Here Is What We Learnt From The 3 Match #PAKVSA ODI Series

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Afshar Iqbal
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The three match #PAKVSA ODI series ended yesterday with Pakistan winning it 2-1 and so, here is a look at what we were able to learn from the rubber.

Read: 3rd #PAKVSA ODI: 3 Things You Might Not Have Thought About

Openers Come Good During #PAKVSA ODI Series

Sharjeel Khan’s Comeback, #PAKVSA ODI, #PAKVSA ODI Series
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Regardless of the format, you don’t expect Pakistan’s upper order to do well on a consistent basis in countries like Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa. Nevertheless, both Pakistani openers showed form during the rubber and so, we hope that they continue to do the same in future international events as well.

Read: #PAKVSA: Misbah-ul-Haq Might Make These Changes To The Playing XI

Pakistan’s Middle-order Still Relies Heavily On Babar Azam

Babar Azam As Pakistan’s Vice-Captain, Pakistan’s First T20 Against Bangladesh, Pakistan’s First T20 Against Bangladesh, COVID-19 PSL 5, Babar Azam COVID 19 Protocols New Zealand, #PAKVSA ODI Series
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Pakistan lost the second ODI i.e. a game during which opener Fakhar Zaman scored 193 runs alone. The fact that the entire middle-order crumbled once Babar Azam departed early goes onto show that the think-tank badly requires personnel who can deliver at the numbers 4, 5 and 6.

Read: Shadab Khan Injures Toe; Out Of The South Africa, Zimbabwe Tours

Misbah, Wasim & Babar Need To Answer Difficult Questions

Mohd. Wasim, Sharjeel Khan Azam Khan Zahid Mehmood, #PAKVSA ODI Series
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Despite the victory, the chief selector, the head coach and the captain have some difficult questions to answer.

Pakistan's First T20 Against Zimbabwe, #PAKVSA ODI Series
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For a start, Pakistan needs to figure out a combination that they are happy playing on a consistent basis. There were way too many changes in the final ODI.

#PAKVSA, Pakistan's First & Second T20s Against Zimbabwe, Pakistan's Tour South Africa Zimbabwe, #PAKVSA Misbah-ul-Haq, #PAKVSA ODI Series
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Secondly, the think-tank also needs to reevaluate the position of all-rounders in the side. This because Shadab Khan looked pretty ordinary before he was ruled out of the series owing to an injury while specialist leg-spinner i.e. Usman Qadir looked phenomenal once again in the only game that he played. Also, both Faheem Ashraf and Mohd. Nawaz are more of bowling all-rounders. Can Pakistan afford to play all of them in the playing eleven especially, when the middle-order is so feeble? 

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Finally, Pakistan tried Danish Aziz, Asif Ali and Sarfaraz Ahmed in the middle-order. None could then deliver. So, with the next ODI world cup 2 years away, what’s the way forward from here onwards? Will the selectors try new boys or will they stick with the existing lot for a little longer?

Well, Mohd. Wasim, Misbah-ul-Haq and Babar Azam for sure have a few decisions to make before the next ODI series that the green shirts play.

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