Pakistan is at its best when its batsmen are putting runs on the board. Its bowling suddenly has an extra spring in its step - it doesn't matter if Shoaib Akhtar is not available - Navedul Hassan can step up and do the job if there are runs on the board. This has been pretty obvious in the last two games at Perth where Pakistan won. Indeed this has prompted Shahryar Khan, the PCB chief to say that Shoaib may not be a certainty for the tour to India. Maybe, it might be a good idea for Pakistan to stick to its line and length medium pacers for the one dayers and bank on the ligthtning quicks only for the Tests.
Coming back to the VB series, it has become competitive towards the end and all the three results in the final three games in the round robin had unpredictable results. However, the Pakistan batting with all its solidity and muscle was able to win the crucial games for them. I dont remember any side that boasts the fire power that Pakistan enjoys in its lower middle order today - Razzaq and Afridi are certainly the two most explosive batsmen in the world and lately they have been very consistent. This does mean that their side can win matches against any opposition including the current world champions Australia.
