A diagnosis – Why # 1 Test team is # 9 ODI team?

The augment that Pakistan’s 9th rank in the ODI version of the game, is due to no international cricket in Pakistan since the year 2009, does not hold water, because at the same time, without international cricket, we are # 1 Test team of the world.

What is good for goose is good for gander.

In my humble opinion, the factual reason for our teams continuous poor performance in the ODI games, has the following reasons:

1. Our nemesis is the 1st power play of 10 overs, where our average was just 39 runs, when only 2 fielders are standing in the acres and acres of outfield.
Ist power play period of 10 overs, demands POWER HITTING and a score of not less than 90 runs. Recently, in England, we did score in an ODI match, 83 runs in the first 10 overs of 1st power play. However, mostly the moment, we lose a wicket or two, our team panics and immediately start playing in a defensive mode, forgetting that in an ODI match, either you win or lose, there was no scope for a draw, like Test matches.
Somehow, our batsmen are also very susceptible to short pitch rising deliveries; and this weakness, is nowadays, being fully being exploited by our opponent teams.

2. Our next huge weak point is playing the dot balls.
In an innings of 50 overs, a total of 300 balls are available.
In the World Cup2015 match vs India, we played 169 dot balls and lost the match by 75 runs.
The only solution of reducing dot balls is the rotation of strike; and going for singles, doubles and three runs, if boundaries were controlled by the opposite team, by way of good bowling or excellent fielding.

3. Our bowlers have totally forgotten how to bowl effective Yorkers and dot ball bouncers.

4. Both our pacers and spinners frequently come into the danger zone and are time and again warned by the umpires, which results in mentally putting the bowler under such a pressure that he forgets his main task of bowling with line and length.
Moreover, our spinners are not using the art of wicket to wicket bowling, resulting in getting fewer and fewer wickets.
In ODI and T20 matches, wicket to wicket bowling pays higher dividends, because batsmen are always lifting their bat, to go for big hits.
Our bowlers also lack discipline of not bowling no balls and wide balls. The new rules of free hit are very much tilted in the favour batsmen, because any type of no ball is now penalised with a free hit. If our bowlers can not restrict their no and wide balls then all the hard work of batsmen and fielders go down the drain.
No balls should be considered a CRIME like a SELF GOAL.

5. A run saved is a run scored. Dropped catches not only badly demoralises the bowler but brings the opponent team, nearer to victory.
Run outs should always not be the incorrect anticipation of the batsman, but run outs should also be created by the guile and agility of the fielders.
In the recently held T20 World Cup2016 match played in Chandigarh between Pak vs NZ, it was really shocking to witness NZ batsmen running 5 score, in an extremely small ground.
World class teams have a RULE of thumb that no player is considered for selection, particularly, in T20 and ODI teams, if that player is known for his poor fielding.
We in Pakistan, never hesitate to include in our T20 and ODI teams, poor fielders like Irfan, Rahat, Tanvir etc.
Our team should forget improvement in ODI rankings, if fielding is not taken as seriously, as batting or bowling.