ISLAMABAD: Aaqib Javed insisted that Pakistan will bank on the tried and tested pace attack rather than falling back on spin options.
“We have like a specialist three, I would say one of the best pace bowling options in today’s game with Shaheen (Afridi), Naseem (Shah), and Haris (Rauf),” said the Pakistan coach during a press conference.
His observations come in light of the spin-heavy attack that Rohit Sharma’s India has for the Champions Trophy, according to Cricbuzz.
“It reminds me of the 90s,” Aaqib said. “I have heard lots of options and discussions going on. Other teams have too many spinners and we have fewer spin options. The teams play their game on their strength. When you play against India it’s a special feeling and I think they will bring something very special tomorrow.”
Pace attack against India in the past
Aaqib was reflecting on the dominant pace attack he was part of in the 90s, alongside Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, which struck fear into opposing teams. In one memorable ODI against India, he took a hat-trick and ended up with seven wickets in Sharjah.
These were the peak days of Pakistan’s cricketing dominance, especially against India.
He then addressed the discussion about India’s strategy to field 3-4 spinners, stating, “That’s their approach. We, however, will stick to our strengths. Our team won’t undergo significant changes. We have chosen a squad based on our beliefs, and we’ll support them.
Our pace attack is the best, and these are the match-winners. There’s no need to adopt the same strategy as other teams. These bowlers are capable of winning matches, and that’s all that matters.” Pakistan has only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, with Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah offering part-time spin options.
Dubai not to advantage India
The Pakistan coach also disagreed that India will have an advantage having played a game at the Dubai stadium already. “Not at all,” he responded to the question. “Because if you look at all the Pakistani players, they’ve been playing leagues here. The PSL was played here. So, there is nothing really in the conditions. I don’t think there is any advantage and disadvantage.”
He also addressed the ubiquitous pressure factor in an India-Pakistan game and felt that without pressure the rivalry would lose sheen. “See, what is pressure? To do well? And if it doesn’t go well, what will happen? These are the thoughts before and after the match.”
“Right now, we are all guessing what will happen in this match. This is the beauty of it, what will happen. Nobody knows anything. So, in the same way, taking pressure is the job of the players. If you remove this pressure, what’s left in a Pakistan-India game? Passion and pressure are what are needed to show a player his performance.”
He stressed the point that the pressure will remain in every India-Pakistan game even after one team wins continuously 10 games. “What pressure? Because every game is different. And an India-Pakistan match, even if it is after 10 matches, after winning 10 matches or after losing six matches, it cannot change the beauty of an India-Pakistan match.”
50-over cricket
He disagreed with the perception that ODIs should be played with a Twenty20 mindset and contended that 50-over cricket has become the most demanding of the three formats requiring the highest levels of fitness. “You don’t have to start playing T20 style in one-day matches,” he remarked.
“The 50-over cricket has become more challenging. After 35-40 overs, the game has to be improved, you have to improve your fitness level. If you focus on T20 matches the entire year – you don’t go over the 30 overs. Even after 20 overs, you have to stay for 30 overs more.
“So, I think fitness is the biggest challenge. There is Test cricket, you play for two hours, then you have a lunch break, then two hours, and then a tea break. In this (ODIs), you have to be on the ground for three and a half hours and sometimes more. You have to be focused. It’s a fast game. I think fitness is the key.”
