Waqar|Saqlain|Wasim|Akhtar played twenty one ODI's together, Analysis.

[Ymaxxx]

So this was a few months back, when i did this, but i thought maybe i could share some of my work here on this forum too. I knew the three played together but i assumed it to be around 3-4 matches (low sample). But later found out the three playing together for 40 odis actually. (Brilliant sample size).

Further digging in, i realised Saqlain Mushtaq played 21 of those 40 matches (fair sample size). And it simply blows my mind how sides were faring against these four together with a respectable fifth alternating options of Razzaq/Afridi?! Unfortunately for tests the four have only played 2 matches altogether which isn't a good sample size for assessing the attack.

• Lets evaluate their overall ODI careers first.

Player	Inn	Maidens	Wkts	BB	econ	avg	SR
Wasim	351	238	502	5/15	3.8	23.5	36.2
Waqar	258	143	416	7/36	4.6	23.8	30.5
Saqlain	165	66	288	5/20	4.2	21.8	30.4
Akhtar	162	99	247	6/16	4.7	24.9	31.4

OVERVIEW:

• This 4 way Lineup was casted in 9 tournament matches and remaining 12 in odi series. High pressure/momentum matches.
  
  
• Only 2 home Matches were played in the Matches they were brought in while remaining 19 Games were away+neutral. Highlighting this due to the nature of home-ground role. extremely tough condition to bear for bowlers as everyone knows, the advantage bowlers can reap at their home. which was unfortunately unavailable for this lineup throughout this tenure. [Important]
  
  

PLAYER CONDITIONS

First we'll analyze what stage of condition the bowlers had reached? Were they out of form/Post-Injured/Retiring/Peaking etc during the timeframe they played together (31 May 1999 - 25 Feb 2003).
Assuming 100% is peak using sample size of best 10 matches consecutively in overall career. We will also extract the best 10 consecutive matches from the 'played together' as well to convert into %

note: For all players theres a chance of a small mistake in Peak career avg by a tiny margin but i believe i've got them all correct and spot on.

Wasim Akram	PEAK Career AVG (100%)	PEAK played together AVG	Current Condition
In 10 consecutive Matches	12.38	15.86	78%

Wasim (and Waqar) retired in 2003. Being approx 80% of your former self after a span of 15 years till '99 when coming closer to retirement phase, is something i'll be grateful for.

Waqar Younis	PEAK Career AVG (100% pre injury)	PEAK Career AVG (100% post injury)	PEAK played together AVG	Current Condition with pre injury	Current Condition post injury
In 10 consecutive Matches	08.01	15.85	23.5	34%	67%

For those who want to evaluate Waqar's current conditioning's worth in whichever metric, I have broken the categories into 'Post' and 'Pre' injury for your ease. In case you're confused, Waqar was hit by a severe back injury a week before 1992 WC which he entirely missed a historic moment unfortunately. His 5fer taking abilities reduced and pace dropped but still outperformed to bring a stellar career and Match Steyn's number in tests and better in ODIs. In SA 1993, after injury he was recorded to clock highest 153kph. I can assume you'll understand the difference of facing him in peak vs after.

Saqlain Mushtaq	PEAK Career AVG (100%)	PEAK played together AVG	Current Condition
In 10 consecutive Matches	15.90	23.20	69%

Saqlain Mushtaq too retired in early 2004. But during his tenure with the remaining three he might have lost form but was still a threat. His 69% form of 23.2 AVG is still a stellar record for a spinner to bring to the table and aid the pacers.

Shoaib Akhtar	PEAK Career AVG (100%)	PEAK played together AVG	Current Condition
In 10 consecutive Matches	13.71	13.74	100%

Shoaib Akhtar is fuming and fresh of the oven. He is in the form of his life in this bowling attack. Monstrosity awaits?







THE 21 MATCHES (The real results)

Player + Form	M	Wkts	BB	econ	avg	SR
Akhtar (100%)	21	44	6/16	4.4	17.1	23.0
Wasim (78%)	21	37	5/28	4.1	20.8	30.2
Saqlain (69%)	21	26	5/35	4.1	25.9	37.9
Waqar (34/67%)	21	25	3/33	4.8	28.6	35.4

	M	Wkts	BB	econ	avg	SR
BWL ATK	21	132	78/10 [vs Sri Lanka 2002]	4.3	22.06	30.2

(for those who want the highlights to the vs SL one, its here. But saqlain didn't get the chance to bowl an over here)





THE COIN TOSS

Field First or Bat First?

	M	Wkts	BB	econ	avg	SR
PAK Field First	12	75	149/10 [vs NZ]	4.5	25.6	33.7
? PAK Bat First	9	57	78/10 [vs SL]	4.0	17.3	25.3

Okay so we've got a really good idea of how this lineup presented itself. We can see how important the coin toss really is and how it can affect a bowlers ability to tackle flipped scenarios. Honest opinions, I think they did pretty well for a team to not have home condition. (pak batsmen and fielding is too unreliable). Now that i think of it? This tail (or any pak tail smh) needs a little appreciation for carrying the bat at times too.




TAIL TO THE RESCUE

Player	Inn	Runs	Runs in Boundaries	HS	SR	AVG
Akhtar	9	84	44	43	93	28.0
Wasim	19	307	140	43*	70	23.6
Saqlain	13	130	46	37*	45	16.3
Waqar	13	163	64	37	70	18.1

As figured, The same old tale of 1-2 batsmen doing the work and leaving the workload to the bowlers. This is where i believe Pak lucked for victories. All rounders, such as Afridi/Razzaq/Azhar would do their odds with usually one batsman working. The tail was gifted enough to bare the burden for victories by both ball and bat at times.

So why is this important? Not just the bare appreciation for carrying great responsibility in the tail, but because of exposing how bad the top order did for having these bowlers do the job for them.

Out of the 21 games, the team won 12 and lost 9. In the lost games Wasim Akram is the second highest run scorer and Waqar the fifth highest, despite the batsmen playing pretty much the same amount of games.

The Games that were lost

Batsman	Avg
Saeed	21.0
Inzamam	15.4
Yousuf	13.4
Younis	15.5

This is an embarrassing support from out batsman to provide for all the hardwork/displays the bowlers created in the other innings. seriously just compare this table to the above one.



- Moving on, we know results vary to form a solid conclusion. cricket is complex after all. Such as how i showed FORMs before here in the bowling map but not actually equated it in......unless?


So lets assume These bowlers were in-form instead like their usual selves and playing to full potential? I'll take Normal consistency at 90%.



NORMALCY ESTIMATION (How their 21 Games would've looked if everyone was in their usual form)

Player + Form	M	Wkts	econ	SR	AVG
Akhtar (90%)	21	39	4.8	25.6	19.0
Wasim (90%)	21	43	3.5	22.1	18.0
Saqlain (90%)	21	34	3.1	29.1	19.8
Waqar (90%)	21	33	3.6	26.3	21.2

- If you're wondering how Wasim has a better SR then Waqar in normalcy, i'll remind again, these stats were not measured by using individual statistics but the "21 matches they played, where Wasim boasted a higher SR) These numerical changes can be due to how a bowler performs when paired with different quality by their side. Chances are the pressure built by Wasim could've been struck by Shoaib as he was a strike bowler too which meant Waqar would've been adapting to a different role/or aiding others.

- Similarly, your wondering of how Wasim has only 43 wickets in 21 games?? Is due to sharing of wickets among the four and not just waqar.
Its more of a hunt really, when all 4 are in hunger for their wickets but have to realize they will have to share it with the others who are just as capable.

- Wasim had a peak of 15.9 when he played with the four why aren't you using that as 100%? Because that was when Wasim wasn't 100% of his form, when he gave out that performance. Why isn't a 79% to 100% form changing his peak avg drastically? Because again a saturated bowling attack will only allow minimal difference and not blown results.


Hopefully with these cleared, lets move on!

PEAK 100% FORM

Player + Form	M	Wkts	econ	SR	AVG
Akhtar (100%)	21	44	4.4	23.0	17.1
Wasim (100%)	21	47	3.1	24.7	16.2
Saqlain (100%)	21	38	3.7	26.1	17.8
Waqar (100%)	21	38	3.2	23.7	19.1

(below i'll use Waqar's pre injury peak. which was better than post peak we have been using.) The reason I'm using post as my main, is because Waqar's overall career was shaped off his post and should be the only relevant use of measurement. This is just a bonus approximation in a 'what if scenario' where the injury never happened and Waqar carried that same peak into the bowling lineup with the remaining three's.

Player + Form	M	Wkts	econ	SR	AVG
Waqar's actual 100% pre injury peak	21	73	1.6	12.1	9.7

Again these are all projections and not factual. This table is based on Approximations. I'm stating the team table specifically because, these are just averages of individual result. Close to what the overall Team result could look like.


As a Team

Team Form	M	Wkts	econ	avg	SR
Facing 90%	21	149	3.7	19.5	25.7
Facing PEAK	21	167	3.5	17.5	24.7
PEAK + actual peak Waqar	21	202	3.2	15.2	21.4

My results could be flawed and just imaginary/fantasy but ive tried my best to create "Projection" of possible results. Added to original results. Peaks are just bonus tables, the Real table is the estimation of 90% which is what it most likely will be facing these four without age/form affecting them in those 21 Games.

A bat starving for runs. Thats what it'll feel to face them all at the same time in peaks and normalcy. ?

 

[Migara]

Just do if for Peak Vaas, peak Murali, Malinga and Ajantha Mendis. You will be in for a shock.

 

[honestbharani]

pffft... could not even beat India when it mattered. Overrated hacks, obviously.

 

[Ymaxxx]

Just do if for Peak Vaas, peak Murali, Malinga and Ajantha Mendis. You will be in for a shock.

Just checked. The four have never played together in any format

 

[Ymaxxx]

pffft... could not even beat India when it mattered. Overrated hacks, obviously.

ik youre messing around jokingly but india did play against Pakistan with these four lined up two times at Australia

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

View attachment 28053


So this was a few months back, when i did this, but i thought maybe i could share some of my work here on this forum too. I knew the three played together but i assumed it to be around 3-4 matches (low sample). But later found out the three playing together for 40 odis actually. (Brilliant sample size).

Further digging in, i realised Saqlain Mushtaq played 21 of those 40 matches (fair sample size). And it simply blows my mind how sides were faring against these four together with a respectable fifth alternating options of Razzaq/Afridi?! Unfortunately for tests the four have only played 2 matches altogether which isn't a good sample size for assessing the attack.

• Lets evaluate their overall ODI careers first.

Player	Inn	Maidens	Wkts	BB	econ	avg	SR
Wasim	351	238	502	5/15	3.8	23.5	36.2
Waqar	258	143	416	7/36	4.6	23.8	30.5
Saqlain	165	66	288	5/20	4.2	21.8	30.4
Akhtar	162	99	247	6/16	4.7	24.9	31.4

OVERVIEW:

• This 4 way Lineup was casted in 9 tournament matches and remaining 12 in odi series. High pressure/momentum matches.
  
  
• Only 2 home Matches were played in the Matches they were brought in while remaining 19 Games were away+neutral. Highlighting this due to the nature of home-ground role. extremely tough condition to bear for bowlers as everyone knows, the advantage bowlers can reap at their home. which was unfortunately unavailable for this lineup throughout this tenure. [Important]
  

PLAYER CONDITIONS

First we'll analyze what stage of condition the bowlers had reached? Were they out of form/Post-Injured/Retiring/Peaking etc during the timeframe they played together (31 May 1999 - 25 Feb 2003).
Assuming 100% is peak using sample size of best 10 matches consecutively in overall career. We will also extract the best 10 consecutive matches from the 'played together' as well to convert into %

note: For all players theres a chance of a small mistake in Peak career avg by a tiny margin but i believe i've got them all correct and spot on.

Wasim Akram	PEAK Career AVG (100%)	PEAK played together AVG	Current Condition
In 10 consecutive Matches	12.38	15.86	78%

Wasim (and Waqar) retired in 2003. Being approx 80% of your former self after a span of 15 years till '99 when coming closer to retirement phase, is something i'll be grateful for.

Waqar Younis	PEAK Career AVG (100% pre injury)	PEAK Career AVG (100% post injury)	PEAK played together AVG	Current Condition with pre injury	Current Condition post injury
In 10 consecutive Matches	08.01	15.85	23.5	34%	67%

For those who want to evaluate Waqar's current conditioning's worth in whichever metric, I have broken the categories into 'Post' and 'Pre' injury for your ease. In case you're confused, Waqar was hit by a severe back injury a week before 1992 WC which he entirely missed a historic moment unfortunately. His 5fer taking abilities reduced and pace dropped but still outperformed to bring a stellar career and Match Steyn's number in tests and better in ODIs. In SA 1993, after injury he was recorded to clock highest 153kph. I can assume you'll understand the difference of facing him in peak vs after.

Saqlain Mushtaq	PEAK Career AVG (100%)	PEAK played together AVG	Current Condition
In 10 consecutive Matches	15.90	23.20	69%

Saqlain Mushtaq too retired in early 2004. But during his tenure with the remaining three he might have lost form but was still a threat. His 69% form of 23.2 AVG is still a stellar record for a spinner to bring to the table and aid the pacers.

Shoaib Akhtar	PEAK Career AVG (100%)	PEAK played together AVG	Current Condition
In 10 consecutive Matches	13.71	13.74	100%

Shoaib Akhtar is fuming and fresh of the oven. He is in the form of his life in this bowling attack. Monstrosity awaits?







THE 21 MATCHES (The real results)

Player + Form	M	Wkts	BB	econ	avg	SR
Akhtar (100%)	21	44	6/16	4.4	17.1	23.0
Wasim (78%)	21	37	5/28	4.1	20.8	30.2
Saqlain (69%)	21	26	5/35	4.1	25.9	37.9
Waqar (34/67%)	21	25	3/33	4.8	28.6	35.4

	M	Wkts	BB	econ	avg	SR
BWL ATK	21	132	78/10 [vs Sri Lanka 2002]	4.3	22.06	30.2

(for those who want the highlights to the vs SL one, its here. But saqlain didn't get the chance to bowl an over here)





THE COIN TOSS

Field First or Bat First?

	M	Wkts	BB	econ	avg	SR
PAK Field First	12	75	149/10 [vs NZ]	4.5	25.6	33.7
? PAK Bat First	9	57	78/10 [vs SL]	4.0	17.3	25.3

Okay so we've got a really good idea of how this lineup presented itself. We can see how important the coin toss really is and how it can affect a bowlers ability to tackle flipped scenarios. Honest opinions, I think they did pretty well for a team to not have home condition. (pak batsmen and fielding is too unreliable). Now that i think of it? This tail (or any pak tail smh) needs a little appreciation for carrying the bat at times too.




TAIL TO THE RESCUE

Player	Inn	Runs	Runs in Boundaries	HS	SR	AVG
Akhtar	9	84	44	43	93	28.0
Wasim	19	307	140	43*	70	23.6
Saqlain	13	130	46	37*	45	16.3
Waqar	13	163	64	37	70	18.1

As figured, The same old tale of 1-2 batsmen doing the work and leaving the workload to the bowlers. This is where i believe Pak lucked for victories. All rounders, such as Afridi/Razzaq/Azhar would do their odds with usually one batsman working. The tail was gifted enough to bare the burden for victories by both ball and bat at times.

So why is this important? Not just the bare appreciation for carrying great responsibility in the tail, but because of exposing how bad the top order did for having these bowlers do the job for them.

Out of the 21 games, the team won 12 and lost 9. In the lost games Wasim Akram is the second highest run scorer and Waqar the fifth highest, despite the batsmen playing pretty much the same amount of games.

The Games that were lost

Batsman	Avg
Saeed	21.0
Inzamam	15.4
Yousuf	13.4
Younis	15.5

This is an embarrassing support from out batsman to provide for all the hardwork/displays the bowlers created in the other innings. seriously just compare this table to the above one.



- Moving on, we know results vary to form a solid conclusion. cricket is complex after all. Such as how i showed FORMs before here in the bowling map but not actually equated it in......unless?


So lets assume These bowlers were in-form instead like their usual selves and playing to full potential? I'll take Normal consistency at 90%.



NORMALCY ESTIMATION (How their 21 Games would've looked if everyone was in their usual form)

Player + Form	M	Wkts	econ	SR	AVG
Akhtar (90%)	21	39	4.8	25.6	19.0
Wasim (90%)	21	43	3.5	22.1	18.0
Saqlain (90%)	21	34	3.1	29.1	19.8
Waqar (90%)	21	33	3.6	26.3	21.2

- If you're wondering how Wasim has a better SR then Waqar in normalcy, i'll remind again, these stats were not measured by using individual statistics but the "21 matches they played, where Wasim boasted a higher SR) These numerical changes can be due to how a bowler performs when paired with different quality by their side. Chances are the pressure built by Wasim could've been struck by Shoaib as he was a strike bowler too which meant Waqar would've been adapting to a different role/or aiding others.

- Similarly, your wondering of how Wasim has only 43 wickets in 21 games?? Is due to sharing of wickets among the four and not just waqar.
Its more of a hunt really, when all 4 are in hunger for their wickets but have to realize they will have to share it with the others who are just as capable.

- Wasim had a peak of 15.9 when he played with the four why aren't you using that as 100%? Because that was when Wasim wasn't 100% of his form, when he gave out that performance. Why isn't a 79% to 100% form changing his peak avg drastically? Because again a saturated bowling attack will only allow minimal difference and not blown results.


Hopefully with these cleared, lets move on!

PEAK 100% FORM

Player + Form	M	Wkts	econ	SR	AVG
Akhtar (100%)	21	44	4.4	23.0	17.1
Wasim (100%)	21	47	3.1	24.7	16.2
Saqlain (100%)	21	38	3.7	26.1	17.8
Waqar (100%)	21	38	3.2	23.7	19.1

(below i'll use Waqar's pre injury peak. which was better than post peak we have been using.) The reason I'm using post as my main, is because Waqar's overall career was shaped off his post and should be the only relevant use of measurement. This is just a bonus approximation in a 'what if scenario' where the injury never happened and Waqar carried that same peak into the bowling lineup with the remaining three's.

Player + Form	M	Wkts	econ	SR	AVG
Waqar's actual 100% pre injury peak	21	73	1.6	12.1	9.7

Again these are all projections and not factual. This table is based on Approximations. I'm stating the team table specifically because, these are just averages of individual result. Close to what the overall Team result could look like.


As a Team

Team Form	M	Wkts	econ	avg	SR
Facing 90%	21	149	3.7	19.5	25.7
Facing PEAK	21	167	3.5	17.5	24.7
PEAK + actual peak Waqar	21	202	3.2	15.2	21.4

My results could be flawed and just imaginary/fantasy but ive tried my best to create "Projection" of possible results. Added to original results. Peaks are just bonus tables, the Real table is the estimation of 90% which is what it most likely will be facing these four without age/form affecting them in those 21 Games.

A bat starving for runs. Thats what it'll feel to face them all at the same time in peaks and normalcy. ?

Ok

 

[Migara]

pffft... could not even beat India when it mattered. Overrated hacks, obviously.

IIRC Vaas didn't play, Murali was in his last match. Mendis did not play as well.

 

[honestbharani]

IIRC Vaas didn't play, Murali was in his last match. Mendis did not play as well.

Was responding to the OP mate.. Did not see your post then.

 

[Daemon]

Can’t think of too many better ODI attacks than that tbh. Has everything.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ok

Damn it

 

[honestbharani]

Can’t think of too many better ODI attacks than that tbh. Has everything.

If u had Mushy in there perhaps but remember they also had Razzaq/Mahmood and Afridi alongside these 4. But it was very much post peak Waqar and he was an absolute shadow of himself.

 

[harsh.ag]

Yeah, things looked very different in 2004. Akhtar had to do with Sami, Naved-ul-Hasan, Razzaq, Afridi and Malik as the rest of the attack. Huge step down.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

will credit the OP for good analysis

however the extrapolation is a bit "on paper" (getting ATG bowlers at their peak of the powers is the stuff of simulation legends) and i think they were right to put the blame on the experienced batsmen rather than dream about having all four at their peak of their powers (indeed Shoaib's peak was a few years later than Waqar/Wasim no?)

 

[honestbharani]

Waqar was an absolute shadow of himself and Shoaib hardly played more than two series on the trot with his own injury issues. Wasim was pretty much past his peak as well although he was still a bloody good ODI bowler. Saqlain's peak was rather shortlived too and unfortunately we never got Mushtaq and Saqlain at their peaks together.

Still, circa 1999-2002, I would say that was perhaps the best bowling attack in the world, especially if you include Razzaq, Mahmood and Afridi, but the problem was how little they played together. There was also this issue of almost two different Pak senior groups/coterie, one led by Wasim and the other by Waqar. Wasim always had Moin as the keeper, Waqar had Latif and so on.

 

[h_hurricane]

ik youre messing around jokingly but india did play against Pakistan with these four lined up two times at Australia

JAM ODIs hardly matter in this world. Ask Burgey.

 

[ankitj]

Most memorable moment of the 4 bowling together.

 

[ParwazHaiJunoon]

Most memorable moment of the 4 bowling together.

Ok.

 

[Ymaxxx]

But it was very much post peak Waqar and he was an absolute shadow of himself.

I agree on the him being a shadow of himself part and not as great as he was, but like tbf he was still averaging 24.2 in his last 3 years. So incredibly serviceable. As for Shoaib his injury saga started after i think 2-3 years since W's retired. That Shoaib was absolutely peaking alongside them.

Saqlain's early retirement is Amir Sohail the dimwit to blame. After he became chief selector he pushed all the old players out of the team, due to pak's performance in 2003, and wanted to bring in "fresh youth players". While W's is okay since they were old now, unf Saqlain was caught in his ****ty list and sidelined from the team for Kaneria, who later went on to become dog****. People go Saqlain was 'regressing' but he just ended his purple patch of 20 avg to become a normal 26 averaging spinner in his last 2 years. Same with Test before his last year he was averaging 27 there. He regressed from his standards to still a world class spinner, and unf the stupid board/amir treated him like dirt like it was the end of the road for him. And by dirt i meant literal dirt, since amir allowed him one chance, and ofc on the flattest of flat pitch where every bowler was taking a pounding before waving him off. Like Amir he left due to this management to English Counties WHERE he picked up his injury for bowling too much and literally had to retire off then. Its a misconception he retired of injuries during his tenure with pak.

 

[harsh.ag]

Yeah, one of the great shames. He was so young (not even 30 then I remember). Had one average season and they booted him.

 

[honestbharani]

Didn't his teesra phase happen soon after though?