Twenty20 International – T20 world champs Pakistan in turmoil ahead of Kiwi clash

There is something horrendously wrong in Pakistani cricket, the player infighting, the jostling for internal supremacy all threatening to derail a team which has so much potential.

The latest debacle is that of Younus Khan, who has stepped down as captain after only weeks ago re-accepting the role – senior players allegedly performing a cloak and dagger operation to topple the leader.

After losing the three-match one-day international series to New Zealand, Pakistan was looking to the two-match Twenty20 series to regain some pride.

They have lost that before a ball has even been bowled.

Pakistan fortunes looked to have turned around, their chequered murky past seemingly washed away and replaced by sandy beaches after being crowned Twenty20 World Champions earlier this year.

But black clouds are brewing off the coast and threaten to pummel those sandy beaches with what looks like a cyclone of bad press and even worst, acidic rain on their parade.

How the team will respond to the ousting of their skipper is yet to be seen but their epic capitulation in the final match of the ODI series has left a lot of people scratching their heads in bemusement.

Chasing New Zealand’s 211, Pakistan folded to be 9/101 and if not for the late innings charge of Mohammad Aamer (73), the hosts would have been found embarrassingly short of the required total.

As it was, Pakistan lost in the last over when Saeed Ajmal (33) holed out on the first ball of the final over.

The Kiwis are in prime position to rub salt into the gaping wound of Pakistan however the hosts are masters of the shortest form of cricket.

The likes of captain Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik can hurt with the bat while Umar Gul and co are deadly with the ball.

In reply the Kiwis have Ross Taylor who is one of the best exponents of the short game and they open with arguably the most brutal batsmen in T20, Brendon McCullum.

Tim Southee has shown why he should be considered a walk-up starter for the Kiwis, his left arm pace has destroyed Pakistan all tour while Shane Bond is back to his menacing best.