Hussain once said; "Pakistan cricket at its best — one minute down, next minute up!" hence it is highly unlikely to predict anything unless the conclusion of fourth inning, I emphasis on conclusion of fourth innings as quite recently we had seen how a win was set for Pakistan which was snatched by England from Pakistan's grasp.

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Pakistan tour to England - Third Test

As far as the situation concerns, Pakistan has drawn or should I rephrase myself it was the weather which won, because of which Pakistan got the benefit and earned extra points as it was able to draw the game against England.

Hence

Winning the third test isn't going to benefit Pakistan as much as it would benefit England as winning the third test match would place them on second to the Numero-Uno, furthermore Runs-Per-Wicket-Ratio of England team which is the number of runs scored per wicket lost, divided by the number of runs conceded per wicket taken, which has been gradually on the downgrading pattern/trend.

Pros

Ranking

If Pakistan able to win the third test match which is unlikely but hypothetically speaking, if it did, Pakistan is going to jump to 193 points which is going to place NZ below Pakistan.

The Goldilocks Zone

Currently Pakistan is on the Goldilocks Zone, which is again a hypothetical line where usually in astronomical manner, is the thin line where the temperature is neither warm so that water turns to vapors, and likewise either cold so that water turns to ICE-7, this is usually thin permalink where situation is good for revamping, hence in the conditions of above definition, Pakistan is in the Goldilocks Zone, as if you go through the ranking, teams above Pakistan are some of he top teams in  the tier and likewise teams below Pakistan looks bleak but likewise dark-horses of the cricketing world.

Cons

A Championship without league

Unlike the Asian Test Championship where all the participating teams played each other on the basis of home-and-away terms, this championship voids such scenario as every team is only allows to play 6 series' which is unjust for a league based championship.

Revamp in Test Match Cricket Rules just for this championship

Just like different cricket boards have been busy in incorporating different rules-and-regulations for spicing up the cricket (read "The Hundred"), then how come the ICC voids such sanity? As this Championship voids mince of sanity.

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Situation not good for Pakistan...

If we go through ICC World Test Championship 2019-20 standings, if Pakistan want to make improvement in their rankings, space is very limited as after this series Pakistan has got two more series' and hence keeping in mind the current form of English players, it is highly unlikely that Pakistan might take away the series 2 games to 1.

Hypothetically speaking

Minimum if Pakistan wins 1 game out of remaining 2 games, Pakistan will only get to reimburse 40 points as this is a three tests series, where a test series is comprises of 120 points hence if it is a 2 test match series, so it is 60 points per game. Furthermore even if a miracle generates and Pakistan able to clinch remaining of the games 2 games to 1, Pakistan is only able to have 220 score because of which Pakistan is going to overtake NZ and will take up the 4th position whereas England will retain its 3rd position.

Remaining game of the Bangladesh Home Series game at Karachi

This game is more important to Pakistan as Pakistan has already clinched Rawalpindi test scoring 60 points, if they win Karachi test, it is going to give a boost and will be given added 60 points which is going to raise the scored points to 280 points which is going to drop England to 4th position, and Pakistan will place itself at 3rd position, but the downside is Pakistan's remaining series tally is going to be 1 series, as one of the two series' Pakistan supposed to be playing, is against Bangladesh which is currently suspended, hence after conclusion of this series, the tally is going to be 1 series remain, hence situation is pretty bleak for Pakistan to get qualified to knockouts.

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Not another review

I don't know why our media and so called cricket genius' been blabbing on why Pakistan chocked and that too against England.

Pakistan is to be blamed 

Pakistan team and especially their batting strategy needs to be questioned because this is eminent that when you have got a three figure lead against your opponent, you plan to have cautious but/and positive intent while scoring as there's no pressure on you to perform, just like they performed against Sri Lanka earlier this year at Karachi.

Instead

They were playing as if they had a plane to catch, otherwise this was the best chance Pakistan could have had raised to 190 points approximately furthermore it would had gave them a head-start for second test, which means if Pakistan had won 2 tests at once, it would had been 40+40 means 80 out of 120 points which means Pakistan's standing from 140 points to (140+80)=220 which means unlike current position where Pakistan stands at 5th position, Pakistan might have had retained 4th position but potentially it would have been better position as by this position, Pakistan has played 4 series' out of 6 position which is the minimum requirement for teams to qualify for knockouts and the finals. But now since Pakistan has played 4 series', Pakistan has to play significantly well to even expect a position in the next round. Hence I personally not optimistic with current Pakistan performance.

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Pakistan's tour to England 2020

This is a tough time for Pakistan cricket team as Pakistan is going to be rusty as since March 2020, they have not featured in any competitive cricket, furthermore the last time they featured in competitive cricket was HBL PSL 2020 which is a T20D tournament, hence the last time Pakistan played test match cricket was when Bangladesh visited Pakistan for featuring first test, than the HBL PSL 2020 and afterwards it was supposed to be a return tour in April 2020 but due to ongoing pandemic, it was marked suspended. Hence it has been since February 2020 Pakistan haven't featured in test match cricket, and hence when they are going to make a return to competitive cricket, they are playing against striving England team who after losing to Windies in first test going to take on the series 2-1 is the marking what awaits for Pakistan.

Team Combination

I am worried for team combination, as since Misbah ul Haq came into power, he has not been experimenting but over-experimentation, because of which consistency in team's performances because a performance requires consistency and the peace of mind, which in current scenario is not the case.

Whether to or otherwise

I am not denying inclusion of Fawad Alam, but why just like point-blank playing with the performances of the players? Has he been tried and tested? I do not have doubts on him but even in offices when we work on a newer Excel spreadsheet, we initially test it and confirm the test outcomes and afterwards we use to replace it with its precedents, have we practiced the same when we are including players like Fawad Alam and/or former skipper Sarfraz Ahmed? Why we're playing with the future of these players just like we have been? I am worried with the form England team currently is, Pakistan sports little height of individual brilliance but not with the overall team brilliant performance, as there is low chances of continuous team performances.

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