HAROON SIDDIQUI

Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq defensive captaincy, sloppy fielding and poor keeping let Pakistan down in the second one-day international by 20 runs as at one stage Pakistan was in control of match when Afridi and Misbah were at crease but after Afridi's departure turned the whole thing to the other side.
Basically it was the duty of Misbahul Haq to take control of the match and start hitting to put some pressure on England but his defensive approach provided an opportunity to England and they took full advantage and won the match easily. Pakistan lost five wickets for just 23 runs.
Misbah is incapable of leading team in the one-day format of the game and board release him from the ODI captaincy and hands One-day captaincy rein to another players having experience of captaincy under required circumstances.
Pakistan also need a regular wicketkeeper for One-day and Twenty20 formats as make-shift keeper Umar Akmal failed in both the one-dayers and his dropped chances helped England to go up 2-0.
During fielding Misbah field placing was very poor that fail to stop flow of runs from the English batsmen and they succeeded in posting 251 runs victory target for Pakistan that proved tough for Pakistani players to achieve.
Earlier, England skipper won the toss for the second time consecutively and opted to bat first without hesitation. He got a life when he was dropped by Umar Akmal on 28 and went on to score his second successive century, the fourth of his one-day career.  Pakistan started play sensible and under a game plan that was not looked in the first one-day. Only two English batsmen played Pakistan spinners superbly, Cook (102) and Bopara (58) and took the beyond the Pakistan's control.  Pakistan pacer Umar Gul looked off-colour and tired throughout the match but Aizaz Cheema bowled well for his two wickets.  In the second innings the pitch looked uneven and slowed down as the ball was not coming onto the bat and keeping low. Some time ball bounced awkwardly.
Earlier after the loss of first match, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman was annoyed by the team selection played in the first one-day and has directed the management for three changes that worked for Pakistan and team put some good.
In the post-match press conference, Cook promised to win the third match at Dubai to seal the series fate while Misbah said that Pakistan will try to win the remaining two matches to level the series 2-2. But time will tell that who become victor of the series.
This victory meant that Englishmen are bent upon to take revenge of Test series sweep against Pakistan.
Now Pakistan should include Junaid Khan who is one of the best bowlers in the world at his age as he surprises sometime through his speed, yorkers and bouncers.
There is no dearth of talent in Pakistan, the cricket board should prepare a pool of 40 players to replace the older players those are set to retire in near future and induct young blood in the team to get international experience in future.
PCB chief Zaka Ashraf should make wholesale changes in the team and pit correct man at correct position to avoid humiliation in one-day and Twenty20 series against England.
The Twenty20 World Cup is approaching that will be started in England in August and the board must induct youngsters to win the Twenty20 mega. event and also make them ready for clinching World Cup 2015 which is one of the major aim of the current PCB chief.