After losing five-match One-day International (ODI) to Australia 3-2, Pakistan defeated Australia in the one-off Twenty20 match by seven wickets, providing a sigh of relief to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Pakistan's track record against Australia is quite impressive.
They beat Australia by six wickets in the Super Eight stage of the inaugural World Twenty20 tournament, held in South Africa in 2007. They finished runners-up to India. This was the second T20 match between the two teams. Before next month's World Twenty20 tournament to be played in England, this match was the last international encounter for both teams and Pakistan, along with India, were hot favourites.
Though Pakistan are among favourites to win the World Twety20 tournament, they should concentrate on the grey areas - fielding, wayward bowling and inconsistency in batting line-up, particularly the openers. The players are required to shun the casual approach to the game, as they will be facing world-class teams, like Australia, South Africa and India. Who are better equipped in all departments of the game.
Pakistan's two consecutive wins over Australia - last of five-match ODI series and one-off Twenty20 match - in the UAE is a morale booster for pretty young Pakistan oufit. This indicates that they are capable to beat any team provided they want to win.
Had our batsmen batted responsibly and stayed on at the wickets, Pakistan could have won the ODI series. Anyhow the 3-2 result was eyewash as they were against a highly professional team after over one-and-half years.
YOUNUS KHAN'S RESOLVE:
Before the match, Pakistan captain Younus Khan said he wanted to make the best of it, adding: "We need to take full advantage so that we know where we stand. It's good to have a match against world's top team," said Younus "We have to be at our best to win this match because Australia are dangerous in all forms of the game," said Younus.
Australia's stand-in skipper Brad Haddin, taking over after Michael Clarke returned home for a rest after the one-day series, admitted Pakistan had some very talented players; a few of those guys could win a game by themselves," said Haddin.
AUSTRALIA OUTPLAYED:
However, Pakistan's victory over Australia was attributed to pacer Umar Gul and leg spinner Shahid Afridi, who demolished Australia. Pakistan took the field without an ailing captain Younus Khan. However, vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq, after winning toss, put the Aussies to bat first.
Paceman Umar Gul provided Pakistan with a crucial breakthrough, dismissing the dangerous-looking opener Shane Watson (33) with his first delivery to put the brakes on Australia, who had reached 42 without loss. Watson had struck three successive boundaries off paceman Sohail Tanvir in the fourth over.
Australia then suffered a severe jolt when four wickets fell for paltry 12 runs in the space of 21 deliveries to leave them in trouble at 73-5.
Leg spinner Shahid Afridi trapped James Hopes (6) and Andrew Symonds (0) leg-before off successive deliveries, before bowling David Hussey (4). Umar Gul returned for his second spell to dismiss Nathan Hauritz (2), Brett Lee (0) and Marcus North (20) to improve on his own record of 4-13 in a Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka last year.
They were the second best figures ever in a Twenty20 International, behind New Zealand paceman Mark Gillespie's 4-7 against Kenya at Durban in 2007.
Haddin made 24 before becoming one of Shoaib Malik's two victims. Brad Haddin: "We were progressing well in the first five overs, but thereafter we were outplayed."
Paceman Umar Gul, who recorded the second best figures in international Twenty20 cricket 4 for 8, and leg spinner Shahid Afridi (3 for 14) restricted Australia to a modest 108 in 19.5 overs.
In reply, Pakistan reached the victory target of 109 runs in 16.2 overs with 3.4 overs to spare. Pakistan's start was quite shaky when they lost both the openers Salman Butt (16) and Ahmed Shahzad (four). But Kamran Akmal spearheaded an unbeaten half-century, who hit a quick-fire unbeaten 59. He was ably supported by Mibah-ul-Haq, who scored 24. They shared an 85-run stand for the third.
Legal notice to icc:
Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has served legal notice on the International Cricket Council, challenging its decision to move World Cup matches over to India.
"The PCB believes that the manner in which the decision was taken, with no security assessment of Pakistan or any other host country and without the issue being on the agenda of the meeting, it was legally flawed," PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt said. "There was no prior notice that the Cup matches will be moved and more could have been done in an indiscriminate manner before the decision was taken," said Butt.
"We believe that more could and should have been done to review the actual situation to deal with the matter on a non-discriminatory basis."
Butt said the issue had been referred to the President of the ICC's dispute resolution committee. "He can either refer the matter to the dispute resolution committee which is made up of ICC officials or to independent arbitration before the Court of Arbitration for Sport," Butt said.
"The PCB prefer impartial arbitration, in the interest of justice, equity and fair play. The PCB will push for this matter to be expedited so the PCB's status can be restored as soon as possible."