Pakistan's Champions Trophy hopes in Jeopardy

Pakistan’s Champions Trophy hopes in Jeopardy: A year ago who would have thought that the cricketing giants Pakistan would struggle for a place in the ICC Champions Trophy. They were supposed to be right amongst the top but they’ve had a terrible couple of years that has made them languish at the 9th position in the ODI rankings only above an even miserable Zimbabwe side.

The reason why I say that Pakistan is in a spot of bother is because only 8 teams qualify for the champions trophy and the cut off date for determining the eligible sides in September 30, 2015. To qualify Pakistan needs to beat Sri Lanka pretty convincingly and would pray Bangladesh to lose badly against India and South Africa.

Last three and a half years have been nothing but a nightmare for Pakistani cricket. They have the worst win loss ratio after 2012 amongst the top teams excluding Zimbabwe. What is more intriguing here is that in 2011 Pakistan had the best win loss ratio as they racked up wins on a consistent basis. Their sudden slump after 2011 suggests how unpredictable the game of cricket is.

Pakistan’s win loss record after 2011 is 35-44 including a 11-1 win loss record against Zimbabwe. So if we exclude Zimbabwe from the scenario then it boils down to a miserable 24-43 which is considerably poorer and miserable than both West Indies and Bangladesh. Pakistan’s batting average per wicket is the second worst (27) after West Indies. Their bowling average is also among the poorest and is another cause of concern for the team.

The problem for Pakistan is that none of their batters have averaged over 35 with a strike rate of over 80 after 2012. Umar Akmal has a strike rate of 84, but his poor average of 28 is less encouraging. Shahid Afridi has a strike rate of over 140, but his non chalant batting and irresponsible play is less inspiring. The main problem for Pakistan is that their batsmen haven’t quite scored at a healthy strike rate and in this modern form of the game where scores of 300’s and 350’s are becoming usual Pakistan haven’t quite moved on from the past era as most of their batters have a strike rate of below 80.

Pakistan’s bowling offers them some consolation when compared to the miserable batting stats. But still even their bowling wasn’t that great. The absence of Saeed Ajmal hurt them and with his remodelled action looked a pale shadow of himself. Mohammed Hafeez was banned from bowling as well. Junaid Khan was missing in action for a few months and his loss cost them dearly. Shahid Afridi hasn’t bowled well in the past three years owing to his woeful form. And Wahab Riaz too disappointed with the ball.

So the question that every Pakistan cricket fan has is, will the team be able to qualify for the Champions Trophy? Lot depends on the way India and Sri Lanka play.