Adil Najam
Sometimes I wish the Pakistan cricket team was more dependable. But then there are days when I am real glad it is not. Today was such a day.
A dependable team would, of course, have folded (again) in front of the mighty Australians. Pakistan is and has been in utter disarray. Much like the country, our cricket team is beset with internal divisions, riddled with scandals, and has an organizational infrastructure that is in shambles. Australia, on the other hand, is a picture of perfection. The team that every team wants to be. They are boasting seven consecutive Test wins – the last against a hapless Pakistan last week. But today was a very different story.
At stumps on the first day of the second Test match, Pakistan had sent the Australians packing for a measly 88 all out and then added 148 runs for three wickets. A lead already of 60 runs, with seven wickets in hand.
All accounts suggest that this was not Australia batting badly, it was Pakistan bowling really well. Nor was it just the pitch conditions at work, since Pakistan was then able to reach an already decent score. Barring weather, there would clearly be a result at the end of this game. But this is cricket. And this is Pakistan cricket. So, who knows, the Australians may still pull a rabbit out of the hat and make it eight Test wins in a row; but today – at least today – it was Pakistan all the way; and what a way it was!
So, here is at least one cricket fan cheering for unpredictability and undependability… even if that means that tomorrow Pakistan may turn the tables on itself, as it is so often prone to doing. If that is to be, then so be it. Today, we bask in the glory that is a sight to behold; even when it is as undependable and the men in green!
Normal service resumed after the defeat at Nottingham.Kaneria has been sent packing,Muhammad Yusuf has been called back from retirement and Kamran Akmal’s place is still secure after fluffing several catches.
This time only luck worked for Pakistan as Pakistani batting was again failed. Batsmen should realized that this is test cricket not 20/20 or one day. They should not try to hit each ball but play sensibly as a team and do not try to create a record.
I think it is a shame that Pakistan were not sure to chase down 40 runs with 6 wickets at hand on the last day. That shows a grave lack of confidence and nerves.
I think Pakistani team needs to be split into two distinct teams: One test team and the other being T20/ODI. Recently retired(?) Capt. M. Yousuf is absolutely correct that T20 format is destroying the temperament of the Pakistani test team performance. Afridi’s retirement from Test may be seen in that context.
So, a Test team with the inclusion of Younus Khan, M. Yousuf, Asim Kamal (instead of the lousy Shoaib Malik) while a limited-over team with Afridi,Imran Nazir,Razzaq.
I know, both Younus and Yousuf have been implicated in controversies–but so have many others, including Afridi and Shoaib Malik). Both these ‘Ys’ are the only one capable of wanting to staying for more than 2 hours at the crease. Perhaps, for Pakistan at least, gone are the days of Miandad and Inzimam where players knew that Test cricket was slow chess-game of patience.
Thrilled by the victory. But it should never have been this close. 7 wickets for the 180 runs was too much. In many ways one has to be impressed by the Australian discipline for keep fighting.
Ode to Joy