Adil Najam
UPDATE:
India won the TwentyTwenty final in a thriller, after setting Pakistan 158 to win and then bowling Pakistan out (with three balls to spare) for 152. IK Pathan from India was names Man of the Match for very tidy bowling (3/16 from 4 overs) while Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi was named Man of the Series.
ORIGINAL POST:
I have resisted writing about the Twenty20 Cricket Tournament in South Africa till now. But now I can resist no more. All is set for a thriller final game against India.
What more could one ask for… well, actually, one could ask for Pakistan’s TwentyTwenty winning streak to continue into the Final game against India in Johannesburg on Monday!
Pakistan is on a roll. And this is no fluke. The victories against Australia and Sri Lanka were brilliant and breezing past New Zealand in the semi-final today proved that this is not just a lucky streak.
The young team under a young captain and a new coach seems to have finally found its stride. And it is about time…
Much of our cricket coverage this last year has been depressing. Umpire controversies, a disastrous World Cup Exit, death of a coach, players misbehaving, and more. So, this good news is very welcome. It is all the more welcome because other news these days is much less than welcome.
India, too, has had a spectacular T20 tournament. In fact, the most memorable moments of the tournament till now were the 6 sixes in an over by Yuvraj against England.
That the game between India and Pakistan in the T20 tournament had ended in a tie will make the anticipation about the final even more nail-biting.
Neither team goes in as favorites. Both go in on a roll. Its should be one great game!
PAKISTAN WILL WIN
Get rid of Yuvraj and Dhoni the hard hitters and the Indian team will collapse like a house of cards.
Our batting (Imran Nazir, Misbah, Shoaib, Afridi, Hafeez) and bowling (Asif, Tanvir, Gul, Afridi) lineup is far better compared to the Indians who practically have a very timid bowling attack.
I think the Indian Cricket team will get a good willow whopping and stump banging from the ALL NEW PAKISTAN SQUAD.
CHAK DE PAKISTAN!
in the new era Twenty20 is the way to go.
The best thing about this India vs Pakistan final is that both these teams were knocked out in the first round of the ODI World Cup.
Their performances has given faith to their supporters. Well played India and Pakistan.
Just hoping now that Pakistan lifts the trophy, but whatever the outcome the Pakistani team has given us a reason to celebrate. Chakde Pakistan! :)
I agree with Rehan. I couldn’t care less about test cricket, or even 50-over cricket dieing out. The games get so long, boring and retarded once one team gets a big upper hand.
I, for one, will celebrate the death of test and 50-over cricket. Too bad the British did not leave us with the legacy of football instead, how many days, hours, weeks have been wasted over this curious sport? 20/20 is a phenomenal innovation that is better suited to the tastes of this new era.
I think that a final between India-Pakistan is a victory for both nations already, what a tremendous boon for the people of both sides. Regardless of the long faces that the losing side will carry forward on the day after the match, let us remember that we are friends, neighbors and brothers, a simple match is a diversion from many of the more serious topics Adil covers on this site. It is just a game, nothing more, nothing less, so let us enjoy the moments not rubbing in the face of the lesser party on the day.
Twenty Twenty is enjoyable but I fear that it will change cricket totally and not for the good. Not only one day but Test cricket will further die. While teh suspense is great the grace is already going out of the game and teh likes of Majid Khan or Hanif Mohammad will never be seen again. That is a shame.
But great going for Pakistan. Keep it up!