Blog: Unpredictable, so we are

It’s a known fact that Pakistan cricket is extremely unpredictable on the field, but trust me, things are no different off it. They have this unusual habit of dumping exceptionally talented players for years and then suddenly throwing them in the deep end of the pool with nothing in the name of protective gear.

Consider this, the hang-in maestro Fawad Alam was made to test his nerves for three long years before he was called in for the Asia Cup in 2014, and we saw how he turned tides on Bangladesh and Sri-Lanka. Sohail Khan, the world cup prodigy, was breaking stones on the rugged mountings of southern Karachi for four long years before getting a shocking recall for the mega event; he then bowled his heart out to save his countries plight.

But here comes the biggest thriller from Pakistan Cricket. Azhar Ali, an upper order batsman labeled as a test wonder, limited to wearing only white and practice with the red ball, suddenly finds himself being asked to wear Misbah’s shoes.

That’s right, Azhar, who played his last ODI against India in January 2013, suddenly finds himself appointed as Pakistan’s One Day Captain after living in oblivion for two years. This is an interesting move considering the fact that Azhar wasn’t even considered for the World Cup in the first place.

But don’t be surprised, this is Pakistan cricket, known to think out of the BOX.

With Misbah hanging his coloured shirt, Azhar Ali is entrusted with the task of pulling together the shattered team and turning it into a roaring herd. But with little captaincy experience at the domestic level, the 30 year old batsman will need all the luck and prayers to walk through this rocky ground.

Born in Kasur, a small town in northern Punjab, Azhar made his ODI debut against Ireland in 2011. Since then he has played 14 games scorning 452 runs at an acceptable average of 41.09, his best score of 96 against Sri-Lanka. Interestingly, like Misbah, Azhar too is waiting to score his first ODI century.

Surprising as it is, the decision has raised many an eye browse across the cricket mad nation. At the time when fans are left dejected with what they call a “Lurhi Langhri”(handicapped) performance from their team, Azhar surprise appointment is becoming a bit difficult to digest.

Coach Waqar Younis is being pointed as the master mind behind this move. Although Misbah put forward Azhar’s name, conspiracy mongers reveal that Waqar and Misbah have joined hands to scratch each other’s back. While Waqar won’t question Misbah’s growing age and vitality at the test level, Misbah will help him find him a “Yes Sir” kind obedient skipper for the ODIs.

Two other candidates dreaming for the slot were former captains Shoaib Malik and Muhammad Hafeez, but their struggling relations with Waqar are no secret. It may be that till Waqar holds the realms, Shoaib would not get to wear the Green Shirt while Hafeez might get the opening role after some horrifying displays by Ahmed Shehzad.

The reactions to Azhar’s new gigantic role have been more questioning then commendable. Legendry batsman Muhammad Yousuf is totally baffled, “I don’t understand PCB’s logic and feel sorry for Azhar. How can you entrust such a huge responsibility on a player who hasn’t even been in action for so long, if you wanted fresh blood then Junaid Khan was a better option who recently captained KP fighters to the Pentangular Cup triumph”.

For Senior Journalist Aalia Rasheed, fans will have to show patience, “Azhar is the new Captain and it’s time to move on. After each World Cup debacle we welcome a new Captain but then lose patience in short time. We have to be tolerant and realize that Azhar and his team may tremble many times before learning to stand up and become fighters”.

Pakistani fans can take heart from a similar experiment by the Proteas, when Graeme Smith was appointed Captain at a tender age of 22, having played similar number of games and scored 864 runs at an average of 41.44.

He failed miserably in his first game, but the board and nation stood behind him, years later he would become the most successful captain of modern cricket.

Ashar Zaidi is a Senior Anchor/Sports Journalist with Geo News. He tweets @AsharZaidiGeo