While people here are expressing their disappointment on the two subcontinent teams that reached the finals of the World Cup, I would like to talk about the third team which has been having an excellent run, Pakistan.
To say that Pakistan have turned things around in the last few months would be an understatement. Ever since their disastrous tour of England last time, they have significantly changed their fortunes. The best thing about Pakistan cricket has been their resilience. They have lost their best two bowlers(Asif and Ameer), their opener(Butt), one of their most successful batsmen(Yousuf), and have a board that is full of internal strife. Yet, they are playing amazing cricket. Consider India or Sri Lanka in such a state. India struggle even if their frontline bowlers are fit, imagine what they would do if Zaheer and Ishant were out. And Sri Lanka are still recuperating from the retirement of Murali.
Pakistan's bowling attack is perhaps the most balanced in the world today. They have great spinners in Ajmal and Rahman, with Afridi doing a great job in the limited overs. They have a seemingly endless supply of quality seam bowlers like Gul, Cheema, Riaz etc. Their batting is not as famed as the other sub-continent teams, but they seem to manage quite well.
The way they have played against England(though in favorable conditions), a team that both India and Sri Lanka struggled against, shows their talent and grit.
To say that Pakistan have turned things around in the last few months would be an understatement. Ever since their disastrous tour of England last time, they have significantly changed their fortunes. The best thing about Pakistan cricket has been their resilience. They have lost their best two bowlers(Asif and Ameer), their opener(Butt), one of their most successful batsmen(Yousuf), and have a board that is full of internal strife. Yet, they are playing amazing cricket. Consider India or Sri Lanka in such a state. India struggle even if their frontline bowlers are fit, imagine what they would do if Zaheer and Ishant were out. And Sri Lanka are still recuperating from the retirement of Murali.
Pakistan's bowling attack is perhaps the most balanced in the world today. They have great spinners in Ajmal and Rahman, with Afridi doing a great job in the limited overs. They have a seemingly endless supply of quality seam bowlers like Gul, Cheema, Riaz etc. Their batting is not as famed as the other sub-continent teams, but they seem to manage quite well.
The way they have played against England(though in favorable conditions), a team that both India and Sri Lanka struggled against, shows their talent and grit.
