Pakistan are set to play a 3-match Test series against Australia, starting from December 14. Pakistan, who have done a host of changes in their cricketing structure right ahead of the series would hope to pose a good challenge against the World Test champions.
Pakistan have not only changed their team captain in all formats of the game, but have changed the team management, as well as certain members of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Despite the instability of the cricketing structure in the country, former Australia cricketer Brad Haddin feels that the Shan Masood side could be dangerous.
Speaking on ‘The Follow On’, Haddin said that Pakistan thrive on chaos and the they play their best cricket when they are under pressure.
“There is a lot of chaos off the field,” Haddin told The Follow On.
“They put a selector on for 24 hours and he was taken off. They have a new coaching staff. If we sit here âæ you would think Pakistan has no chance with all the turmoil,” Haddin pointed fingers at Salman Butt getting sacked hours after his appointment as the consultant to chief selector Wahab Riaz.
“But that is when they sometimes play their best. They are actually a hard team to prepare for because of the unpredictable nature of the way they play,” Haddin further added.
Pakistan had a disastrous World Cup 2023 captain. Then captain Babar Azam and senior pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi were criticised for their individual performances. Haddin felt that the big names needed to step up for the tour of Australia if Pakistan wanted to win their first ever Test series in the continent.
“They will need their best players to have big tours in Australia but they are a hard team to give you any (form line) on,” Haddin said.
“We know with this Pakistan team, the unpredictable nature of the way they play cricket, they could deliver anything. And that is the exciting part going into the first Test match,” he further added.