Top 5 Gains for Pakistan from their Sri Lanka tour

A lot of Pakistan fans have just been gifted the memory of a lifetime. Pakistan has beaten Sri Lanka in its own den, one of the hardest things to do in the game of cricket. More importantly, Pakistan has outclassed the hosts in the Tests and then in the ODIs.Pakistan won the Test series 2-1, which includes an unbelievable fourth innings chase in the last Test of the series. They then went on to dismember the Sri Lankan attack winning the ODI series even before the fifth game.2015 might be Pakistan’s brightest cricketing year in a while, considering they hosted Zimbabwe in an international game played in their country after years. More importantly, many are seeing this as the resurrection of their cricketing fortunes after the abyss they hit with a 0-3 Banglawash.There are many positives for Pakistan to take from the Test and ODI series wins. Some of them might be the results of careful, patient culturing which is always a good sign, especially if you are a cricketing country known for its volatile players and its volatile Board.Their ODI wins have increased significance, given they are competing for a spot in next year’s Champions Trophy (yes, the T20Is are yet to be played but Pakistan have already made their fans proud).Here are the top 5 gains for Pakistan from the Sri Lanka tour.

#1 Excellent ODI opening partnership

Pakistani openers Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad meet mid-pitch, as Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews looks on

Pakistan’s opening partnerships during this series read 47, 59, 93, 75 and 51. That is as good as it gets for a team known for imploding often, very often. In Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad, Pakistan have solidity at the top.

While Shehzad could be rash at times, batting with his more mature and calm skipper will really help. It is interesting that Azhar took this interesting step, exchanging his No.3 position with Mohammad Hafeez.

Hafeez, playing as a batsman in the team, raked up a century and two half-centuries in the five ODIs making the top order extremely solid. Although there is constant controversy over his action, his four-wicket haul in the first game would have definitely helped his confidence.

#2 The resurgence of Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik plays a shot during the 2^nd ODI against Sri Lanka

Malik has been one of Misbah’s trusted aides for a very long time and Misbah doesn’t make a secret of it. Yet, Malik’s lacklustre performances in the past have let Misbah down. But, Azhar might have just found in the old warhorse, a new fight that really adds some biff to the middle order, which is generally fragile.

55*, 51, 42*, 29* and 11 are Malik’s scores from the recently concluded ODI series, the last game technically having been a no-contest by the time he walked in, in the 20th over.

Malik is a handy spinner too, capable of taking wickets and bowling economically, but in this batting form he can make it as a pure batsman, given his ability to hit the big shots while also playing calm, calculated innings.

#3 A consistent leg-spinner

Yasir Shah celebrate the wicket of Angelo Mathews during the 3^rd ODI against Sri Lanka

Pakistan have found in Yasir Shah a leg-spinner who can run through the opposition. The man showed it with figures of 4-29 in the third ODI.

Yasir Shah was Pakistan’s most successful, penetrative and consistent bowler in the Tests as well with three five-wicket hauls in three Tests, something only Shane Warne could achieve amongst all visiting spinners to the country over the last couple of decades.

The best part about the talented leg-spinner’s bowling is that he doesn’t bleed too many runs like leg-spinners are prone to do and can even hold one end up, something that will help the usually impressive pace bowling attack in the Pakistan team.

#4 Young batsmen with promise

Mohammad Rizwan has good temperament, a rarity in Pakistan lower middle order batsmen

Sarfraz Ahmed is showing a lot of consistency playing as a wicket-keeper batsman. He has done more than his bit to enhance the image of Pakistan’s batting of late. Man of the Match in the third ODI, Sarfraz also bagged the award for his counter-attacking innings in the first Test that turned the match on its head and helped Pakistan win from a position where they were more likely to lose.

While Asad Shafiq was another player who came off age, Shan Masood’s century in the fourth innings under pressure, in the third Test, will be long remembered.

Pakistan have also found a reliable middle order batsman in Mohammad Rizwan, who seems to have the shots and a good temperament, the latter a rarity in Pakistan lower middle order batsmen.

#5 Good fielding

Mohammad Rizwan takes a catch to dismiss Thisara Perera, Sarfaraz Ahmed exults

From being one of the worst fielding sides, Pakistan have shown the effects of influx of youth, lifting their ground fielding as well as their catching. Not long ago, Rahat Ali dropped Shane Watson, which probably cost Pakistan a semi-final spot in the World Cup. The team is also traditionally known for their lethargic ground fielding.

But with fielders like Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Rizwan and Shoaib Malik, Pakistan definitely look more athletic, more nimble and more committed on the field. A good sign was also the number of run-outs affected by the Pakistani fielders in the ODI series, always a good indicator of the alertness of fielders.

They still have some way to go to match world standards, but this is a good start and Pakistan and their coach, Waqar Younis in particular, will take a lot of heart from it.