Year Review: Pakistan’s performance in 2015

The ongoing year has been fascinating for the Pakistan cricket team as going by their past records and also the tumultuous phrase which they had undergone in the preceding seasons that puts them in a slight pedestal above with redeemed glory & rejoice. Agreed, that they did not lay a great foundation but did well enough as they managed to recover with some sheen. It’s much like a dramatic fairy-tale as the stalwarts reiterated to refrain from their respective careers like Afridi; Younis & Misbah hanged up their boots in ODIs and Malik at the end of the year in Tests while on the other hand they unearthed shining stars in the form of Yasir Shah. 1. A clean sweep by the Kiwi’s: (Photo Source: AFP) Well, The Men in Green started off miserably being whitewash by the Men in Black. It made a pale shadow of themselves just before the arrival of the most coveted trophy. It was eminent & soon enough everyone quickly realized those tough times during World Cup 2015 are lying ahead. NZ won the two ties quite convincingly. The flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi waged a lonely battle in their counter piece with no resistance from the rest of the side. 2. An awe-struck and mediocre display: Pakistani fast bowler Junaid Khan. (Photo Source : AFP) The injuries to key players like Hafeez, Gul, Junaid added to the pressure as they had their backs to the wall from the beginning of the outset; leaving a big void in the campaign for plotting the dream of an elusive calypso. The World Cup jinx haunted as usual with the traditional foes India overwhelmed them & the Caribbean plummeted further with a one-sided affair. Suddenly, there was a west-side story with four wins on the trot seeking the knock-out birth. In the Quarter-final at Adelaide facing Australia, Pakistan had quite a few anxious moments. One must be the fire bludgeoned bouncers from the left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz that terrorized the Aussie batsman giving them a taste of own their chin music. The verbal feud led to a heated argument as Watson almost had his heart in his mouth as the dropped catch from Rahat Ali rescued him in steadying the ship. A spell that ran chills down the spine of the batsman. But their poor batting which was their biggest concern throughout the tournament failed to impress once again as the Kangaroos, the perennial favorites advanced to reaffirm their supremacy. 3. Annihilated at East: Azhar Ali. (Photo Source: AFP) Pakistan’s next assignment was against their native Bangladesh in April, a team coming off through the eyes of ages. The premier spinner Saeed Ajmal was back after a period of limbo adding confidence in the den to unfurl his full repertoire but this time, there’s a twist awaiting. The ODI & T20I series was immensely painful for the tourists as the Tigers roared; in the manner exposing the loopholes, they cashed in & just preyed ruthlessly against an inexperienced side under a new skipper named Azhar Ali. The selectors back home might have well regretted disrespecting the hosts as underdogs. The first Test was drawn with some gallant shows by the Bangladeshis but the warhorses turned the tables with a much-needed impetus with a series-clinching win in the following game. 4. International cricket returned to Pakistan: Mukhtar Ahmed. (© AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images) In May, finally, the unforeseen became foreseen courtesy Zimbabwe. They were the first cricketing nation to play in Pakistan after 6 years which surprised the whole world and brought back the smiles on the cricket crazy fans. Pakistan, playing at home, the prayers were answered; the magic was unleashed as Shoaib Malik eventually made a promising return to the side and the tourists were just bounced out of sight even nowhere in the frame. 5. The most successful inland season: (Photo Source: Associated Press) Sri Lanka hosted Pakistan once again in June-July for a full format. The Lankan lions thrashed the same opposition at home in their previous three outings; 2009, 2012 & 2014. First, they pocketed the Test series. Further, they carried the momentum in the limited over contests as the outcome was in the favor of the tourists. Azhar Ali tasted his first series win overseas with Afridi rounding off with the shortest format. But, one must say, this is the weakest Srilankan team we witnessed in the last two decades with no fire in the belly. 6. Testing time against Zimbabwe: Wahab Riaz. (© JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images) Pakistan had a return tour to Zimbabwe in October. The hosts were completely outshone in the first. But, the tragic happened in the next as the defeat them by a jolt. Purists might mutter about an upset in the last but that too remained a distant dream as the braves in the green stepped on the gas and ensured that there will be no hick-ups in the score line. The shortest version too came in favor of the experienced. 7. It’s England again in the deserts: (© Getty Images) Cook & Co. had a blessing in disguise as the squad was announced without their lashed tormentor Saeed Ajmal, who mercilessly shove them to the crevice with a 3-0 dubbing in 2012. The British captain led from the front in the first tie with his gritty resilience, a magnificent 263. A fitting reply to opponent Shoaib Malik’s mammoth 245. Later, they put up a very ordinary show on the remaining two days as their batsmen had their tails between their legs by some splendid bowling from the opponent spinners which saw Misbah & his boys climbing higher on the ladder of Test ranking by claiming the No.2 spot. Suddenly, the worst was yet to come, as adversity inspired Morgan and his teammates to script their second successive ODI series victory in the UAE against the same opposition. Neither T20Is could change their fortunes as they won the series 3-0. 8. A comeback call for Mohammad Amir: Mohammad Amir. (Photo Source: NDTV) This may be the last but by no means the least; the ban has been withheld from the tainted cricketer, Mohammad Amir. The promising, talented and gifted fast bowler is back in the hut and the stage is set for an even bigger exposure this time. He truly won hearts worldwide with his pristine bowling as he broke out to the scene; much like a kicking horse. It’s time for him to deliver on the unfulfilled promises he made. Hopefully, he will be greeted warmly & with open arms by his senior pros & collogue as expectations are rife and most of us want to see him donning the national jersey once again with the same vigor in their forthcoming tour to New Zealand. Written by Samrat Roychoudhury (Also read: 10 Most talked about moments of Indian cricket in 2015)

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Year Review: Pakistan’s performance in 2015

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