Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Pakistan's 'stop-start' cricket once again ended in disappointment with a 2-3 defeat at the hands of Australia.
The team only have themselves to blame for letting opportunities slip by. The third one-dayer was the turning point.
After dismissing Australia for a mere 198, Pakistan were cruising at 107 for three. But another batting collapse handed the match to the opposition.
Despite the result, there is hope for Pakistani cricket whenever they get started next. The team at least competed in most of the matches unlike the disastrous campaign against Sri Lanka a few months ago.
But some age-old problems need to disappear if Pakistan seek to assert themselves again in one-day cricket.
Tampering with the team must be got rid of. This malaise will be the most difficult as playing for Pakistan entails a round of Russian roulette.
The selectors did show a bit of restraint this time and the results were much better. But the temptation will be there when the selectors meet next.
Foremost will be what to do with Shoaib Akhtar. Yes, it would be better to go with him as he still has a lot of firepower left despite an ordinary series.
Akhtar is rusty and needs a bit of time to settle down after being out of the team for long periods due to injury or other issues.
The fast bowler, if nursed properly, is a match-winner and at this crucial juncture will serve the team well. However, there is a nagging suspicion that the axe may well fall on him. Thankfully the selectors persisted with Shahid Afridi despite a longish barren patch. Afridi delivered in style and was the man of the series for Pakistan.
The bowling will never pose many problems for Pakistan as they have good bench strength. The batting will have to be looked into urgently.
This does not mean a change of personnel. It is more to do with attitude than ability.
Pakistan were often found wanting due to their slow batting. Too often the batsmen tried to stretch the innings as long as possible in the face of fairly smaller targets.
It rarely works. If a score of 190 can be got in say 35 overs then it must be done in that period. Many teams have lost out due to complacency in this regard.
Pakistan vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq is a prime example. He did not force the pace in the middle of his innings and failed to deliver when it mattered.
However, he did learn from his mistakes. In the final one-dayer, both he and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal blasted the team to victory in style.
That should be the way to go. Pakistan, since the days of Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail, always chased or set targets with aggression.
Hopefully, the Pakistan team has learnt this valuable lesson and will take it forward. At least the lone Twenty20 match against Australia was a pointer in that direction.
