Cricket / Andrew Hughes / 05 August 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Two captains, a retirement and a return from the wilderness: Pakistan's English summer is barely half way through and they've already packed in a year's worth of controversy. Andrew Hughes asks what next for the talented but troubled tourists.

Instability is built into Pakistan's cricket administration. Politicians meddle in the affairs of the Pakistan Cricket Board to an extent that would be unthinkable in this country and the result is a cricket system that lurches from one crisis to another. Just as politicians in that country make their most of their opportunities when the wheel of fortune briefly deposits them in power, so cricket administrators think only of the short term, of reacting to events and doing what they can to stay in a job.

By these standards, the PCB's chairman, Ijaz Butt, has done well to remain in his position for over 18 months. But longevity of tenure has not brought about stability or planning for the long term. Pakistan are already on their fourth captain of 2010 and earlier this week it was announced that the first of those captains, Mohammad Yousuf, had been persuaded out of retirement to try to shore up an inexperienced batting order that has predictably failed on several occasions.

The recall of the nation's best current Test batsman will be seen in some quarters, most importantly, in the Pakistan dressing room, as an abandonment of the so-called youth policy. But in truth, those who called it a policy were being rather generous. Turning to the uncapped duo of Azhar Ali and Umar Amin was the only possible option left to selectors after the PCB had handed out indefinite bans to the men who should still be batting at three and four: Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.

The return of Yousuf might give the impression that there has been an outbreak of common sense at the PCB. But this would be misleading. In fact, it raises further questions, besides the obvious one of why on earth he was banned in the first place. Why, for instance, have they gone for Yousuf, who has not played first class cricket in a number of months and not Younis, who has been playing in England for Surrey? And how is it that Danish Kaneria has been dropped in favour of an 18-year-old spinner with two first class games under his belt, whilst Kamran Akmal, possibly the world's worst international wicketkeeper, retains his place?

Perhaps the most important question from the Pakistan supporters' perspective is what effect Yousuf will have on this team. He cannot be expected to start scoring runs from the start, yet that is precisely what will be demanded of him. He may be of some value in the dressing room, if he is able to impart a little knowledge to those inexperienced players around him. But though he is a more mild-mannered character than the fiery Younis, he comes with baggage, most notably a distinctly hostile relationship with Shoaib Malik, another senior pro and former captain. A renewal of the tensions that so destabilised the winter tour to Australia is the last thing Pakistan needs.

But instability, uncertainty and a certain degree of disarray are the norm for this team and, from a betting perspective, punters who are already writing them off should be wary. Odds of [6.4] about Salman Butt's team hitting back and winning the Second Test at Edgbaston seem rather high. Pakistan's bowlers twice had England in trouble at Trent Bridge and, had they received better support from their fielders, might have made that game a lot closer than it turned out to be. The weather forecast suggests plenty of cloud cover for the duration of the game and Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer could be in their element. If Yousuf can help shore up the batting, Pakistan could well defy the odds and the sceptics. It wouldn't be the first time.