Pakistan / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 04 February 2011 /

The most talented team in the world, the most frustrating team in the world. It's anyone's guess which Pakistan will turn up but if it's the good one, they have every chance.

Pakistan

If the World Cup was awarded to the side with the most talented players then Pakistan would have won most of the ones to date. A bit like Brazil when it comes to football, there seems to be a production line of highly-gifted players for whom playing the game, and in a more entertaining way than most, just seems to come more naturally than most.

The problem with Pakistan though is that they are the epitome of unpredictability and inconsistency. They win matches they have no right to win, such as the third and fourth ODIs against England during the summer, and they lose matches from positions from which winning should be a mere formality, such as their defeat to Australia (or should that be Mike Hussey?) in the recent T20 World Cup. They're a punter's nightmare.

The ongoing trials of Mohammed Asif, Mohammed Aamer and Salman Butt may have plenty of repercussions for themselves and the game of cricket as a whole but as far as the present goes, their current unavailability deprives the Pakistan team of three absolutely crucial players. The first is one of the best line-and-length bowlers in the world, the second one of the greatest masters of swing and variation since his mentor Wasim Akram and the third just about the only opener they have who can cut the mustard at this level. Without them, Pakistan have the ability to go far if everyone performs and they keep cool heads under pressure in conditions that will obviously suit them. With them, they could have been just about the team to beat.

The captain- Shahid Afridi

There are captains and there are captains. There are the calm and genial ones cut from the same cloth as Mike Brearley and Stephen Fleming, the 'laissez-faire' ones who keep it low-key and have a calming influence on their team-mates like MS Dhoni and the hand-clapping cheerleader-type ones such as Graeme Smith. Then there's Shahid Afridi.

Since he took over the limited overs captaincy in both formats we've seen it all from Boom Boom. Berating team-mates at the top of his voice for allowing a quick single, suicidal run-outs, golden ducks by being caught in the deep, match-winning centuries and game-turning catches. It's not conventional and at times it's over the top but would you expect any different from him? Would you want any different from him?

The glue - Younis Khan

If Pakistan are to set and chase decent scores they will need the calming influence of Younis Khan to occupy the crease for long periods of their innings. They missed the former captain for much of last year after his altercation with fellow veteran Mohammad Youssuf during their Tour of Australia in 2009-10 led to a suspension sanctioned by the PCB. But since his return they've looked more composed and their batting line-up more assured. He won't score that quickly, he never does, but when everyone else is losing their head, expect him to keep his.

The dynamite- Abdul Razzak

You're never over the line against Pakistan until you've dismissed Abdul Razzak. Coming in at seven or eight, this man has the ability to destroy the best laid plans off mice and cricket men and turn a game on its head. He likes to hit straight and he likes to hit big. Also a key part of their bowling line-up with his accurate medium pacers that are difficult to get away.

The toe cruncher- Umar Gul

The ability to bowl yorkers at the 'death' is a priceless commodity in any limited-overs matches and the player who can consistently do so is worth his weight in gold. We give you Umar Gul. He hasn't replicated that ridiculous spell of bowling in the 2009 T20 World Cup against New Zealand often enough in the last couple of years but no cause is lost if he's got the ball in his hands. Especially if it's reverse-swinging.

Best Bet:

Back Younis Khan to be top Pakistan runscorer at [4.5]

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