Pakistan look to new pace and spin weapons

With names like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq to live up to, there is a lot of pressure on the present crop of Pakistani bowlers.

Over the three Tests and five ODIs in the recent series against Sri Lanka, these bowlers were able to demonstrate their skills in the tiring heat of the UAE and on pretty placid wickets. Pakistan resoundingly won both the Tests and ODIs, and also followed that up with a win in the only T20I match, so they can be well pleased with their ongoing efforts to rebuild the team.

Spin bowling played more of a killer role for Pakistan in the one-day matches, with Shahid Afridi (13) and Saeed Ajmal (11) leading the way by number of wickets. Afridi was the best bowler by Bowling Efficiency and was also the only one in the series to take a five-wicket haul.

But Saeed Ajmal showed what a top quality spinner he is turning out to be. He claimed the best Bowling Efficiency in the Test series, after scalping 18 wickets at 28.77 apiece. In a 15-Test career he has taken 74 wickets, but at the age of 34, perhaps his best years are behind him. He has actually taken the same number of wickets in 52 ODIs, but can boast of a much better average in the shorter format - just over 25.

Umar Gul has continued on as Pakistan’s go-to pace bowler. He is the most experienced of the current lot and took 14 wickets in the Test series. Now that the bright talent Mohammad Amir is no longer part of the game, it falls on Gul to continue to lead the way. One of the young charges that he will have to nurture is Junaid Khan, the left-handed quick. Having only made his Test debut in the one-off match against Zimbabwe in September, he was more than impressive against the Lankans, taking 12 wickets in the three matches.

Aizaz Cheema also impressed in the earlier tour of Zimbabwe and the spin options of Mohammad Hafeez and Abdur Rehman have stood Pakistan in good stead. The team also has the irrepressible Afridi in the ranks; despite his retirement this year, he is back in the team after settling his differences with the Pakistani management. One cannot forget his stellar World Cup with the ball, where he was the joint-highest wicket-taker and the best bowler by Bowling Efficiency.

The team has a way to go before they can consistently compete with the best in the game, but cricket is going through what looks to be its most open period in many years, with no one team truly dominating. This could be Pakistan’s chance and they need their bowling attack to help get them there.