Pakistan Sports Journal

If you say that 2010 was the worst ever year for Pakistan cricket then this would not be wrong. Pakistan cricket was destroyed and demolished not only because of the on-field performance but off-the field controversies as well.

In 2010 Pakistan failed to win a One Day or Test series. Even though they ended up the disappointing year with a huge win over New Zealand in T20 after 6 consecutive losses.

Pakistan started the 2010 in disappointing fashion where they didn’t even won a single game on whole tour. Australia defeated them in Tests 3-0, ODIs 5-0 and in Twenty-20 match.

After this disastrous performance on Australia tour, PCB took serious action and banned and fined 7 of Pakistan’s top players including Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf. Bans were lifted and fines were reduced for 5 players including Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal , Shahid Afridi , Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf but relationship between Younis Khan and PCB got worst and worst and Younis remained out of Test side for 12 months.

Pakistan worst ever tour to England started with 2 T20s and 2 Tests against Australia. After losing the first Test, new skipper Salman Butt created history as he became Pakistan’s first captain to beat Australia in Tests after 15 years.

After this historic Test win then began the four match Test series against England which was supposed to be a jam of the series. Pakistan bowling attack specially Mohammad Amir and Asif in particular destroyed English batting line all over the park but it was Pakistan batting performance which lead them down in the first two Tests of the series and because of this Mohammad Yousuf was called up for the third Test.

Due to superb bowling performance again in the third Test Pakistan came back strongly and beat England and series was alive once again.

Then began the 4^th Test at Lords which changed the fortune of Pakistan cricket completely, after the end of third days play, a video appeared from and English newspapers about Pakistani players involved in spot-fixing. Initially seven Pakistani players were named in spot-fixing case but after some proceedings ICC banned Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt and their faith to be decided on 11 January. Pakistan only managed to win a T20 series against Australia on that tour.

This controversy not only destroyed the career of banned players but also made Pakistani cricket shameful than ever. ICC strictly instructs PCB to do some adjustments and made their domestic system better.

Then in the One day series against South Africa Mysterious \Zulqurnain Haider ran away to England after playing a match winnings innings which brought back Pakistan into the series. He said that he was threatened by some people to fix the match and his life is in danger if ha stays in Pakistan and with the team so he left the team. Later he announced his retirement from international cricket and now nobody knows what he is doing.

Now Pakcricketworld will bring you some short review of some bright and dark moment s of Pakistan cricket in 2010.

Finds of 2010

Azhar Ali was induct into the Test side in the absence of Yousuf and Younis and he responded very bravely. He showed that he has temperament and skills and he is a pure Test match player. In his 2^nd Test against Australia he played the crucial innings of 49 which lead Pakistan to first ever win over Australia in 15 years. Against England he also played very solidly and later against South Africa he almost proved himself as the permanent member of Test side because of his solid temperament to stay at the wicket.

Asad Shafique was called up for the ODI series against England to strengthen the middle order and he’s done that in style. He is the player with fine technique and talent. Now he is also a regular member of the squad.

Best Performance of 2010

Pakistan’s win over Australia in Test match after 15 years was no doubt the best moment of 2010 for Pakistan cricket. Wasim, Waqar , Inzamam, Yousuf, Shahid and few other captains tried their best but Salman Butt was the man to done it for Pakistan.

Worst Performance of 2010

Pakistan tour to Australia was the most disastrous tour for Pakistan ever. Pakistan played 3 Tests, 5 ODIS and 1 Twenty-20 and lost all of the matches. This was the first time when Pakistan comeback from Australia without winning after a full tour.

Best individual performance of 2010

Abdul Razzaq’s miraculous innings of 109* of just 72 balls in the 2^nd ODI against South Africa was the best player performance of 2010. At this time team was needed something to lift the spirits of the unit and Abdul Razzaq, the way he done this, was once in a life time innings to see.

Now the 2010 have ended and like always before we hope that Pakistan cricket will rise and shine in 2011 and hopefully we gonna get some good news from the big world cup 2011.

Courtesy : Pakcricketworld.com