Pakistan struggle for form

After two big losses in the warm-ups, Pakistan have plenty to worry about come Sunday when they kick off their campaign against England. Venkat Ananth reports.

They arrived here as runners-up from South Africa 2007, but haven't looked the part since. After two big losses in the warm-ups, Pakistan have plenty to worry about come Sunday when they kick off their campaign against England. While rustiness has been the official line to account for their defeats so far, one look into the Pakistani preparations, and you know they are a side with plenty to work on.

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For starters, their fielding has been sluggish in both matches. There was a clear lack of intensity, with plenty of misfields and dropped catches. Unlike other teams, India included, who stepped up the fielding workload during practice, Pakistan preferred to concentrate on batting and bowling — not addressing their larger concerns. Another area, where Pakistan were down was body language. While India’s aggressive posture saw them through on Wednesday, Pakistan were casual at times, not taking the warm-ups seriously.

If their batting capitulated against South Africa, their bowling looked ordinary as Rohit Sharma tore them apart at the Oval. No bowler looked like taking a wicket, and there were hints in the nets before the India game. Umar Gul didn’t bowl in practice due to the chronic injury he's been carrying. Mohammad Aamer, the young tearaway did not have a proper crack, and was thrown into a match situation. Sohail Tanvir looked out of sorts. The spinners haven't looked a serious threat, Shahid Afridi and Ajmal Saeed included.

But, as Pakistan have shown during the years, it would be foolish to write them off at this early stage. Yes, they are a side with problems, inexperience and some off-colour players, but with a relatively easier Super Eight group awaiting them, they might just turn out to be the surprise package.