Pakistan batters reaching new heights

The historic tour of Australia’s cricket team to Pakistan, after a long span of more than 23 years, concluded on a high note as the series took place smoothly and peacefully and the cricket fans had an opportunity to see some breathtaking action.

The tour started with a three-match Test series, which was won by the visitors with the score of 1-0. The wickets during the campaign were heavily criticised as they did not have much for the bowlers.

The One Day International series, which also comprised three games, was won by the Green Caps after losing the first contest and coming out victorious in the next two.

The tour also had a one-off T20I encounter. Pakistan were dubbed as favourites to win the game in their home conditions against the reigning World Champions, keeping in view their recent form in the format and the weaker Australian lineup, but the Kangaroos played better cricket on the day and won the game.

Pakistan were primarily hurt during the whole tour due to their weak bowling line, which is a rare sight. Except for Shaheen Shah Afridi and somewhat Mohammad Waseem in the limited-overs contests, the Men-in-Green’s bowling just looked toothless.

Though Pakistan lost both the Test series and the T20I, their batters showed great character throughout the campaign.

The fans saw the emergence of new heroes, while the already established ones grew in stature. There were three outstanding performers for the hosts with the bat.

The rise of Abdullah Shafique

Abdullah Shafique announced his arrival in Pakistan’s domestic circuit with a bang a couple of years back. He struck a century in his T20 debut on September 30, 2020, playing for Central Punjab against Southern Punjab.

The selectors got excited about the prospect and selected him for the series against Zimbabwe and he made his T20I debut on November 20, 2020, where he scored 41 runs.

The think tank persisted with him and took him to New Zealand. However, he was probably not ready for such a quality side that too in their home conditions. He played two 20-over games there and scored ducks in both the innings.

There was heavy criticism on his selection and many claimed that he was not an international level player.

Shafique was dropped. Unhinged by the criticism over his selection and two back-to-back ducks, about three months later, he played his maiden First-Class game and went on to score a hundred.

He continued to impress the selectors for about a year and made his Test debut against Bangladesh in November 2021, where he scored a half-century in each inning. He looked promising as a Test player.

His next challenge was facing the mighty Aussies. His batting against arguably the best Test bowling side of the world was commendable. He was focused and composed.

To many people’s surprise, he emerged as the highest scorer for the Men-in-Green with 397 courtesy of a century and two half-centuries. He was just behind Australia’s Usman Khawaja, who seemed invincible during the series, scoring 496 runs with the help of two centuries and two 50s.

The 22-year-old opening batter scored 44 and 136 runs on a flat track of Rawalpindi in the first Test of the series.

In the second Test, he was dismissed cheaply on 13. However, in the second inning, Pakistan had to bat for about two full days to save the Test match and he was there for his team like a rock. He faced 305 balls and scored 96 runs which helped the team in saving the game. In the third Test, he scored 81 and 27 runs in the first and second innings, respectively.

Babar Azam — All-format king

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was in sublime touch throughout the Australia campaign. He was so good that after the only T20I game, which concluded the tour, Australia captain Aaron Finch said, “Glad that we don’t have to bowl to Babar Azam anymore.”

This coming from the captain of the mighty Aussies, who are known for snubbing even the toughest of competitors, is absolutely huge.

Babar is definitely among one of the best batters in white-ball cricket, if not the best. However, he was not as established in the red ball game as compared to the limited-overs cricket before the Benaud-Qadir Trophy.

Having said that, there was no doubt that he had it in him and it was just a matter of time when he shined in the longest format of the game.

The captain failed in the first inning of the first Test as he was dismissed on 36 runs on a wonderful batting wicket.

In the Karachi Test, he once again fell for 36 in the first inning. However, in the second inning, in a pursuit to save the Test match, Babar played one of the greatest innings of all time. He scored 196 runs off 425 deliveries and managed to draw the game.

In the last Test, he scored two more half-centuries and stood as the second-highest run-getter in the series for Pakistan and third overall.

Babar was unstoppable in the ODI series. He scored 57 off 72 balls in a losing cause in the first game. He made an amazing comeback in the next, scoring 114 runs off 83 deliveries that led Pakistan to their highest run-chase ever of 349 runs.

In the third ODI, he scored another ton, remaining unbeaten on 105 off 110 deliveries. This mighty effort won him the Player of the Series award.

In the only T20I of the tour, he was yet again impressive with 66 runs. He truly grilled the Australians during the campaign and Finch must have meant the words he said.

Impressive Imam

Majority of the Pakistan cricket fans love to hate Imam-ul-Haq despite his consistent performance since making international debut.

He has been the second-most consistent player behind his captain, Babar Azam, since he made his international debut against Sri Lanka in 2017.

Imam has since scored 2,321 runs in 49 innings at an average of 53.97 with the help of nine centuries and 11 half-centuries at a strike rate of 82.53.

Still, he is often called by the slur ‘Parchi’ because many believe he got selected unjustly by the then chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, who is his paternal uncle.

Even against Australia, he scored 370 runs in the six Test innings at an average of 74.00 and was the third-highest scorer for Pakistan.

During the ODI series, the left-handed opening batter piled up 298 runs with the help of two centuries and an unbeaten 89 at a strike rate of 101.70. His record during the series was even better than the Player of the Series, Babar.

In the opening ODI when Pakistan were bundled up for 225 runs against Australia’s 313, Imam scored 103 runs off 96 balls. The fans still blamed him for the defeat, claiming that he played a selfish knock and got out when the team needed him.

Selfish is often the adjective that is used by his critics, ignoring the fact that he has scored six of his nine tons in winning cause and maintains a healthy average of 73.71 when Pakistan win.

Moreover, Imam has been involved in 12 century stands in ODIs since his debut, six with his fellow opener Fakhar Zaman and as many with his skipper. On 11 of these occasions, Pakistan have come out victorious.

After his phenomenal run against the mighty Aussies, he has climbed the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Ranking and clinched the third spot, just behind first and second-ranked giants, Babar and Virat Kohli, respectively.

The Australia series has once again highlighted that Imam is quite an underrated asset in the Pakistan lineup.