Just when Pakistan was emerging as an unplayable side in world cricket, intrigue, personal greed and misfortune struck the squad as Salman Butt, the promising and cultured looking Skipper who had established himself as a dependable and flamboyant opener, dirtied his linen along with his lethal pace duo of Asif and Aamir and went on to deservedly endure humiliation in British prisons.
Despite going through a scandalous period in its journey, largely due to total indiscipline and Ijaz Butt's rank incompetent handling of cricketing affairs in the country, Pakistani cricket managed to salvage some pride by gradually climbing the ladder under Misbah's astute and cool-headed leadership. Hats off to the boys who managed to put behind them the dark episode, put their heads down and jelled together. The team regrouped admirably as Pakistan warmed up playing lesser rated squads and eventually managed to humble Sri Lanka, one of the world's most talented and fighting outfits in the game today. It is heartening that after a long time, several players have fired at the right time, outstanding among them being veterans Younus Khan, Afridi, Misbah, skilled all-rounder Hafeez, wonder boy Umar Akmal, gritty and promising seamers like Umar Gul, newcomers Junaid Khan and Aizaz Cheema, magical Saeed Ajmal and dependable Abdul Rehman.
But having said that, with the squad to face England in the 'home series' having to be played away in the Emirates already finalised, one feels that a golden opportunity to further shore up its girdles may have been lost by the selectors, on the team's way to the first real test of its abilities, as it takes on England which already has its tail up. Pakistan has in the process indeed discovered and groomed Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq for the No 3 slot and middle order respectively, who can step in for the ageing though extremely talented Younus Khan and skipper Misbah when they make their way out.
While Azhar can also bowl, in Asad Shafiq you have the option as an opener in the Tests and One-dayers if needed, but one is curious as to why Fawad Alam has gone out of favour despite all-round performance in the past and having superb domestic record too in this season.
Although Salman Butt has been ably replaced by Hafeez in the opener's slot, finding the other opener continues to be a problem due to jittery performance of Taufiq Umar despite his double ton, and another indifferent performer Imran Farhat being persisted with, courtesy the current selector-relation Ilyas. There are a number of cricketers who have consistently performed in the domestic seasons, but two of them are conspicuous by their absence from the squad.
One of them is Yasir Hameed who proved his mettle while pairing with Shahid Afridi in his hey days against India and even thereafter. The other star performer has been Hammad Azam, the promising swing bowler and an attractive batsman who has excelled in domestic cricket. Shahzaib and young Ahmed Shehzad, both showed spark requiring grooming, but have instead been ignored.
Kamran Akmal has been recalled to the side after dismal showing by Sarfraz behind the stumps as well as with the bat. One wished Kamran had been allowed to warm up in Bangladesh. Wicket-keepers in today's competitive cricket have to be all-rounders, and for this tough position with now three versions of the game to contend with, you must have an equally good stand-by in the squad. Zulqarnain Haider proved his mettle when fielded for Kamran Akmal but has since not been recalled. He deserted the squad under threats, but one never heard of any enquiry finding him guilty or details of his version of the story, which points to a very fishy hush-up.
These days, the concept of a long tail with four to five specialist seamers and spinners, has also gone out of fashion. The best teams are those in which your bowlers are not just able to bat, but most of them are pretty much like all-rounders. Their guard and basics have to be so sound that in the eventuality of having to keep one end as the last pair they can come good, where on the other end, an established batsman can add sizably to the score to create a winning situation, or play out time and save the match. Abdul Rehman with little more concentration can further improve his batting skills, just as Pakistan's spinning trump card Saeed Ajmal has shown that he can hold an end while batting.
Playing against a lowly-placed Bangladesh, you have got away with playing only two seamers in Test matches, but it is absolutely crucial to play three pacers against England to last five days in relatively less hostile seam conditions.
One would at the cost of repetition emphasize that the team will need to shorten its tail. Sohail Tanvir though still struggling to find form as a bowler after his operation, can with some concentration be a dependable batsman who may well click in the desert.
Wahab Riaz is okay but erratic off the crease as well as in line and length. Umar Gul presently is Pakistan's mainstay seamer, but one would urge him to attend seriously to his batting and get his basics right.
Aizaz Cheema and Junaid Khan are promising new finds among the pace battery, who with more international exposure are bound to blossom further, but whatever happened to lanky Shabbir.
As a keen follower of the game, I would urge those at the helm of affairs to brace up for the future and think about the few identified names so that they can step into the shoes of their seniors after rubbing shoulders with them and gaining from their experience and guidance.
Some could even be sent as reinforcement or replacement during the ensuing series. While Pakistan has an array of seamers, it needs to quickly line up some more spinners with guile to follow their able seniors, especially a left-arm leggy.
Whether we have squandered the opportunity to field and groom more promising talent when there was space only time will tell, but one still feels that some redemption is possible if the selectors learn to see beyond their nose, and be discerning and judicious. It is Pakistan in the end which should matter.