After the ICC World Cup 2011, most of the test-playing nations have appointed new captains to prepare new teams for the next world cup and give the youth talent a chance at the international level. And we have seen very exciting cricket in the last 8 months, from the famous Cardiff test to the Galle pitch nightmare.

The new captains have been closely watched, hailed, criticized and questioned, which got me wondering, which captain has performed the best so far?

According to the test match stats, the best individual performance award goes to Australia's Michael Clarke who has made 541 runs in 7 matches with 3 centuries. The second-best performer here is Tilakaratne Dilshan with 526 runs in 8 tests with one century. But looking at their batting averages, it’s a whole different story; Brendon Taylor has the best average of 71.60 in 3 matches. Graeme Smith comes next with an average of 61.66 in just 2 matches, whereas Misbah-ul-Haq has an impressive average of 57.25 in 7 matches.

Looking at the team performance, Michael Clarke leads the way again with 5 wins and 2 draws, next comes Misbah-ul-Haq with 4 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws. The worse performers in this list are the Windies with 2 wins, 4 losses and 4 draws. The former #1 test side has also been scratchy with 3 wins, 4 losses and 4 draws.

Almost two months into their sentences, there’s been much debate about whether Mr Justice Cooke got the sentences right for Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir. Yet certainly in Amir’s case, this isn’t about the length of sentence or the punishment itself, even.

If his sentence does not reform him, then Amir may have been a corrupt cheater, but the failings against him would have been far worse – and that’s without considering how such a young, talented man was failed before the spot-fixing scandal broke.

Justice should not be just about punishment. Real justice should have an element of rehabilitation to it. It’s not only about the punishment, but more importantly, it’s about the lesson. Will the custodial sentences handed out to Butt, Asif and Amir teach them that what they did was wrong? In Butt and Asif’s case, I’m not really bothered, but Mohammed Amir will have many years ahead of him in cricket, and his sentence would have needed to act as education to him too.

In an interview with Sky Sports News a while ago, Michael Atherton spoke about how Amir should be given a second chance and welcomed back into cricket after he has served his sentence and ICC ban. I would be inclined to agree with that, but Amir would have to have fundamentally changed as a person by then.

Pakistan take on Bangladesh in the Second and Final Test Match of the series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium Dhaka. After Pakistan hammered the Home side in the First match at Chittagong, it is likey that they will over come Bangladesh easily in the second game as well.

The pitch at Sher-e-Bangla is flat and slow, which gets supportive for spinners as the games moves on, it means that Pakistani spin trio of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Abdul Rehman will come into thier own and create trouble for the home Batters.

Key Players:

Bangladesh:

Ex Skipper Shakib Al Hassan will be holding a key position with both bat and bowl as He has the capability to do well against quality sides and has also impressed in the past.

Pakistan:

For Pakistan, Saeed Ajmal will be a key operator, as He has been unplayable for the Bengalis so far. And Mohammad Hafeez will be important again with both bat and bowl.