Published: Aug 08, 2016, 07:51 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 08, 2016, 08:47 PM (IST)
Every now and then cricket throws up these moments at you, when the team fails to win against a strong opposition but a player stands out for his feat. A similar case happened with the youngest Pakistan cricketer Sami Aslam, who made two dazzling fifties in the third Test. In case you are wondering who Aslam is, he was captain of the Pakistan U-19 side; he has scored 2 centuries during the tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka U-19s in 2014-15; another hundred, this time against India U-19 team during Asia Cup 2013-14; and being the second-highest run-scorer in U-19 ODI history with 1,695 runs. Aslam’s his impressive form gave him a heads-up to his selection in international cricket. He seems to have developed a love-hate relation with England ever since his U-19 days, be it with his 110 during the tri-series final against England U-19 in 2013-14 or his two half-centuries against England at Edgbaston in the ongoing series. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs England 2016, 3rd Test at Edgbaston
Pakistan calling for Sami Aslam:
Following a disastrous World Cup show, Pakistan embarked on their tour to Bangladesh in 2015. Pakistan were thrashed left, right and centre as their batting line failed to put go past 250-run mark on docile tracks and were ‘Banglawashed’ 0-3. In the final ODI, Pakistan were unable to reach the score of 251 under 40 overs, but amidst all that Aslam was handed over the opportunity to begin his career in what can be termed as dead rubber. He was impressive on the go with knock of 45 off 50 deliveries providing 91-run opening stand along with his partner Azhar Ali, which was the highest in the series.
That gamut of strokes provided him a Test spot as well. He was not as impressive he looked during the ODIs against Bangladesh and with that ended his stint with national side. Pakistan went ahead with their opening pair Shan Masood and Ahmed Shehzad, who averaged merely 28 and 26 in Tests on flat and dull Asian wickets. Mohammad Hafeez, currently being bullied for his poor form in the current track, stood out and averaged 41 in 8 Tests. ALSO READ: Misbah-ul-Haq disagrees with Inzamam-ul-Haq’s suggestion
Questions on Sami Aslam’s selection ahead of England tour 2016:
After being out of sight for a year, Aslam was back in the news in the local 50-over tournament (Pakistan Cup) scoring an unbeaten 108 against Balochistan. That was followed by yet another batting show against Islamabad, which finally helped him pave his way back to Pakistan side. But Chief Selector and former Pakistan cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq was not much in favour of inclusion of Aslam in the squad.
Given Azhar Ali’s technique, temperament, and performance in tour matches, Inzamam felt Aslam was inexperienced and the weak link amongst the troop. But skipper Misbah-ul-Haq stood by the young batsman and rested the case saying he will give Aslam his due in the series (leaving aside his own personal issue with Inzamam right since 2003 when he was dominated by then skipper Inzamam during team selection.)
Sami Aslam’s response to critics:
Pakistan were caught in crisis as a lot depended on the middle-order as opening batsman Hafeez and Masood managed to put up partnerships of 32, 2, 27 and 7 in the four innings at Lord’s and Old Trafford. Misbah, might have been the savior in the first Test along with Yasir Shah, Pakistan were unable to carry forward that force in the second Test. After that drastic 330-run loss in the second Test at Old Trafford, it was time Aslam made way at the top-order. ALSO READ: Pakistan vs England, 3rd Test, Day 2: Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali’s fifties take visitors to 154/1 at Tea
With his solid knock of 82 off 176 deliveries, Aslam justified his selection, leaving bowlers like James Anderson and Stuart Broad furious and frustrated. While Aslam gritted it out, Hafeez, despite his experience, threw his wicket away, falling for 0 (first-ball) and 2. Aslam continued his form with ease and displayed immaculate technique to anchor Pakistan’s reply to England’s unimpressive 297.
Scoring 27 runs from the first session that set the base for the day, Aslam showed what he is capable of. He batted beautifully throughout his 70 in the second innings as wickets fell around him, and it took a peach from Steven Finn to dismiss him in the end. Unfortunately, the Test ended in the favour of England. Some felt that Aslam should have been named Man of the Match, but that did not happen.
If Aslam can provide solidity of this extent at the top, Pakistan will have one less worry in future, especially after Misbah and Younis Khan step down. Pakistan needed to look beyond Hafeez and Masood, and they seemed to have finally found their first replacement.
(Shruti Hariharan is Content Writer with CricketCountry. You can follow her on Twitter at @Shruti_2890)
