Pakistan’s Weakest Link

by Devanshu Mehta

Can a team with such a poor opening pair be contenders in the World Cup? Since the series against South Africa last year, here is the run of opening partnerships:

26, 8, 12, 6, 82, 7, 31*, 2, 43, 20, 14, 11, 28, 16, 5

Of those, the current pair of Messrs. Shehzad and Hafeez account for: 31*, 2, 43, 20, 14, 11, 28, 16, 5

Shehzad has a career ODI average of 27.50. Barring his one (exceptional) century, his average is 20.0 for his remaining innings. But he’s young, he’s only played 13 matches. Hafeez, on the other hand, has an average of 22.22 after 68 matches. That is untenable.

∞

Today, however, their weakest link was Kamran Akmal behind the stumps.

 

Kamran Akmal: Oh no, not again

 

 

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