If you’re dreading having a sleepless night right before your team faces Zimbabwe, there is either something terribly wrong with your team, you, or both. What will keep me up is not how well my team will execute its strategy, but if it even has one. When I first saw the list for the World Cup, I could not help but notice that the last of all pool games is slated to be played between Pakistan and Ireland. My instant fear – would this become a pre-quarter final round? My second thought – is it St Patrick’s Day by any chance; remember 2007? And lastly – what’s the probability of Younus Khan pulling his hamstring? [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] West Indies bowler Andre Russell (L) celebrates dismissing Pakistan's Umar Akmal (C) during their Cricket World Cup match in Christchurch, February 21, 2015. Photo: Reuters[/caption] With the state of Pakistan cricket today, deciding where to start analysing is a challenge in itself. Given, I supposedly devise strategies for a living, and have been doing so for over a decade, I shall take a crack at deciphering what has driven this team to be decimated and debilitated to a point, where even the chief selector has lost all sanity. That’s assuming he had some to begin with when he picked the invincible 15. Seeing the 15 players he picked, I take my assumption back. Chief selector, team selection, Chairman PCB, the “journalist”, team politics, and power struggles, are some of the many points, each of which warrants at least a book in its own right. But none of them can be altered soon enough to have a positive impact on this World Cup campaign. What could change, albeit with a probability infinitely close to zero, is the strategy – the game plan as former cricketers would call it. In failure, all strategies lead to defeat (assuming relatively even oppositions). The easiest retrospection of a strategy is in its success. Pakistan versus Bangladesh, Asia Cup, March 2014, being a case in point. Pakistan set a target of 327 and go on to win the game – sounds great! And it is indeed so lauded by players, management and media alike. Give it a bit of thought and you shall realise the grandeur of failure in that victory. Pakistan opens the innings with their regular batting pair that gives them, for Pakistani standards, an unbelievably good 97 run start. Fawad Alam follows that with the innings of his life, scoring 74 at over a run a ball. Shahid Afridi plays one of his blinders, gets a lifeline in the process, and hits seven sixes in his 25 ball, 59 run cameo. Even Umar Akmal plays a role. The outcome: Pakistan is left needing two runs off the last two balls to win the game. They go on to win it – but that’s not the point. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="377"] Fawad Alam (top) and Umar Akmal[/caption] Most of the above events, if not all, are highly rare occurrences. With all of them playing in Pakistan’s favour, we still needed two off the last two balls! And that’s precisely the point. When our strategy is implemented perfectly, when the stars all aligned in our favour, when we are at our best, we still do not win with an over or two or three, let aside five or 10, to spare – like the Aussies, or Kiwis or any other regular team would. We are left at the mercy of luck till the very end. That, for me, is an absolute failure of strategy. We blame our defeats on commitment, match fixing, spot fixing, mismanagement, player politics and a lot more (casino visits being the latest addition) – but I blame it on our very strategy. We are mercurial (a description that we, for some reason, take pride in), not because at times we play above our potential, which theoretically is not possible, but because most often, we don’t play up to our potential – because we simply don’t plan well. So what goes wrong? A lot! But let’s keep it to three key points: 1) The Misbah effect: At the risk of being bombed to the Stone Age by Misbahul Haq’s followers, may I say Misbah has lost us more games than everyone and everything else put together (including casino visits). Okay, maybe not, but almost. If you are a Cricinfo follower of the game, you will, in all likelihood, love Misbah. His batting average is solid, his strike rate healthy, and in most scorecards he comes across as the saviour who tried till the end but was betrayed by all. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Misbahul Haq, during the Pakistan-West Indies match in World Cup 2015. Photo: Reuters[/caption] If you watch the games live, you might differ in your opinion. Misbah takes the innings momentum by the horns, and then slaughters, butchers, slices, dices, rips it apart and lets it hang out to dry in the middle, like no other. He has more career dots than there are stars in the Milky Way. He blocks and blocks, required rate skyrockets, batsmen on the other end crumble under scoreboard pressure, slogging and in turn dropping like flies. Behold, Misbah holds his ground, and blocks no less. Target goes beyond reach, beyond sight, the game in all practicality, lost. The pressure is off, and then come the sixes. Misbah 60 not out in 75 deliveries. Pakistan has just lost by 30-40 odd runs. Rings a bell? Message to Misbah: We know you’re technically the best we have. We also trust you to do what you do in good faith, you play to win, and you’re a patriot at heart. But it’s high time you realise that your strategy does not work with the team you have. In fact, I strongly believe it will not work with any team – even if you had a Michael Bevan, a James Faulkner or a Lance Klusener, or all of them at the same time. But regardless, you don’t. They say you go to war with the army you have, not the army you want. This hand-picked army of the invincible 15 is all you have. Make no mistakes, your strategy has failed a nation, not for weeks, not for months, but for years. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Michael Bevan (L), James Faulkner (C) and Lance Klusener[/caption] You can’t change your army to suit your strategy, we beg of you to change your strategy. If you don’t believe me, here are a few numbers for you: In the last four years, we have only on four occasions, set a target of 300 plus. In one, you did not play; in the second, you did not bat; in the third, you got out early scoring four runs; and in the fourth, we had already reached 200 by the time you walked in – it was too late to spoil the party. During the same period, we have been set a target of 250 plus runs on 20 occasions. Remarkably enough, we managed to lose 18 of those. In the two we won, you scored four and nine, including the Bangladesh game cited above. Had you survived a few overs in that game, the stats could easily have been 19 defeats out of 20. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Shahid Afridi plays a shot as Bangladesh wicketkeeper Anamul Haque looks on during the eighth match of the Asia Cup one-day cricket tournament between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the in Dhaka on March 4, 2014. Photo: AFP[/caption] Spot the pattern? We are at our best when the best we have is neutralised early on – what a shame! If there were points for minimising the margin of defeat, Misbah, you would have been the greatest cricketer ever. Unfortunately, the game, especially a knockout, is played to win. It’s time you change the way you play. Play to win – either you will, or you will fall with your head held high. Games are not won by simply batting out the allocated 50 overs, with no regard to what you do in those. A belief you have held throughout your career, a concept you refer to as “batting deep”, which you reiterated in the press conference after the recent India debacle. Games are won by batting as long as possible, ideally all 50 overs, while maintaining momentum and keeping the scoreboard ticking. 40 scoring overs and 10 maidens, will always, in every ground, against any opposition, in any weather, result in exactly the same total, to two decimal places, as 40 scoring overs alone. Don’t believe me? Do the Math – it will work every single time. Misbah, I know it’s hard. But, at least try! 2) The Afridi factor If there is a holy scripture requiring you to send your match winner only after you’ve lost the match, I have yet to read it. For all his issues – that we are all well aware of – Shahid Afridi continues to be a match winner for Pakistan. Even with his bouts of mental decapitation, he stands fifth on the all-time list of ODI man of the match awards winners, and in the company of legends, Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting. On top, he is in the form of his life. He still religiously comes to bat once the required rate has crept over 10, and the game is all but lost. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Shahid Afridi reacts (R) and Junaid Khan (L) looks on after winning the sixth match of the Asia Cup one-day cricket tournament between India and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on March 2, 2014. Photo: AFP[/caption] Why? Afridi walks in with over 100 needed of under nine overs. He goes berserk, miracles happen and we win with one ball to spare. One ball! That’s the Bangladesh game I cited earlier. Two dot balls somewhere and it would have been another historic win for the Bengal tigers. What a waste of a truly great effort it would have been. Message to Waqar: You will be better off with your game changers (Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed) in the middle, than on the bench, while you’re still in the game. By the time you’re chasing nine or 10 an over, you’re not in the game anymore; you’re on the prayer mat. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cricket team coach Waqar Younis. Photo: AFP[/caption] Finally, there is also no law that forbids setting a target above 250. In the highly unlikely event of a good opening or first wicket stand, it is to the best of my knowledge, no criminal offence, to tinker with the batting order. Sending an Afridi or Sarfraz higher up to milk a good start might help set a target that might be against Misbah’s principles, but good for Pakistan. Waqar Younis, you were one of the best this world has witnessed. Wake up! 3) The basics Some were carved in stone, eons ago. Others are so basic that a five-year-old could crack. Yet we struggle, and struggle we do. Here I give them to you, plain and simple:

• Opening the batting is a specialist skill. Leave it to the specialists.
• A batsman, who is struggling at his own position, would by definition struggle to play higher in the order.
• A wicket-keeper who cannot keep wickets, should not keep wickets.
• God did not command for power play to be forced in the 36^th over. If it’s not working for you, try taking it earlier – it can only get better.
• Keep count of your bowlers’ overs or read them off the scorecard. Your part-timers, while being expensive, should not be eating off your regular bowlers’ quota.
• And finally, Pakistan comes first. Even before Younus Khan.

Pakistan is in a decent run of form and finds itself sitting not-so-pretty at the fourth spot in the World Cup. In relation to the Pakistan-South Africa match, which is to take place tomorrow, countless people in Pakistan believe that the team is not capable of winning against the Porteas, the only side in the history of the game to score 400 plus in two consecutive innings. Only the top four teams will make it to the quarterfinals and looking at the ranking right now, Pakistan either needs to move up the rank or maintain their fourth position to qualify. However, there is a lot of work to be done and most of it has to come from the team management. It has been under severe scrutiny ever since it made some controversial player selections, like Nasir Jamshed, and ignored talented players, like wicket keeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed. So I have come up with a few factors which the Pakistan team must take into consideration in order to stay in the race for the quarterfinals over the next few games. We are not qualified – yet The enormous mistake Pakistan can make right now is believe that,

“Yes, we have done it.”

“No, we haven’t done it. We have to do it. We can do it.”

This was the moment the World Cup came alive. Until now, Pakistan and its fans had sleepwalked through the World Cup. The team had, until now, been doing a fairly good job of alienating its fan base. The mood back home was as sour as one can remember in recent times, after facing humiliating losses to India and West Indies followed by a narrow win over Zimbabwe. But this team has a habit of roping you back in just when you think you are done. Pakistan entered the match having never beaten South Africa in their previous World Cup meetings, and having won only four of their last 14 matches with the team and its balance in disarray. South Africa, on the other hand, was coming into this match full of confidence on the back of consecutive 400 plus scores in their last two matches. They were simply supposed to brush Pakistan aside with the combination of Steyn-Morkel – too much for Pakistan’s brittle batting line-up – and their batting, which was too explosive for an inexperienced Pakistani bowling attack. Yet, what unfolded was an absolute cracker of a game; the sort of game you could argue this World Cup needed with all preceding matches between the top eight teams so far being one-sided. After a circumspect start with both teams weighing each other, the game exploded into life behind Sarfaraz Ahmed’s batting and exquisite fielding by the South Africans. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] South African batsman David Miller (R) plays a shot with Pakistan wicket keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed (L) during the Pool B 2015 Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and Pakistan at Eden Park on March 7, 2015. Photo: AFP[/caption] From there on, it was akin to a heavyweight match up with both teams wrestling momentum from one another, exchanging blow after blow before Pakistan finally put the final nail in the proverbial coffin of the South Africans with Sohail Khan putting an end to AB De Villiers’s outstanding innings. A win to make every Pakistani believe in the repeat of the ‘92 miracle, it came not without its talking points. In the build-up to the match, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis caused quite a stir when he revealed the management was considering Sarfaraz Ahmad, Pakistan’s hero the pervious winter, purely as a wicketkeeper rather than an opening batsman as well. In fact, Waqar went as far as to say that Sarfaraz’s technique was ill-suited to Australian conditions. These comments caused even more outrage as they came in the wake of Nasir Jamshed’s wretched form – one run in three innings – and Umar Akmal’s costly mistakes behind the stumps. It seemed the whole of Pakistan from the street vendors to former players were crying out for the same thing and they finally got what they wished for as Sarfaraz opened the innings. His inclusion provided a breath of fresh air to the team and it was his attacking approach, signalled by the three sixes in one over to JP Duminy, which provided the team the much needed impetus it had previously lacked. Although, his innings was to end tragically as he pushed for an unwarranted second run in order to reach his 50 and was caught yards outside. One can imagine, 20 years from now, Sarfaraz kicking himself thinking about his innings rather than watching the highlights of a Master-class show. If there were still doubts lingering about his inclusion, his performance behind the stumps put those doubts to rest with six catches in total, including an absolute stunner low dive to his right to get rid of the backbone of the South African line-up, Hashim Amla. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] South African batsman Hashim Amla (R) watches his hit with Pakistan wicket keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed (L) during the Pool B 2015 Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and Pakistan at Eden Park on March 7, 2015. Photo: AFP[/caption] Pakistan fans could be forgiven for wondering whether they should lambast the team management for their stubbornness in abstaining from playing Sarfaraz or praising them for his eventual inclusion. This was indeed a man of the match performance that no doubt leaves some egg shells on the face of Waqar and the rest of us with endless repetition of a quote from PK. Unfortunately, Misbahul Haq’s innings yet again warranted debate. It seems the captain cannot help but polarise opinion. Having received plenty of criticism for his innings against Zimbabwe, Misbah walked in to bat this time, however, at 56 for two in the 17^th over with a firm momentum. Yet his slow start of 19 from 38 balls, including a blocked maiden over of Imran Tahir, duly gave the momentum back to South Africa. An argument can also be made that it led to the dismissal of Younus Khan who will surely feel he missed out on a certain century after a solid start. If Pakistan is to compete with the heavyweight line-ups of Australia and New Zealand, then Misbah will have to up the ante where 300 seem to be par. Yet, it is telling that amongst the three Pakistani batsmen to get good starts, Misbah’s innings was the worst of the lot, considering it was him who carried on to his standard 50. The others would do well to learn from the captain. While Misbah receives criticism for scoring slowly, it is perplexing that both Umar Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood escape such treatment for scoring altogether. Sohaib’s struggles continue outside off stump as he has failed to come to terms with the bounce and pace of the wickets down under and the batsman will need to improve to shake off a growing reputation of a faulty technique and temperament. While Sohaib’s struggles might be relatively new, Umar Akmal’s need no mention. It is fair to say that Umar pulled an “Umar-Akmal”. An interesting statistic would be to see how many times the batsman has got out in the batting Powerplay and he once again managed to throw away his wicket at a crucial moment with a mind boggling shot. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Umar Akmal (L) and Sohaib Maqsood[/caption] Indeed the inclusion of both Sohaib and Umar in the middle order merits a discussion as perhaps it leaves the middle order brittle and susceptible to a collapse – as was the case today where it hampered Pakistan’s chances of posting a daunting total. In fact, it can be argued that both are similar types of attacking batsman who accelerate the innings but neither can be trusted to build an innings for now. It is an issue which can be resolved with Haris Sohail’s return for Sohaib Maqsood, a move which should provide the team with more stability. The fielding of the South Africans also merits a mention. The Pakistan team would do well to learn from the high intensity display of the South Africans where the gaps were plugged, singles increasingly hard to come by and led directly to the dismissal of Ahmad Shehzad through a wonderful catch by Dale Steyn and then Sarfraz Ahmad courtesy of a bullet throw by David Miller. Defending 232 in 47 overs on a batting wicket with short boundaries; not many would have fancied Pakistan but their bowling display was one that took you back to the glory days of the 90s when Wasim and Waqar would be in full flow. While our bowling has maintained its position as the backbone of our team, it has transformed from a fast bowling attack to a spinning one with the success of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Shahid Afridi. However, with two of them not around, and the third out of form, it was the fast bowlers who stepped up yet again. While our spinners brought us countless joy, there are not many things which make Pakistanis feel as fuzzy inside as when witnessing a fast bowler in full flow. Particular praise should be reserved for Rahat Ali. Many questioned his inclusion in the squad after he was not included in the original 30, yet called up as a replacement for the injured Junaid Khan. In fact, Pakistan, as it has so often been in the past, seems to have uncovered a new gem in One Day cricket with Rahat building on his test performances from earlier. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Rahat Ali celebrates his wicket of David Miller after dismissing him by LBW. Photo: Reuters[/caption] He has provided crucial breakthroughs such as that of Hashim Amla today and made himself an indispensable asset to the team. And that delivery to David Miller, which shall be etched into our memories for a long time to come, was one even the great Wasim Akram would have been proud of. While we are in a generous mood, a special mention should be made of Chairman Shahryar Khan who vetoed the decision of the team management to request the tried and tested Sohail Tanvir that allowed Rahat Ali to be called up. It seems it was another decision the team management got wrong. Speaking of Sohail Tanvir, it was reported that it was touch and go between him and Wahab Riaz when the squad was being named. It is a debate that Riaz is making a mockery out of it with each passing spell. Blessed with sheer pace, Riaz in this World Cup is doing a fine job growing into the leader of the bowling attack and evolving into the bowler we all envisaged he would become after that lung-bursting spell in Mohali which left us all in a daze. It would be easier to praise the bowling unit altogether but such were their performances that they merited individual mentions. Going into the World Cup, we were all aware he could be a priceless asset with his height on the bouncy tracks in Australia, but he is doing a remarkable job for Pakistan – not only in taking wickets but also his economy rate. He set the tone for the innings with the wicket of De Kock with an absolute peach of a delivery and then came back to provide the vital wicket of Duminy. Mohammad Irfan shares a heavy burden of the attack and his importance to the team means every time he pulls up lame our hearts collectively skip a beat. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pakistan fast bowler Muhammad Irfan (L) takes the wicket of South African Dale Steyn (R) as Sarfaraz Ahmed takes the catch behind the wicket. Photo AFP[/caption] While on the subject, Misbahul Haq has been much maligned for his defensive captaincy in ODIs, yet today he was fantastic from the start. He set attacking fields with catchers in place, often two slips and a gully and an underrated part of the game was when the close-in fielders prevented Miller and De Villiers from releasing the pressure with cheap singles. This strategy built up pressure and eventually resulted in the wicket of Miller. Moreover, he brought back Irfan to land the killer blow and he duly delivered with the wicket of Duminy. Misbah truly possessed the Midas touch tonight. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] South African captain AB De Villiers (C) watches the ball head to the boundary with Pakistan captain Misbah Ul Haq (L) and batsman Younus Khan (R) running between the wickets during the Pool B 2015 Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and Pakistan at Eden Park on March 7, 2015. Photo: AFP[/caption] However, not all aspects of our bowling fired. The form of Afridi is becoming a source of concern for the Pakistan team. Batting at number seven, the team is reliant on Afridi as a specialist bowler and expects him to get through his 10 overs. Yet, not only is his bowling no longer threatening to take a wicket, his economy rate also took a hit as the South African and Zimbabwean batsmen both feasted on him. While it may still be too early to drop him, given Pakistan’s lack of an all-rounder as a replacement, the alarm bells are surely ringing. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Boom Boom Shahid Afridi smashes the ball out of the boundary finally making his bat work. Photo: Reuters[/caption] Finally it would be remiss to conclude the match without talking about the brilliance of AB De Villiers. He has truly established himself as the best batsman in the World across all formats. His innings possessed a touch of genius as he flicked Riaz for consecutive sixes off his hips and swept Afridi for the maximum. Solely responsible for raising the collective blood pressure of the Pakistani public, he did not belong on the losing team. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] South African captain AB De Villiers walks back to the pavilion making victory certain for Pakistan. Photo: AFP[/caption] So after a nail-biting victory, Pakistan’s stuttering World Cup campaign has finally come to life. It was not a must-win game but it was as close as possible to being one. Beating a team like South Africa will have brought a much needed confidence boost as Pakistan can now look forward to not only qualifying for the quarter-finals, but finishing as high as possible in the group to get a favourable matchup. There are still issues to resolve for the team but that is for another day. Today it’s all about falling back in love with the team again.

In every field, humans invest in certain objects to get a desired output from them. In cricket too, teams invest in talented players before important tournaments, give them a maximum number of matches to play and work on their weak points so that they can help the team bag victories. A year before the cricket World cup 2015, almost all teams, including Pakistan, invested in certain players. Australia gave a chance to Glenn Maxwell, developed his skills and turned him into a brilliant match finisher. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="387"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Shikhar Dhawan played for India in Australia, which got him used to the pitch conditions. Even though he was not able to perform, the Indian management decided to stick with him because they knew a domestic opener from India would take another few matches to adapt to the conditions, which would inevitably hurt their progress. Therefore, they gave Dhawan a chance and he has proven to be a good choice since he is amongst the top scorers of the tournament. Now, let's take a look at the attitude of the Pakistani team management. We played three big series before the World Cup, including two in UAE, plus the one in New Zealand. The most consistent player, other than our captain Misbahul Haq, was Sarfaraz Ahmed, whose form and positive aggression instilled belief in Pakistani fans; a belief that we have a firing batsman and a keeper who can take wickets on fast Australian pitches. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="380"] Photo: AFP[/caption] In New Zealand, our batting line-up, which included Sarfaraz, failed. But that does not mean that he cannot play on pitches on that side of the world. That's the time when our management team, consisting of Moin Khan and Waqar Younis, started playing the giddy goat, which continued when Waqar walked out of the press conference in an unprofessional manner. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Do you recall the time when Moin suggested Sarfaraz as the third opener in the absence of Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shahzad? Speaking to the press after Pakistan's match against UAE, our head coach said that this was more than enough to astonish fans and experts all over the world. Our coach's statement made it seem as if he was throwing down the gauntlet as compared to Moin's statement, who proposed Sarfaraz as the third opener. According to Waqar, since we did not have a third opener, we took in Nasir Jamshed. The statement reflected upon the confused mindset of our team management. How can Waqar, Moin and Misbah justify dropping their most promising player? Pakistan played three important matches with an opener who cannot be called a good cricketer in his present condition, simply due to his batting and fielding mishaps. This decision put pressure on the Pakistani team from the start. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="556"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Secondly, our wicket keeper, Umar Akmal, dropped easy catches that not only increased the work load of our bowlers but also drained their energy. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: AFP[/caption] They did not try to accommodate Sarfaraz in the team. That’s okay. They tried Umer. That is alright as well. But allowing him to play against South Africa must have made them recognise his bravery and positive aggression against lethal fast bowlers. So why are they not admitting their mistake? Waqar's attitude and behaviour has raised red flags in the dressing room. He has always remained a narcissistic hero and will continue to be so. We as a nation rarely recognise and admit mistakes, and Waqar proved to be a part of this setup. The way Waqar scorned at the reporter who asked him about Sarfaraz, failed to depict that he is a respective player in a gentleman's game. However, Pakistan looked completely confident in their batting against South Africa, as well as their bowling. The bowlers bowled with more confidence, belief and energy knowing that there is a lesser chance of dropped catches behind the wicket. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Rahat Ali celebrates after removing the dangerous David Miller. Photo: AFP[/caption] Our management should stick with the regular keeper and leave all other matters till the end of the World Cup, when new plans will be needed, especially since Misbah and Shahid Afridi will be retiring from the gentlemen's game.

“Of Shahid Afridi, it can safely be said that cricket never has and never will see another like him. To say he is an all-rounder is to say Albert Einstein was a scientist; it tells a criminally bare story.” – Cricinfo

“So will the real Afridi please stand up, And put one of those fingers on each hand up And be proud, to be out of your mind and out of control One more time, loud as you can, how does it go?”

St Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. The Irish, as well as the non-Irish in Washington, are looking forward to celebrating and partying all night long. One of my several bosses, a third generation Irish-American, Mr O’Brien, is a stocky little man who talks to no end and although we are not in the business of selling, he sounds like a perfect auctioneer. The other day, I stopped him in the middle of one of his verbal onslaughts and asked if he knew about the game of cricket. “No, I don’t,” followed by a long, speechless pause was the answer. I somehow knew that he would be stumped for an answer but felt triumphant that I was able to not only bring his speech diarrhoea to a rather abrupt halt, but made him think for a few fleeting moments! I did not have any intention of teaching O’Brien the ins and outs of cricket but I did tell him that the cricket World Cup was in progress Down Under. Come on, people. He did know what Down Under meant! My generation of Americans is, after all, not that dumb. Cannot say much about the current one though. A real world cup, I told Mr O’Brien, and not just the World Series type competition, which is only played by domestic North American teams. I did, however, let him know that the Irish team is doing pretty well and despite the fact that they are not a ‘recognised’ outfit, they are doing better than many top ranking teams. I seemed to have engaged and stimulated O’Brien for a minute, but then he made a devastatingly sad proclamation and said that every bloody Irish starts feeling ‘up and up’ around St Pats Day! Period. This essentially brought an end to our ‘conversation’ of sorts since O’Brien quickly reverted back to his jibber jabber about Netanyahu’s destruction of American foreign policy and how we are mortgaged to Israeli interests and the US Far Right. For once, with some reservations obviously, I did agree with the man. Yes, there are times when I feel sorry for O’Brien’s gullibility and ignorance. After all he has placed a bottle of Irish Spring on his work desk to announce to every Tom, Dick and Harry that he’s Irish and that spring is arriving in Ireland. Nevertheless, his rushed, non-sensible remarks about the Irish being on a high on St Patty’s day made me scratch my head later on. I realised that the next World Cup match that they play is against Pakistan on March 15, so close to the Feast of Saint Patrick. If my memory serves me right, the Irish did indeed spring a surprise some World Cups ago and embarrassed Pakistan on St Patrick’s Day. That was perhaps the day when an Irish victory was classified as nothing less than a shock, a flash in the pan, a below-mediocre team indulging in a giant killing act against no less than a team like Pakistan, one of the favourites at that point in time. Fast forward to today, the Irish are no longer the black sheep or the underdogs. In fact, they are expected to slay the prominent teams, the big shots, or at least put a dent on the hopes and aspirations of those who are considered the favourites to achieve bigger and better results. My cricket-enthusiast friends tell me, and I confirmed, that they need just a single point to get through to the quarter finals, a dangerous situation for Pakistan, now an edgy, unpredictable, homeless team characterised by all symptoms schizophrenic, and laced with bipolarity of attitude and approach to the game. Pakistan has certainly got its work cut out. While they did wonderfully well against the star-studded South African team, facing the Irish will be a different ball game altogether. If I were the chief selector – no pun intended, but I think I can be one in reality since the position is open to all by virtue of the gambling Moin Khan’s exit – I would pick a variation of resources. This would mean that that I would not necessarily emphasise on going all out with the quicks but introduce Yasir Shah, a leg-spinner who can artfully deceive and bewilder the Irish batters, generally known for their cavalier approach. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Photo: AFP[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Another methodology change could be the idea of getting real and manning up to all political pressure, to kick out Shahid Afridi and Younus Khan. I am no expert, but these two seem to be shivering in their pants in the dead heat of the Southern Hemisphere for no particular reason. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="596"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Younus did finally make it to double figures in the South Africa game but that is not why he is in the team. He should sit out the game against the Irish and if Pakistan makes it to the quarters, he can possibly come back after getting his stuff figured out. Right now, Younus is a bundle of nerves, at odds with himself; too much clutter that needs to be filtered out. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="380"] Photo: AFP[/caption] I would also not play Nasir Jamshed. He is a lost puppy, a deer caught in headlights. I am not aware of his background but it appears to me that some traumatic, historical event has impacted his mind. Could it be a cultural shock or is it much more than that? [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="598"] Photo: Reuters[/caption] I am not looking at the glass half empty. I did derive some hope after the victory against the Springboks. At least this Pakistani team is gaining momentum, getting to a mentally stable and strong position and most of all, achieving the desired results. The broken hands syndrome is somewhat, hopefully, a thing of the past now. They proved the point by fielding so well and holding on to the catches in the South Africa game. Sarfraz Ahmed is a key asset whether Waqar Younis likes him or not. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="598"] Photo: AFP[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] Photo: AFP[/caption] One thing that really irks me is the ‘Cornered Tigers’ phobia. It is putting unnecessary pressure on the players. Twenty-three years ago, the world was a different place. Without going into much detail, the Pakistan team of that time was an established unit that had a consistent past record, led by a leader with a no-nonsense attitude who did not care for the selectors, chief of mission or even the highest level functionary of the cricket board. Imran Khan was a one-man show who commanded authority and respect from his team and whoever he played against. Imran was a master tactician like no other. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The Pakistan team of 2015 is not like the 1992 team. There will be never a team like the 1992 team. Comparing each Pakistani World Cup squad to the 1992 outfit is a diversion and a distraction. Worst of all, the 2015 team does not even have a home for eons now. They have been playing in foreign lands and moving around like refugees and nomads. This was certainly not the case with the Cornered Tigers. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] This Pakistan cricket team of today, if they want to win, needs to rid itself of whatever happened in the past, i.e. the Cornered Tigers phenomenon, the wretched political circus within the cricket board and, of course, the two defeats in the ongoing World Cup. What they should do and, for the life of me, I ask the Pakistani public to help and cooperate, is to keep their heads down, focus, bat with a straight bat, bowl their hearts out and field as if there’s no tomorrow. Leave the rest to God and don’t worry too much about the results. Victory is not how the result comes out; it is, in fact, a question of how much effort did you put in. Did you play with your heart and soul? Did you give your 100 percent? I understand there is a lot at stake but these guys have already performed incredibly well under the given set of circumstances. No other team is faced with this much off-the-field stress than this Pakistani side. Whatever happens in this World Cup, bring the boys home, bring international cricket back to Pakistan, get them some competition in their home territory, kick the rotten eggs out and perhaps ask Imran to run the cricket board. Now that he is done with the dharnas and the honeymoon period, he can spare some of his time and effort to regenerating and reinvigorating the spirit of the game in the country. As for the Ireland match, all that matters is Pakistan showing up and putting up a brave fight. Everything else is a bonus. On the other hand, the Irish have nothing to lose. They are a happy-go-lucky but exceptionally professional team. If they make it to the quarters, they will not only make St Patrick proud, they might herald a completely new era in the world of cricket. Ironic it is though that pathetic teams like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are allowed to play test cricket but Ireland is not. My question is, why not? I am certain O’Brien would not have the answer.

Neatly folded away in a box at the back of my study is a short-sleeved sweater. It is fluorescent lime-green, with red, blue and white stripes across the shoulders. It is undeniably hideous. Whoever was in charge of its design was either having a bad day or a good laugh. It is, though, one of my most treasured sporting possessions. It is the sweater that Wasim Akram wore in the final of the 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australia and gave to me in the dressing-room of the Melbourne Cricket Ground just minutes after Pakistan had won the final against England and he had been named man of the match. How and why Wasim gave me that sweater is the story of a cricket world that has all but disappeared. I’d spent several afternoons at the Oval watching Surrey in 1991 and, like everyone else, I had been mesmerised by the bowling of Waqar Younis. His pace and reverse swing were breath-taking and he was picking up a hatful of wickets every time he bowled. These were friendlier, gentler times for cricket and gradually I began to chat with some of the Surrey players and was occasionally invited into the dressing-room. At some point in the summer, I had the idea of writing a book about Waqar and Wasim. The World Cup was coming up that winter and Pakistan were touring England the following summer. I sensed that Wasim and Waqar might be the stars of both and that an English readership might be ready for a more culturally nuanced take on Pakistani cricket than the patronisingly empire-heavy slant that had previously tended to be the default cultural reference point. Astonishingly, given that I had never written a book before and my cricket writing had been limited to a few 800-word articles in The Cricketer, a publisher reckoned it would also be a good idea and handed over an advance. Not a big one, but enough to cover the costs of writing the book. Just as amazingly, Wasim and Waqar agreed to talk to me and help me with the book for far less money than even I was getting. So I got to work: first in the library at Lord’s and then at a one-day triangular tournament between Pakistan, India and the West Indies in Sharjah, where Wasim and Waqar would give me long interviews in their hotel rooms between matches and practice and would occasionally invite me along to team functions in the evening where I would mix with ambassadors, Bollywood stars and the great and the even greater of Pakistani and Indian cricket. For a wet-behind-the-ears English writer, the experience was eye-opening. Come the start of the World Cup, Waqar was out of the tour with a back injury and Pakistan’s early performances suggested they would have no chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. A lacklustre defeat to the West Indies had been followed by a functional win over Zimbabwe and only the arrival of heavy rain had prevented them from being rolled over by England in Adelaide. I was the only Englishman in the ground who was praying for the rain not to stop, because by now I would have hopelessly failed the Tebbit test. I was unashamedly an honourary Pakistani. At the beginning of the World Cup, I was treated with some suspicion by most of the Pakistan squad and management. But as time went on and players saw me chatting to Wasim, they realised I was on their side. I wasn’t the enemy. I wanted them to succeed every much as they did. I was as downcast by their defeats and uplifted by their successes as they were. The longer the tour went on, the more relaxed everyone became. Players would confide in me their fears and worries and talk of divisions within the team – a Pakistani cricket team couldn’t exist without divisions – and they trusted me not to blab. Even Javed Miandad came to trust me. I had become part of the furniture. For a while, though, the performances didn’t improve. Pakistan lost to both India and South Africa and, by the time they flew to Perth for matches against Australia and Sri Lanka, they had to win every remaining game. The legend has it that at this point Imran Khan told his team they had to fight like cornered tigers. That may be but it felt more to me as if the team had finally relaxed a bit and that those senior team members who had been openly feuding with each other decided to call a truce. There was also something about being in Perth, thousands of miles away from the rest of the World cup action, that seemed to help. I noticed the change at net practice. I had always made a point of attending every net session; it was a great opportunity to observe the relationships between players and a good way of showing I was committed to their cause – that I was prepared to put in the same hours they did. In Perth, the players were enjoying their net sessions more and towards the end of one of them, Wasim looked up and said:

“Why don’t you come and have a bowl as well, John?”

“I will talk to you, John. Come to my hotel room at nine this evening.”

“Come in, John,” said a deeply languid voice from inside the room.

“I hope you don’t mind if I have a massage while we’re doing this,” he said.

Not satisfied with having had a poor World Cup campaign and an average limited overs cricket record during their reigns, it seems that both coach Waqar Younis and retired ODI captain Misbahul Haq have decided to leave us with a parting gift. This parting gift exemplifies their horribly defensive mindset which has been a major factor in the Pakistan ODI team’s mediocrity. Various reports state that it was the duo that influenced the PCB into naming Azhar Ali as the new ODI captain. It almost seems like a joke where Pakistan cricket is the punch line. https://twitter.com/BajiPlease/status/581796025788018688 Misbah has been a fantastic hand for Pakistan cricket and a knight in shining armour for a struggling team, but he has not been without his flaws. For one, he lacks the ability to rotate the strike when building an innings. This flaw has been less obvious because the skipper has invariably come in during a crisis. However, he has often hurt the momentum after the team has been off to a good start, dragging the run rate down. What’s more, his defensive style has sometimes created needless pressure on the other batsmen, especially when chasing a score. While Misbah is proud of reaching the quarter-finals, let’s be honest, the nature of the tournament certainly played a part in getting us there in spite of Pakistan’s awful performances against India, the West Indies, and Zimbabwe. Perhaps our knockout opponents would have been easier adversaries than the eventual finalists Australia had management not adopted a safety first attitude. In the game against West Indies, seven batsmen (eight, if you count Shahid Afridi) were played. Fawad Alam a leading scorer was ignored, while Younus Khan who has a poor ODI record, and newcomer Haris Sohail, whose limitations were exposed in Australia, were inexplicably selected. Meanwhile, Yasir Shah, possibly the best spinner in the tournament was neglected – except for a game against the world’s best players of spin – while South Africa utilised Imran Tahir. The short term mentality was also exposed when the injury prone Muhammad Irfan, Pakistan’s primary weapon, was not given the rest he deserved against the UAE. Management was so afraid of defeat that the big fast bowler was cut open like the goose that laid golden eggs. To make matters worse, Nasir Jamshed, who was picked by management against the wishes of selectors, was given far too many chances. Certainly, our tournament would have been easier with Sarfraz Ahmed opening the batting early in the World Cup. You can’t say that these mistakes are only obvious after they happened. Like countless others, I had called for Sarfraz to open, Yasir and Fawad to play every game, Younus to be dropped, Irfan to be rested against the UAE match, before management made the mistakes. While these selection issues were clearly the fault of captain and coach, of course, the majority of the blame lies with the Pakistani batsmen, who showed both a lack of skill and temperament for international cricket. At the very least, Misbah, as the batsman, was fighting for the nation in every game, as he always has. But the skipper has taken Pakistan as far as he can within the limitations of his abilities and cautious mind-set. As captain, he rescued a side recovering from dark controversies, and has certainly boasted some fantastic victories in Test cricket. But while his style has kept the ODI cricket team from hitting rock bottom, it is now clear that he can never reach the top of the mountain either. In an age where teams are scoring 350 runs a match, his cautious approach towards batting and team composition are archaic at best. This is exactly why the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should have ignored Misbah’s suggestion of selecting Azhar as the new ODI captain. Often, though not always, a captain’s playing style is an extension of their mindset. For example, Imran Khan was both an aggressive all-rounder and an aggressive leader. Similarly, Wasim Akram was an attacking skipper. Javed Miandad was a shrewd batsman, and a wise vice-captain. It is for this reason that Azhar seems like the wrong man to take Pakistan’s ODI team forward. I can see why Misbah has recommended him – it is the same reason he persisted with a defensive player like Asad Shafiq in the ODI team, because he reminds Misbah of himself. Certainly, Azhar seems to have a giant heart and is batsman who does not get dismissed so easily, but he carries the exact same flaws as Misbah, except that they are far worse in Azhar, like a terminal disease. If Misbah has trouble rotating the strike, then Azhar seems completely incapable. In fact, Azhar only operates on first or fourth gear. Whereas Test cricket is a game of more deliberately paced batting, most modern batsmen bat with a strike rate of at least 50. Azhar, on the other hand, bats at 39.56. There are few things as exciting as watching Azhar play a Test innings. Watching paint dry is one of them. Observing the ceiling fan rotate slowly for a few hours is another. Yes, everything we don’t like about Misbah, we really won’t like about Azhar. He is like a bad Misbah impersonator; a Misbah clone with second-hand parts. A Mini-Me of Misbah, if you will. Now is the time to upgrade our operating system, not install a pirated copy of Misbah 2.0. Selecting Azhar is like slapping on a band-aid when the wound has healed. Our broken leg has mended. It’s not time for another crutch; it’s time to learn how to run again. https://twitter.com/Asif_Farooqi/status/581790041887797248 Here, I have come up with a list of candidates who would be better options than Azhar: 1. Wahab Riaz [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The tears flowing from his eyes showed how much World Cup glory had meant to him. Similar emotions were written on the South African cricketers’ faces after they lost to New Zealand. On the other hand, players such as Younus and Afridi were all grins after crashing out. We need a player who truly loves playing for Pakistan, and Wahab seems like the man. The fact that he’s an aggressive bowler would also be a welcome change in leadership. 2. Sarfraz Ahmed [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo: Reuters[/caption] He seems like a natural choice, having captained Pakistan to U19 glory. Sarfaraz is an attacking player who has the mental toughness for the job. In fact, this choice seems almost too natural for the PCB, and we know how easily they miss a target when it is staring straight at them. 3. Fawad Alam [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo: AFP[/caption] He is perhaps the best limited overs batsman in Pakistan and has loads of experience captaining at domestic level. My only concern is the state of his mental wellbeing. Fawad is the Cinderella of Pakistan cricket; stuck in the attic while his ugly stepsisters enjoy the limelight. He’ll need to be groomed if he is made skipper. And by groomed, I mean a shave and a haircut. 4. ZaidAliT [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo: ZaidAliT Facebook page[/caption] This young Pakistan comedian may steal some of his jokes, but at least he has the common sense to steal the good ones. On the other hand, Azhar looks to have borrowed only Misbah’s shortcomings. 5. Ayyan Ali [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo: Lahoripoint.com[/caption] Look, she may not be very bright, but she has made some dangerous friends and tried something quite daring, illegal as it was. Although it may seem physically impossible, she certainly seems to have greater testicular fortitude than some Pakistani cricketers.

A few days ago, I read a blog by a passionate Misbahul Haq fan, thanking the Pakistan captain for all that he has achieved, and asking his forgiveness on behalf of the fans who have harangued and disrespected him for so long. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Like almost all other reflections on Misbah, this one described him by describing Shahid Afridi first, and explaining that Misbah was all that Lala is not. When I asked some Misbah fans why he is not contextualised in Pakistani society the way Afridi is, someone answered that it is because honest and hardworking people never get anywhere in Pakistan. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] To me, that felt like a fundamental misunderstanding of both Misbah and Pakistan. Allow me to explain. The person I fell in love with is a doctor who has worked a lot with state-run hospitals, and it is in places like those that I saw the sort of heroes that Misbah can often embody. The hand-wringing about what Pakistan’s batting will do without Misbah feels like a benign version of the despair you feel when you wonder what the sick and the poor will do without the volunteer-run ambulance services, without the nurses and orderlies who offer services beyond their brief, without the doctors who pay for medicines out of their own pockets. Of course, there are untold stories of cruel corruption in those places too, but one really has to be there to appreciate the quiet nobility and heroism of those who somehow prevent chaos from breaking out. But even here, we recognise the value of such people in the absence of destruction. We remind ourselves that given the lack of resources and commitment, everything that these heroes pull off is to be celebrated, no matter how insignificant. But as noble as Misbah is, he plays a game rather than saving lives. And one of the many advantages of games is that there are far more opportunities to turn the tide. For Misbah, this opportunity arose in the most Pakistani way possible, from the loss of all his opportunities. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Coming in to this tournament, the captain whose reign was already suffering from no home cricket and its finest talents banned for fixing, also lost the best-ranked bowler in the world, the best-ranked all-rounder, his best fast bowler, and then some of his back-ups as well. To compound matters, his team stumbled to two demoralising losses, and Misbah the batsman kept withdrawing further into his well-padded shell. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The moment that the recovery crystallised is when his team, which had just put in one of the worst batting displays by any professional side, had to defend a paltry total to stay in a World Cup that was just getting started. The opposition had lost some early wickets, but their best batsmen were getting settled. Instead of easing off and letting the game drift, the much-maligned ‘tuk tuk’ went for the kill. Unlike Misbah the batsman, Misbah the captain chose not to wait before attacking. He just went for it. In came Muhammad Irfan for a second spell, and up went a skier from Hamilton Masakadza. In terms of iconic catches, it ranked right up there with Afridi versus New Zealand in the 2009 World T20. As Misbah poked out his tongue, he wore the look of the gambler who could not believe his bluff had gone through. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Misbah's revolutionary side is seen in the way he has handled his pace bowlers. Photo: AFP[/caption] From that moment on, Misbah has never stopped attacking on the field. There is no doubt that Waqar Younis is a magician when it comes to coaching bowlers, and there cannot be enough praise for how well Irfan, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali and Wahab have bowled. But there is no doubt in my mind that the key to their effectiveness has been Misbah. Some might claim that he had no other choice when defending 230-odd, but he provided the perfect counter in the Irish innings on Sunday. Despite Ireland seemingly coasting with a century from their opener, Misbah kept taking the opposition on. The slips were the most eye-catching of several smart field placings, but consistently the best feature of Misbah’s captaincy of late have been the bowling changes. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] For once we can celebrate his courageous captaincy without indulging in what ifs. Photo: ICC[/caption] Against Ireland, it was the decision to bring in the part-timer after the main bowlers had managed to frustrate but not dismiss the batsmen. Against Zimbabwe, it was the introduction of Irfan and then Wahab in their second spells that broke the back of the chase. Against South Africa, where Misbah’s gambler persona had acquired the suaveness of George Clooney in Vegas, his most inspired decision was to bring back his most expensive bowler against a rampaging AB de Villiers. You know what happened next. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Photo: AFP[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] In a weird way, losing the main components of his team’s only strength has seemed to free Misbah. Not since the Bastille has a liberation been so revolutionary. Where the quality of Saeed Ajmal and the stubbornness of Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez often led to Misbah taking a back seat, with tactics often telegraphed, handling a battery of pace bowlers has brought out a rarely seen side to him. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] I also feel this change is revealing of Misbah’s little-understood character. As a batsman, he often seems to (justifiably) lack trust in his partners, and puts too much pressure on himself to deliver. As a captain who cannot bowl, his famed cricketing brain is free to indulge itself without having to depend on delivering himself. Moreover, it has also allowed him to invest a lot of trust in his bowlers, which has worked wonders. No one embodies that better than Wahab, who has transformed into a gigantic guitar solo of a bowler. I wish Misbah did not have to face the vitriol he has suffered in his career, but I also feel that there could have been few endings more poetic and wonderful than the one we are witnessing. For once, the description of Misbah does not have to be a mournful what if, but rather an ecstatic celebration of courageous captaincy. And in his story, which will now last into the knockout stages, there is also a ray of hope for my beleaguered country, which suffered a horrifying attack on the Christian community while the Ireland game went on. Many of us have grown tired of constantly having to display resilience, and to brave violence and injustice. But as Misbah’s career shows, if we can last through the dark periods, then we will surprise ourselves with how much we can achieve. A final thought – it was another moment to remember, and say a quiet prayer for, Bob Woolmer. Thank you, Bob. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] This post originally appeared here.

Cricket has certainly evolved over the years, and when you see someone like AB de Villiers hitting bowlers out of the park and teams scoring 300+ runs so easily, you tend to think about how this game has changed its gears and has become more batsmen friendly. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] AB de Villiers. Photo: AFP[/caption] The days of batsmen fearing bowlers have gone. I remember how lanky fast-bowlers from West Indies used to produce terror amongst batsmen in the 80’s. Today, their legacy is almost dead. Only the likes of Dale Steyn and Mitchell Johnson have somewhat preserved the art of the fierce fast-bowling, as it was once known. But personally, I believe the fearsome fast-bowling vanished after the retirement of Pakistan’s speed-gun, also known as the Rawalpindi Express. Yes, you guessed right; the fast-bowling arena lost its spark after Shoaib Akhtar retired from all formats of the game. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="259"] Shoaib Akhtar. Photo: AFP[/caption] The long yard run-up while bowling his heart out at a regular 150km/hour was the epitome of his career. But his career was not just about fast bowling; he was a cricketer who was always on the news, be it on-field or off-field. He was the master of intrigue, he was the embodiment of foolishness, he was a ray of light, he was a shadow of darkness, he was the veteran who still instils hope, and he was the spoilt brat who still causes despair. Akhtar entered the cricketing arena dismissing the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid off his first two deliveries in an epic spell at the Eden Gardens. Akhtar also recorded the two fastest deliveries in the history of cricket: two 100 mph scorchers against England. The speed demon came to be known as the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ because of his speed and agility. Arguably one of the most controversial players in Pakistani cricket, the spotlight remained fixed on him throughout his entire career, either for the most magnificent highs or for the most deplorable lows. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Shoaib Akhtar picked up two important wickets, Pakistan vs West Indies, World Cup 1999, group stage, Bristol, May 16, 1999. Photo: AFP[/caption] In a career spanning roughly 14 years, the fact that he played 46 Test matches, 157 ODIs and 15 T20 international matches reveals the lows of his career. Constant fitness concerns, failed dope tests, altercations with other team members, captains, coaches, and even the Pakistan Cricket Board, chronic injuries, and questionable temperament ensured that he excited the team with every comeback of his. At the same time, his 450 international wickets, his scorching yorkers and bouncers tell the tale of an unforgiving competitor who fought with himself more than with anyone else. Gary Kirsten, Sourav Ganguly, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Matthew Horne are just a few examples, who got a nasty taste of his bouncers and yorkers. One may choose to remember him for his toe-crushing in-swingers or the fact that he was indeed a fearful individual in the minds of the opposition captain. His commitment to the team did come into question a few times, but his commitment towards his own game allowed people to view him as a brave-heart, making a comeback in the Pakistani team every time, and he did it just before the World Cups as well. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="310"] Shoaib Akhtar during a training session. Photo: AFP[/caption] Sadly, his career did not get the great ending he deserved. He started off well in the 2011 World Cup but one bad game against the Kiwis finished it for him. As India knocked out their arch rivals from the competition, this hapless man was just watching from the pavilion – hardly the way for a champion to bid adieu. Recently, he had lent his voice and opinions as a commentator during the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and no matter how hard you try, you cannot keep this man out of controversies. He made several scathing attacks on the Pakistan cricket team and the captain, Misbahul Haq, which may have been the result of frustration over losing the first two matches. He went to petty extremes and called Misbah a selfish and cowardly captain. However, this episode does not overshadow all that he has done for his country. He will always be remembered for his lion-hearted performances and carrying the bowling attack after the departure of heavy weights like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400"] Wasim Akram. Photo: AFP[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="543"] Waqar Younis. Photo: AFP[/caption] I wish his career would have seen less patchy times. He can be termed as one of the best bowlers of the world, without a doubt. It has been four years since he retired, but for young and fast-bowlers who want to focus more on pace than line and length, he is still their idol and their mentor – and personally, for someone like me who likes to bowl hard and fast, I adore him. I wish him all the best and thank him for the great pace and wonderful memories he has given to all his fans.

Pakistan cricket is bizarre, especially with regards to team management and structuring. Coaches, managers, captains and players, all seem to be stuck in a quagmire when it comes to helping Pakistan to get out of the plethora of issues it is plunged it. Who would have thought back in January that Fawad Alam will be left out of the World Cup squad and Nasir Jamshed will get to play a full role? Who would have thought Rahat Ali will make it to the World Cup and prove to be a master stroke? Our lack of planning has led to many miracles – but that is not how matches are won. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Bangladesh cricketer Soumya Sarkar plays a shot during the first one day international cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on April 17, 2015. Photo: AFP[/caption] Six-months ago, had someone told me that Pakistan was going for a Bangladesh tour, I would have counted it as nothing more than a bunch of practice matches. I would have been sure of Pakistan’s success and I wouldn’t even have minded betting on Pakistan for once. But things are not the same anymore, and for a Pakistani cricket fan, it’s calamitous to say the least. The match of Friday is a testimony of that. This tour would not have been much of a hassle if our policies were straight-forward and simple. This tour would have been a mere formality, and we would have won our matches splendidly – if only the management was prudent enough to listen to experienced players and create a blend of young and senior players alike to bring forward a formidable side. However, that did not happen. I remember the last time we faced Bangladesh – during the Asia Cup – it was Shehzad, who scored a century against them and it was Umar Akmal who made us cross the line with a sublime Afridi-esque inning in the middle and a typical Fawad-like effort. We were chasing 300 plus and were in trouble at the start; however, not once was I worried about what the result will be – because I trusted my team. But this time, I have no faith in them. And I am worried about our chances at winning. Practice match Anyone who witnessed Bangladesh’s performance in the ICC World Cup 2015 would know that this tour is not as easy as it might seem to most cricket pundits. They qualified to the quarter-finals at a time when nearly all of their players were inexperienced. They defeated England and were mighty close to beating World Cup finalist New Zealand as well. So they mean business. They have the confidence and the passion to take on any team that comes their way, and yesterday’s match showed it. Also, from 2013 onwards, Bangladesh has played 23 matches at home, where they have won 11 and lost 11 with a win percentage of nearly 50%, which is better than Pakistan (38% win ratio) and England (44% win ratio). [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) XI celebrate after defeating Pakistan by one wicket in the one-off warm-up game before the ODI series. Photo: AFP[/caption] On the other hand, Pakistan team is clearly in crisis mode. We lost the only practice match against Bangladesh Cricket Board XI, a team which had only four international players playing against our complete touring team. We were 203/8 in the 44^th over, and even though Fawad took us to a respectable 268, it was chased down with ease. I can’t recall a time when Pakistan lost a practice match with Bangladesh. But oh well, I guess there is always a first time. Pakistan versus Bangladesh – first match On Friday, our fears became reality, where we lost to Bangladesh after 16 years by a comprehensive margin. There is a lot to criticise about the way we played, but seeing that most of our players were young and our captain was inexperienced, it would not be appropriate to be brutal about their performances. Azhar Ali played an inning that one wouldn’t have expected him to play, at the top of the order, scoring a well-crafted 72-runs and debutant Muhammd Rizwan played like a gem, at the lower end of the innings. However, questions need to be asked about the team management (especially Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq) as to why the batting line-up was so ill-prepared? Why did our batting side look so vulnerable? [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="294"] Azhar Ali scores a fifty in his first match as the ODI captain. Photo: AFP[/caption] Furthermore, I cannot not understand the logic behind Mohammad Hafeez’s out. He was the highest run-scorer in the practice match; so what went wrong? Also, it needs to be answered as to why Fawad was batting at number six, when he is not a big hitter. Irrespective of how weak the team is, a few tweaks here and there could have made a huge difference. But our inept team management made sure that we lose badly, and if they do not mend their ways, the upcoming matches would have the same fate. Way forward? Pakistan needs to look at the crisis we are in and then come up with a viable solution. True, this is the first time, in more than eight years, that we are playing without Misbahul Haq and Shahid Afridi – who were the cornerstones of our team; true, we are going in with a captain who doesn’t have an ensured place in the line-up and it’s his first series as a captain of Pakistan in any format; true, Saeed Ajmal and Hafeez (hopefully) are making a comeback after months of ban and Junaid Khan is making a comeback after a long injury layoff, so their effectiveness seems to be compromised; and true, we dropped Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal, two of the brightest batting talents in the country, right at the time when they were supposed to be given a more responsible role, so our batting seems ever more weaker than it was before – but all of this does not validate such a harrowing defeat. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Tamim Iqbal scored his half-century off 75 balls. Photo: AFP[/caption] Teams have gone in with worse and have come out with better outcomes, just because their coaches and managers were strategic enough to understand their strengths and weaknesses. I am all in favour of rebuilding of the team, but you can’t just rebuild it by dropping all the important players and replacing them with the young ones. There is a method to every madness but the kind of madness PCB is showing is just hilarious and downright scary. I fail to understand why we can’t find a proper time to do a certain thing. As far as I can recall, only West Indies has the tendency of making a bad decision at a crucial time more frequently than Pakistan. When we need the likes of Shehzad and Umar, we drop them. When Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik should be given a chance on their preferable positions to make a comeback and fill the space of the seniors who have left, we ignore them. When we finally have the chance to include Anwar Ali into the mix to give him a chance to shine, we forgot him. And so our self-destructive ways continue to hinder our progress. Pakistan cricket is in its worst shape right now. Our players have not played cricket at home for years and the authorities who are responsible for developing cricket in this country have their own set of agendas to follow. It looks hard for us to win against Bangladesh in the next match and I won’t even be surprised if Pakistan loses the entire series.

Bangladesh has waited for nearly 16 years to achieve its second victory against Pakistan in an ODI, but it took them a week to completely whitewash Pakistan. Pakistan’s defeat against Bangladesh is surprising, but for me, the biggest surprise is the ease with which Bangladesh beat Pakistan in all three ODI matches. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the tour selection committee was supposed to select the 11 best players for our national team, but looking at the team that went for the tour, it seems as if PCB has no idea who our best 11 players are, or what makes up a good team. The bowling In this tournament, Pakistan faced the same dilemma as it did during the ICC World Cup 2015. Throughout the World Cup, analysts were advocating for the inclusion of our leg spinner, Yasir Shah, but our management showed a lot of reluctance, stating that conditions are not favourable for spinners – even though spinners from other teams were enjoying reasonable success during the tournament. Shah was given one chance to showcase his talents, but it was unfortunately against India – which is known to be pretty good at batting against spinners. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Coming back to the Bangladesh series, our team selection remains questionable. Bangladesh pitches boast of spin-friendly conditions, but even then, the team management has remained adamant on not allowing two of our spinners to play. Maybe Waqar Younis and the rest are a bit uncomfortable with spinners and don’t know how to utilise them. However, this does not justify benching them, especially for such crucial matches. Out with the old, in with the new? Pakistan included two new players in the first two matches of the series – Mohammad Rizwan and Saad Nasim – but they left out Sami Aslam (who is often dubbed as the future of Pakistani cricket) for some odd reason. Had he been allowed to join in the first two matches, he could have played well and scored a century maybe and that would have helped Pakistan win at least one match, if not all of them. Even though he did get a chance to make his debut in the third ODI, where he played with confidence and showcased his tremendous capabilities, there was nothing much that he could do. Other players seemed to have lost their ability to play cricket; Azhar Ali kept playing a lot of dot balls at the other end of the pitch, hampering Aslam’s fluency, due to which he failed to get a big score. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Playing too many dot balls is a major problem for the Pakistan cricket team; they lack the art of manoeuvring the ball. Our players have two gears – they either hit the ball or they block it. Pakistan played a total of 1129 dot balls during the World Cup. The same seemed to be the case in the Bangladesh series. By scoring singles, players can move the scoreboard forward and also minimise the pressure exerted by opposition, but we rarely seem to follow that tactic. In the second ODI, Nasim and Harris Sohail built a good partnership to revive Pakistan, but they struggled to score regular singles. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] During this series, the debutants, Nasim, Rizwan and Aslam, exhibited their talent to prove a point – that no matter what, Pakistan is a talent-filled country and all we need are the right people at the helm to spot unique individuals and groom them into world class cricketers. Although Rizwan played well in the first ODI, I disagree with the team management to groom an additional wicket keeper-cum-batsman when Sarfraz Ahmed is already available to do the job. By dropping Sarfraz in the third ODI match, it seems that PCB has tried to shatter his confidence yet again. Such political manoeuvres often lead to professional suicide in cricket – something which PCB needs to keep in mind. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Our team has witnessed countless inconsistent performances by cricketers, yet they are allowed to play in each and every match, but when it comes to Sarfraz, he tops the list of unlucky players since he was immediately dropped from the team just after a couple of sub-par performances. I wish our team could put Sarfraz’s talents to good use. While the success of our newcomers is a positive sign, it is the constant failure of our seniors that poses to be a serious problem. Cricket teams around the world are led by experienced players, but in Pakistan, it is the complete opposite. Senior players, as well as newcomers lack consistency – a case in point is the dismal performances given by Mohammad Hafeez and Fawad Alam during this tournament. The cricket board needs to sit with our senior players and make it clear to them that either they perform consistently or they stop playing completely. They really need to get their act together. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The batting Moving on to our batting issues, while Haris Sohail seems to be a good option to lead our batting attack, it seems that he is constantly struggling to get past an average score of 30s and 40s. He needs to overcome this problem immediately and start converting his mediocre innings into mammoth innings, which will not only benefit him but the team as well. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="597"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Pakistan’s problem against left-arm spinners is also getting worse. In Sri Lanka, we struggled against Rangana Herath and in Bangladesh, Shakib al Hasan and Arafat Sunny proved to be problematic for our team. Our players need to work hard and learn on how to bat against left-arm spinners, particularly the likes of Hasan. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="596"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Bangladesh is a completely different team in their home ground – they showed this during the 2012 Asia Cup when they beat India and Sri Lanka and nearly beat Pakistan in the finals. Previously, they managed to beat New Zealand and West Indies in their home ground as well. A disappointing captain I feel that our new captain has been a disappointing captain so far. Azhar's  inexperience was highlighted when he introduced our fifth bowler at the wrong time during the Bangladesh innings during the first ODI. He committed another blunder in the second ODI by setting a spread-out field rather than a defensive one, knowing very well we had a low score to defend. Pakistan’s domestic cricket is extremely weak; it has failed to produce a decent leader and a captain who is well-versed with the art of leading at international and national levels. The domestic structure of some teams is so strong that they automatically get well-bred leaders. Lee Kenneth Germon, from the New Zealand team, was selected from the domestic structure based on his leadership and management skills. He made his Test debut as a captain against Pakistan in 1996. George Bailey is a recent example; he was named the Australian T20 captain in 2011 and 2012 purely because of the leadership skills he showed at domestic level. But we cannot blame our cricket entirely. As the head coach, Younis is also responsible for our team’s defeat. He cannot absolve himself of his responsibilities by giving statements about players’ fitness levels and attitude issues. It is his responsibility to improve the players if they are facing these problems, and if he is unable to fulfil this responsibility, he should be replaced by someone who has better management and coping skills. Even though Pakistan lost the ODI series, I hope PCB sees this as a mistake to learn from. In the future, I hope our management shows signs of prudence in its team selection, continue its rebuilding process, and resist the demands of calling back the oldies who have failed us repeatedly. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: AFP[/caption] If Pakistan wants to regain its lost glory, we need to restructure our domestic cricket system, reduce the number of international matches drastically and make domestic cricket more competitive. It is the quality of matches that matters, not the quantity. I hope those running PCB are able appropriate steps to put Pakistani cricket back on its path to success.

Abdur Rehman, an experienced Pakistani left-arm spinner, was barred from bowling in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh last year after he bowled three consecutive high full-tosses. After the third one, Umpire Johan Cloete suspended him from bowling and he finished with figures of 0-0-8-0, which was a new record. Abdur Rehman, for sure, was not happy after registering his name in the record book but there are some other big names of the cricketing world that have made records which they are not proud of. 1. Most ducks in ODIs: Undoubtedly, playing against Sanath Jayasuriya in the mid-90s was nothing less than a nightmare for most bowlers. But while Jayasuria holds the record for one the fastest ODI 50 on just 17 balls, this is not his only record. He also has the record for most ducks, 34, in ODIs to his name. Surprisingly, the man next to him is Shahid Afridi, who scored the fastest ODI century on just 37 balls, with 30 ducks. The third in the row is legendary, Wasim Akram, with 28 ducks. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sanath Jayasuriya. Photo: Reuters[/caption] 2. Most ducks in Test cricket: Guess, who is Jayasuriya’s counterpart in Test cricket? Yes, the man with more than 500 Test wickets under his belt; former West Indian pacer Courtney Walsh was bowled 43 times on duck in 185 Test innings. Chris Martin of New Zealand is second with 36 ducks and the great Australian bowler, Glenn McGrath, is third in the row with 35 ducks in 138 innings. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Courtney Walsh. Photo: Reuters[/caption] 3. Most-times bowled out in Test cricket: Rahul Dravid, famous for his style and technique, holds the distinction of most-times being bowled in Test cricket with 54 times. He is followed by Australian Alan Border, who has been bowled out 53 times.  Little master, Sachin Tendulkar remained unlucky in being bowled out and falls in the third rank with 48 times. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Rahul Dravid. Photo: Reuters[/caption] 4. Most expensive over in test cricket: King of swing, Wasim Akram, is of the view that Jimmy Anderson is the better bowler but Burewala Express, Waqar Younis, favours Dale Steyn. However, Wasim’s opinion came into question after the last Ashes trophy matches took place. Though Anderson could not inflict any real damage to the Australian batting line, he remained successful at bowling the most expensive over of Test cricket history, when George Bailey scored 28 runs in Perth against him. Robin Peterson of South Africa shares the record with Anderson. Surprisingly, Peterson also conceded 35 runs in an ODI over against Thisara Perera, the Sri Lankan striker. He is second after Van Bunge of Holland who conceded six sixes on six balls – against Herschelle Gibbs. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Jimmy Anderson. Photo: Reuters[/caption] 5. Most no-balls and longest over in Test cricket: Curtly Ambrose was undoubtedly the most fearsome bowler of the 90s. The big man, who captured over 400 wickets in Tests, bowled the longest 15-ball over containing record nine no-balls. The match was played in Perth in February 1993. Despite Ambrose’s errors in the first innings, West Indies won the match by 10 wickets and Ambrose was player of the match with a five-wicket haul. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Curtly Ambrose (R). Photo: Reuters[/caption] 6. Longest over in an ODI match Muhammad Sami, the only bowler who made hat-tricks in all formats (T20 hat-trick in BPL) of the game, bowled a 17-ball over against Bangladesh containing seven wides and four no balls in Asia Cup 2004. It was the third over of the match while Sami’s first over was wicket maiden. It is the longest over so far in the 50-over format. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Muhammad Sami. Photo: Reuters[/caption] 7. Most runs conceded in Test with no wicket Imran Tahir, who was born in Pakistan but played for South Africa, has the worst bowling figures in Test cricket. In Adelaide Test, 2012, against Australia, he bowled 37-overs and conceded 267 runs without any wicket. Second to him is Khan Muhammad of Pakistan with 259 runs in 54-overs without any wicket against West Indies in 1958. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Imran Tahir. Photo: Reuters[/caption] 8. Slowest century in Tests: While Corey Anderson recently broke Boom Boom’s record of the fastest ODI century after 17 years, Mudassar Nazar of Pakistan still holds the record of slowest century in Test cricket. In 1977-78, he completed his century in record 557 minutes at Lahore against England. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300"] Mudassar Nazar. Photo: Reuters[/caption] 9. Golden duck in century tests: Playing a 100 Test matches is itself a milestone but making the century Test memorable is exceptional. English skipper Alastair Cook is the only batsman of this special club with a golden duck in his 100th Test. Surprisingly, in his 99 previous Tests, Cook was never out on the first ball. But, in the second inning of his 100th Test played at Perth, he collected his first ever golden duck. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Alastair Cook. Photo: Reuters[/caption] While we remember the positive records and remembers players for their progressive achievements, we should also keep in mind the less highlighted records. They too, after all, required hard work, albeit of a negative nature.

There are times when nothing goes your way. When you lose at every stride and luck seems to have faded away from the stars, and it feels like nothing is going to change. Pakistan cricket team is going through such a phase. After a lacklustre World Cup, this nation was expecting for a turnaround with the arrival of young blood, but those expectations were crushed a little too soon. We not only lost to Bangladesh after 16 years, we were “Bangla-washed” in the ODI and T20 series and believe me, being a diehard fan, seeing Pakistan lose like this is excruciatingly painful. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Bangladesh cricketer Taskin Ahmed (C) reacts as Shakib Al Hasan (L) looks on after the dismissal of Pakistan cricket captain Azhar Ali (R) during the first One Day International cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on April 17, 2015. Photo: AFP[/caption] However, Pakistan losing matches was not an entirely unexpected scenario. Some of us did believe in the possibility that we would lose quite a lot of matches – since our team lacks experience and direction. Some of us hesitantly thought of how Pakistan might not qualify for the 2017 Champions Trophy because we would end up at ninth place. And some of us also thought about how, if we keep on losing games after games, we will eventually not be able to get through to the qualification round for the 2019 World Cup. But no one thought it would start happening this soon, right after the World Cup. In order for us to qualify for the Champions Trophy, we need to win at least nine out of the upcoming 11 ODIs before the September 30^th deadline – otherwise, we can kiss our participation good bye. And the state in which our team is in, I highly doubt if we will be able to win nine ODIs. When surrounded by adversity, people often look for a positive side – something that can spark new hope and reincarnate the system with a new life. That hope might not be enough to give you your glory back but it can surely be a beginning of something to look forward to. For Pakistan, that positive side is its bowlers, who have been a ray of hope for the team on multiple occasions, even when there is no logical reason to believe in hope. And it is here that our team needs to work, if we wish to even entertain the idea of winning the upcoming 11 ODIs. Here is what our bowling side has to offer right. Wahab Riaz Wahab Riaz, after his spell against Watson, remained the talking point for everyone for a long time. His performance against Australia was something that brought out a spark for this nation. It had that onslaught, that aggression and that flavour of a young, aggressive Pakistani taking on the world champions, in their own backyard. Wahab’s spell was a real example of what this nation is capable of, and how we act when the chips are down. His spell was something new for the viewers but it wasn’t out of character for the Pakistani team. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Wahab Riaz. Photo: Reuters[/caption] As Ramiz Raja wrote in his article on EspnCricinfo, it is in our DNA to show aggression; that attitude of “if you hit with me a rock, I will hit you back with a brick” is just something that runs in our veins. Inexperienced fast-bowlers Wahab’s performance was a glimpse from the 90’s, when we had two formidable “Ws” who would take the world head on for their team. They used to run in with fire, with an attitude to annihilate the opposition with a fierce pace. But looking at Wahab’s stats throughout his career, they do not reflect the kind of charisma that he shows on the field. And why is that so? Well, there can be only two logical answers to this in my view. 1. He is a bit-and-pieces bowler 2. He is not being given a chance to show his talent [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Mohammad Irfan. Photo: Reuters[/caption] Personally, I believe the second one is more pertinent. The fact that our current bowlers are not of the same quality as the ones we used to have before, yet we were able to put nearly every batting team under pressure in the World Cup, goes to show our bowling merit. During Misbahul Haq’s era, Pakistan became too heavily dependent on the spinners – so much so that we stopped taking fast-bowlers as an attacking option, and this cost us heavily after ICC banned Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez one after another. Pitches not compatible with our pacers In order to understand this dichotomy better, I broke down the stats from the last 15 years into two sets – one from January 2001 to the 2011 World Cup final, and the second from after the World Cup final till the recent series against Bangladesh. The stats revealed that till the 2011 World Cup final, Pakistani pacers had a strike rate of 36, which was far greater than that of spinners during the same time (strike rate of 44.7) while playing at home-ground or neutral venue (UAE). However, after the World Cup, when we stopped depending on the seamers all together, our fast-bowlers strike rate, while playing at home, dropped to 38.5 and our spinners’ showed improving reductions to 41.2. The above mentioned statistics show that even on batting-friendly pitches, our pacers were able to give excellent performances. However, for some unknown reason, we started creating slow and low pitches, which offered none or very little assistance to fast-bowlers. Arguments that people make for creating such pitches are: 1. UAE is our makeshift home-ground, and since the pitches there are foreign to our bowlers, there is nothing much that we can do about it. 2. Pakistani batting is too weak to play on supportive pitches. For me, both arguments are flawed. First of all, once you have played in a country for nearly seven years, you should be able to create a track which would facilitate fast-bowlers. If I entertain argument number one, then how would PCB explain our performances against England in the Test series (especially in the second Test), where we ended up whitewashing them comprehensively? I am not saying that an Abu Dhabi or Sharjah pitch can be turned into a WACA pitch in seven years, but with better management and better vision, it could have been a bit more facilitative. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pakistan's Adnan Akmal (R) plays a shot as England's Matt Prior (L) looks on during their first cricket test match at the Dubai International cricket stadium in the United Arab Emirates January 19, 2012. Photo: Reuters[/caption] As for the second argument, it is baseless because I believe that Pakistan always plays better when the pitches have something for everyone. That’s why we were able to beat South Africa on their home-ground in 2013, India on their home-ground in 2012-13 (where the pitches surprisingly were more useful for seamers) and victory against South Africa and Zimbabwe in the recent World Cup. Both of our major tournament triumphs (the victory of 1992 in Australia and the T20 victory in 2009 in England) came on pitches that had something for everyone, which proves my point that we can thrive in testing conditions as well. A compromised Ajmal and an out-of-charm Hafeez Seeing Ajmal and Hafeez’s performances after their action got remodelled, I don’t think they look anything like the bowling gods that they used to be for Pakistan, and so far, there is no reason to believe that they will be ever as effective as they were, since usually when bowlers make a comeback after remodelling their action, they end up losing their grip and hence give shabby performances. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="640"] Muhammad Hafeez (L) and Saeed Ajmal.[/caption] Need for aggression All of this leads us back to the primary elements of Pakistani cricket – aggression, passion, pace and a roaring attitude. We need to reverse the trend of focusing on spin bowling all together. We should look for creating pitches that are more fast-bowling-friendly in domestic as well as international matches, which will bring our mighty fast-bowlers back into the game and will surely help Pakistan as well. We might not have Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar anymore, but that doesn’t matter, because other countries do not have that quality in their ranks either. But we do have the aggression of Wahab, the passion of Irfan, the swing of Junaid Khan and Rahat Ali and the yorkers of Sohail Khan to take any opposition down, on any given day. All they need is a little polish and a comprehensive vision.

There was a time when Pakistani fans could see their fast-bowling maestros – like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar – pierce through the wind and attack the opposition with all their mighty force, live, in front of them, in their own stadium. There was a time when people could witness Shahid Afridi’s magnificent sixes or Javed Miandad’s stunning innings on Pakistani grounds. Unfortunately, over the past six year, no international team has come to Pakistan to play a series with our national team. And as such, Pakistani cricket fans have been deprived of this chance to see their national team in action. However, this barren cricket-less spell is about to come to an end. Finally, an international cricket team has decided to tour Pakistan. It will be a scene of tremendous pride and happiness for the nation to see its beloved players take on Zimbabwe’s team on Pakistani ground. Zimbabwe is all set to become the first full-member nation to tour Pakistan ever since the Sri Lankan side was attacked on March 3, 2009. Events from that dark day are still as clear as crystal in my mind. The Sri Lankan team was travelling to Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore) to play the second Test match against Pakistan. However, before they could reach the stadium, the bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricketers was fired upon by 12 gunmen. Six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were killed in that attack, whereas the Sri Lankan team was saved by the bus driver, Mehar Mohammad Khalil, who drove valiantly to protect his passengers. It was a complete security lapse; the government and security agencies were heavily criticised for their inability to provide proper security as they had promised. And the aftermath of this attack saw Pakistan isolated from international cricket at home. Not just this, Pakistan was also stripped off of all rights to host the 2011 World Cup matches. But what’s done is done. It is time for us to look forward. Similarly, PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan must be admired for his efforts to persuade the Zimbabwean side to tour Pakistan. Zimbabwe Cricket CEO Alistair Campbell gave a green signal to the series after a one-day visit to Pakistan where he inspected all the security arrangements. But this event must not be taken lightly. The government and the security agencies must work hard to provide a safe tour, so that this series can become an example for other teams to visit Pakistan. We need to make sure that our stadiums are checked and cleared before players enter the building; we must make sure that before the team leaves their hotels for the stadium, their routes are checked and managed appropriately, and we must also make sure that proper exit measures are in place in case of an emergency. Likewise, apart from the security concerns, team Pakistan must improve its performance, as it stands at a mediocre ninth place in the ICC’s ODI rating, which is absolutely unacceptable. Our batting line needs to be developed according to modern attacking techniques and in doing so, our selection committee should give attacking batsmen like Hammad Azam, Sohaib Maqsood, Sami Aslam and Mohammad Rizwan more chances. Also, Mohammad Hafeez needs to up his game, as ever since he has been cleared, his performance has been mediocre at best. Yasir Shah needs to be inducted in the team, in order to harness his Saeed Ajmal-esque skills – as Ajmal’s game seems to be going south ever since his action got modified. Alongside this, young pacers like Imran Khan should be tried in ODI’s as well. Team Zimbabwe will land in Lahore on May 19 to play a series of three ODI and two T20 matches. The T20 matches are scheduled to be played on May 22 and 24, and the ODIs on May 26, 29 and 31. The team will fly back on June 1. I hope that it will be a joyful series for all Pakistani cricket fans. If a match is taking place in your city, make sure you go and watch it. This is, after all, a historic achievement for Pakistan, one that must be celebrated.

Not long ago, Pakistan, a sport loving nation who looked towards cricket as a uniting force, was down and dejected when they were thrashed by none other than Bangladesh, the team for whom we always took pride in playing an instrumental part in allowing them to become a Test-playing nation. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] It was heartbreaking really. I never thought such a day would come, but it did. During that time, many thought that a touring Zimbabwe would also be a difficult side to beat, and that the chances of Pakistan playing in the Champion’s Trophy would definitely slip out of our hands, because the only way we would qualify for the league would be by beating Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, and that even on their home ground. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: AFP[/caption] But you can’t just write Pakistan off, not yet. We came out from nowhere during the Sri Lankan tour, and apart from the last five-match ODI series in Sri Lanka, Pakistan dominated each and every single aspect of the ODI series. Even in the second ODI, where Pakistan was beaten narrowly by two wickets, it was the individual brilliance of Kusal Perera that snatched the game completely away from us by scoring 60 odd runs on 20 odd deliveries. Even then, we fought back, and at one stage, we even had a slight advantage when Sri Lanka was down to 156 for five. But we could not stop them since Perera came in and delivered his blitzing innings. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="456"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Our victory may cover up all the problems our team has, but the question remains, what has transformed Pakistan from a demotivated and disgruntled unit into a unit that is unwilling to accept defeat? For me, apart from the fielding and better batting performance, the real answer is the balance in the team. Pakistan under Misbahul Haq’s captaincy always looked like a team short of a batsman or two, and with Shahid Afridi coming in at number seven, we were constantly playing with six batsmen, which put extra pressure on the bowling unit, resulting in total chaos in the ODI format. After the 2011 World Cup, for the first time as far as I can recall, we have six bowlers and a pretty decent batting line -up until number eight and that is due to the fact that the selectors finally turned their attention to young Anwar Ali and, as Ramiz Raja said, a “veteran” Shoaib Malik. I feel they are the two unsung heroes important for the revival of the Pakistani cricket team in the ODI format. Anwar, the man from Karachi, along with Mohammad Rizwan, is a breath of fresh air in the Pakistan team’s fielding department and it’s probably the best since a long time. Anwar probably took two of the best catches in the series and was also a part of the brilliant solo run-out effort in the follow up. He also bowled deathly overs in the fourth ODI and has been instrumental in saving crucial runs for the Pakistani team. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: AFP[/caption] As a bowler, Anwar’s role was a difficult one, which he completed with utmost honesty and hard work, producing some great results. For a bowler new at international cricket and for someone who does not possess an extremely great set of skills, finishing the series as the joint second highest wicket-taker along with Mohammad Hafeez with an economy rate of under six runs while bowling at the start is a great achievement. His batting in the second ODI with Rizwan once again assured the management, as well as the player’s sitting in the dressing room, that we finally don’t have to worry about our batting order thinning out towards the end as he is more than a decent batsmen coming in at number eight. For the veteran Malik, it’s been a more than happy comeback. For once, he is being reinstated into a team where his batting order is what it should have been all these years. Under Misbah’s captaincy, Malik played 22 innings, out of which 15 he batted at number six and number seven. Malik was never the big hitter you needed at the end of an innings, instead he was the player who can provide you with the platform to finish big. Fortunately, under Azhar Ali’s captaincy, Malik was given a settled role, a role that he seems to like. Batting at number five, Malik is seen flourishing as the man who links the upper order to the lower order in order provide that bit of stability in the batting department. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: Reuters[/caption] His calmness on the pitch was instrumental for Pakistan in the first ODI victory chase, where he guided the team, first with Hafeez and then with Rizwan. Another reason for his success is the amount of confidence young Azhar showed in his bowling, which eases the pressure on his batting as well. Under Misbah, Malik hardly ever got the chance to bowl, which meant that he had to play as a batsman only, and that too at a position that never synchronised with the kind of player he is. To understand how a batting position can affect a player’s utility, one would have to understand that Virat Kohli won’t have the same kind of effect while batting at number seven as compared to what he produces batting at number three. Similarly, MS Dhoni might not be the same Dhoni batting at number three, as compared to batting on number seven. As far as his bowling is concerned in the series, even though Malik did not pick up a wicket, he was one of the most economical bowlers for Pakistan in the series, where he bowled five overs a match and was not easy to get away with in terms of scoring runs. His fielding has always been a plus point and that too helped Pakistan in their fielding department. All in all, Pakistan finally has a balance in their ODI team, a balance they’ve desperately been looking for. The Champions Trophy qualification is not over and done with yet, but it is up for grabs as Pakistan now holds the initiative, come the September 30^th deadline. Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed have gone back to their basic ODI format that Pakistan always had, where we never depended on a specialist to take us forward. It was always two or three all-rounders that set us apart from the rest of cricketing world, the one’s that remain unnoticed, yet contribute to the teams’ success. Even though Hafeez cannot bowl for a year due to the ban, but in Anwar and Malik, Pakistan now has two all-rounders who can bat, bowl and are brilliant fielders, which sets Pakistan off on their rightful journey towards a glorious future in ODI cricket.

The brief Zimbabwe tour came to an end a couple of days ago, with Pakistan emerging as the victors. It wasn’t a clean cut victory since Pakistan won four out five matches and the one match we lost was under extremely controversial circumstances. Having said that, Pakistan has managed to perform commendably against Zimbabwe this year. This particular tour highlighted five aspects about our cricket team.  Imad Wasim – The most wanted in the team [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The first and foremost aspect that needs to be mentioned in this list is the emergence of Imad, more so after the ban on Muhammad Hafeez’s bowling action, which left the Pakistan cricket team in a fix for a while. Imad’s emergence as a composed and collected player is a positive sign for Pakistan, as he brings forth the much needed calmness during tough times. He displayed this calmness in the previous T20 series against Sri Lanka, where he took Pakistan over the line with a brilliant batting performance, even though he continuously lost partners at the other end of the batting crease. Imad is more than just an effective left arm bowler, a commendable fielder, and an excellent reader of the situation; he also knows how to get the job done. In the first T20 and in the first ODI during the Zimbabwe tour, he showed us his skills with the bat, whereas throughout the series, he showed his skills with the ball. He will soon become an irreplaceable asset in the shorter format of the game. Muhammad Hafeez – Struggling under pressure? [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] For our dear professor in his mid-30s, time seems to be running out and pressure is continuously mounting on him to deliver with the bat. There used to be a time when Sikandar Bakht used to say Hafeez is irreplaceable because he brings the required balance which was lacking at that time and no matter how poorly he performs with the bat, he won’t be dropped. However, things have taken a turn now, and his role is being filled by Imad and to some extent by Shoaib Malik. His batting is coming under scrutiny due to the likes of Haris Sohail and Sohaib Maqsood, who are eagerly waiting in the wings to get a chance to show off their performances. For him to stay on the team, his performance graph needs to improve vastly. The upcoming series against England in the UAE will prove to be a real test of his batting quality and ability. Shoaib Malik – The new Mr dependable [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="596"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Five hundred runs in 12 matches with an average of mid 90s and two Man Of The Series awards since his comeback to the national team, Malik is becoming the new Mr dependable for the men in green. It’s been more than a happy and successful comeback for the 33-year-old veteran who seems hungrier, calmer, more focused, and eager to give his best in terms of performance. However, his performance will be keenly scrutinised in the upcoming series against England, where Captain Azhar Ali and Coach Waqar Younis will rightfully be pinning their hopes on him for standing up to the challenges and playing a pivotal role in helping Pakistan cruise towards victory. Imad, Bilal Asif, Anwar Ali, and Aamer Yameen – Our future seems bright thanks to them Not long ago, our nation was quite wary about our team’s future in the T20 format, as Pakistan was short of all-rounder’s, especially after the ban on Hafeez’s bowling action, which left the Pakistani team with no adequate all-rounder at that particular time. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] It was quite alarming for all the cricket experts as well, since all-rounders were Pakistan’s forte in the T20 format. However, over the past recent months, with the arrival of Imad, Anwer, Bilal, and Amir these fears and doubts have been brushed aside and we have been able to breathe that sigh of relief we needed so badly. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="597"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Given that the mentioned players are not world class by any means, but there is a spark within them and we can hope to refine and polish them into something the team is looking for. They can bowl, at least two of them can bat extremely well, and most of them are excellent fielders, which is enough for us to believe that our future in the shorter format is brighter and more secure than we actually thought it would be a few months back. Mohammad Rizwan’s welcome addition and Asad Shafiq’s lost cause in the ODIs [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Lastly, a comparison of two players with contrasting careers in the T20 format is a must. Mohammad Rizwan is gradually becoming the main stay towards the lower middle order of the team, in ODIs as well T20s, due to the obvious reason that he has shown his worth with every chance given to him by the team management. His innings in the first ODI match of the series, when Pakistan was five down for some 120 odd runs, was an absolute master class to watch, and is another example of why he is what Pakistan wants and needs instead of Umar Akmal or Maqsood. His energy on the field is above par, and during this short span of time, he is being called the Jhonty Rhodes of Pakistan. On the other hand, we have Asad Shafiq, who fails to deliver nearly every time he is given a chance As many things as they may be to admire in him at Test level, his performance in the ODI format is below par. Till now, he has played 58 ODIs over the past five years, in which he has scored 1318 runs at a below par average of 25.34 and with nine 50s to his credit. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="596"] Photo: AFP[/caption] He was given a chance yet again to perform in two out of three ODIs, even though he did manage a decent 38 in the last ODI, unfortunately he crumbled amidst a tense situation in the second ODI, chasing a wide ball outside the off stump. His continued failure raises a question as to when our selectors will realise Shafiq is not suitable for this format. Keeping in mind our young and skilled squad, as well as Pakistan’s recent performances against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, it’s safe to say we have a more than fair chance at winning the series against England.

In simple words, Younus Khan is a modern great. He now holds the record of most runs by a Pakistani Test batsman, has the most number of centuries, he has held the most catches by a Pakistani fielder and on top of all this, he has the best average among Pakistani batsman in Test cricket. These records become more exclusive when mentioned in retrospect, because our team has boasted of the inclusion of players such as Hanif Mohammad, Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Saleem Malik, Inzamamul Haq, Saeed Anwar and Mohammad Yousuf. Younus may not have the same elegance as Inzamam, he may not get under the skin of the opponent like Miandad and he definitely does not play the same silky smooth cover drives as Yousuf did. But Younus did not need any of this, he has his own style. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Initially, he used to be hopping and jumping at the crease, and then he began settling down by playing those famous back-foot cover drives. Eventually, he started taking charge of the spinners with those sixes over deep mid-wicket and then the occasional reverse sweeps. I feel it’s a pleasure to watch him play. He plays cricket just like cricket should be played. He always seems proud to wear a Pakistani shirt, with that slight arrogance about him but with a smile on his face. He is a true team player, putting up a strong fight against the opposition, never getting bogged down by the pressure, and most of all, he takes pride in his team mates success. Initially, it wasn't easy for Younus since he made his debut when he was 22-years-old. Having to replace the injured Ijaz Ahmed, he had some big shoes to fill, which he managed to do. A smashing debut century against Sri Lanka proved that he had the potential to succeed at the international level. But due to the presence of senior players, he had to wait for more chances to prove his worth. The passion and hunger for learning was always there though. He recalls how he used to carry kit bags of senior players on tour just to be around them and learn from them. His next big breakthrough came during the first Test on the tour of New Zealand in 2000-01 where he scored a match winning 91 and 149 not out, an inning he rates as one of his best. It made him believe that he belonged in the team. Chances kept coming his way and he took full advantage of them by scoring consistently. Under Waqar Younis’s captaincy he became an important part of the Pakistani team but lost his place in spot in the team after Inzamam took over as captain after the World Cup in mid-2003 after which he barely got to play Test cricket in the following year. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Younus finally made his mark on the international scene during Pakistan’s tour of India in 2005. He was under serious pressure to score after the first Test match, during which he scored nine runs and one run. Following that, he scored a remarkable 147 in the next Test and finally, during the final Test match, with the series levelled at 1-1, he scored a brilliant 267, an inning that lasted for 11 hours and 30 minutes. During the second innings of the final Test, he fired 84 runs, not out in the second innings to help Pakistan win a memorable series in India. In 2005, he scored a century against West Indies on their turf, a place where he always seemed to struggle. In 2006, during India’s tour of Pakistan, he scored 199 and 194 in the first two Test matches and captained the team during the final Test match at Karachi, leading them to a memorable series victory. Another brilliant inning of 173 against England at Leeds the same year cemented his credentials as one of the most important batsmen of Pakistan. Younus kept his form intact when he scored two consecutive centuries against South Africa in 2007 and also scored another century against India at Kolkata. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] He was named the captain of the Pakistani cricket team in 2009 during which he played his most memorable inning of 313, which is the third highest score by a Pakistani batsman in Test cricket. Although he fared well as a captain, especially in the shorter format, where he won the T20 World Cup for Pakistan, he could not stay at the post for long and after having several disagreements with the players and management, he stepped down from his captaincy and did not play for Pakistan for around one and a half year. In October 2010, when Misbahul Haq was named the captain of Pakistan, Younus was reinstated into the team and he made his presence felt by scoring a match-saving 131 not out after batting the whole day at the Dubai Cricket Stadium against a challenging South African attack. Free from captaincy worries, Younus started leading the team from the front as a senior batsman. Highlights of his career were when he helped Pakistan save the Sharjah Test match against Sri Lanka with his 122, a gritting match-winning century against England in Dubai, enabling Pakistan to whitewash the opposition, a match-winning double ton against Bangladesh in December 2011 and Zimbabwe in 2013, and scoring 111 against South Africa at Cape Town where Pakistan nearly won the match. Younus made his presence felt. Perhaps the world started noticing the greatness of Younus in 2014 when he, while trying to prove that he can still be part of Pakistan’s limited-over squad for the World Cup, scored quick fired centuries in both innings against Australia in the first match. His first century made him a top century scorer for Pakistan while his second century of 103 not out scored at a strike rate of 67.76 showed that he can prove a point or two with his batting. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] In the next Test he performed even better, a double century (213 runs of 349 balls) against Australia at a quick pace not only helped Pakistan clean sweep the Aussies but also helped him reach the milestone of 8000 Test runs for Pakistan, only the third Pakistani to achieve such a feat. During an interview he said,

“I am just an ordinary player. Records aside, I want to bat for my country and records are not my best identity. I want to be recognised as a batsman that always played for his country.”

“In the list of top test batsmen, I see the names of Indians and Sri Lankans. I want to put my name in the list of cricketers who have scored 10,000 Test runs just like the way I completed 30 Test tons. Someday I might be satisfied with my goals and achievements but I am pushing myself for more. I believe in next the two years if I remain in the same mode I see myself bigger than this and would like to score 10,000 runs.”

Pakistan’s T20 Captain, Shahid Afridi, has decided to retire from international cricket altogether after the World T20 in March 2016. All he wants as his retirement present is a win for his team. But from the looks of things, Afridi’s retirement present seems like quite a feat to achieve. With an overall winning percentage of 47 per cent, Afridi should count himself lucky to be leading a team which has played more T20 internationals than any other team in the world. With these statistics in mind, it can be said that things do not seem to be looking up for our team. Over the past 12 months, Pakistan has lost T20 series against giant opponents such as England and New Zealand and has won four out of seven games against Zimbabwe. The only win Pakistan managed to achieve was against Sri Lanka, where they won the series 2-0. Let’s not forget to add a staggering loss against Bangladesh as well. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo:AFP[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo:AFP[/caption] The list of losses doesn’t seem to end. If we add it up, Pakistan has played eight T20 matches against participating countries, out of which we have succeeded in winning only three. That’s a 38 per cent winning percentage. Not a figure to be proud of. We lost by 95 runs against New Zealand in the final T20 a few days back, which cast a dampening spirit over cricket fans and I am sure it must have demotivated most players on our team as well. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo:AFP[/caption] Is there a fault in Afridi’s captaincy? Or can other factors, such as coaching and the lack of teamwork be blamed for the dismal performances? Was the reporter right in cornering Afridi regarding his captaincy? Maybe. But keeping in mind his previous performances, the reporter’s question may not have been fully justified. I feel Afridi, without a doubt, is the most passionate captain Pakistan has ever had. He will, however, have to lead from the front this time around and behave responsibly rather than impulsively with the bat when he’s at the crease. This may be asking for too much, but it’s not like he hasn’t led Pakistan to victory before. No one can deny his all-round match winning performances which were quite evident during the ODI World Cup in 2011. During this series, he led Pakistan to the semi-finals and we went down fighting. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="543"] Photo:AFP[/caption] In 2009, during the World T20 we saw a completely different Afridi. He showed tremendous skill with the bat and ball. He has shown glimpses of his previous form during the New Zealand series as well, which will serve as an encouragement for the rest of the team. Lala has all the skills one demands from an aggressive leader and all the flamboyance one can expect from a match winner. The team however, need to pull their socks up if they wish to make it to the semi-finals or finals (I hope so) of the World Cup this time around. [poll id="416"] As far as the team management is concerned, Waqar Younis needs to strategise and draw up a winning unit. He should definitely utilise Sarfraz Ahmed, since he is an extremely talented player. Believe it or not, Sarfraz is a match winner. He has proven his worth during Test’s and ODI’s and I am pretty sure he could prove his worth during the shorter format, if only he is given a chance. His effectiveness can only be utilised if he bats in the top order. If he’s sent towards the lower order, as we had witnessed in the series against New Zealand, we won’t see him perform up to mark. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo:AFP[/caption] Waqar Younis needs to make his presence felt in all the right ways. He needs to prove that he isn’t just an effective Test coach, and that too may have a lot to do with Misbahul Haq’s captaincy rather than Waqar Younis’ coaching. I still believe that the current team (apart from maybe just a couple of changes) with which the Pakistani cricket team went into the series against New Zealand, is pretty balanced and is capable of achieving great results. Our team has all the talent in the world, but somehow the basics of teamwork are missing. Here’s to hoping our stars regain their lost forms in the Pakistan Super League and head to the World T20  as a strong and unified team.

When it comes to cricket, Pakistan has something or the other for everyone. Cricket is food for soul for a majority of Pakistanis, so it is understandable when the populace reacts to unjust happenings to cricketers who have held important places in not just the Pakistan cricket team but also in the hearts of thousands of Pakistani cricket fans. On a similar note is the story of Danish Kaneria. The right-arm leg-spinner ranked fourth in most number of wickets taken in international matches following the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Imran Khan, is currently living under the ban imposed upon him in 2012 due to allegations of spot-fixing. Danish Kaneria, the second Hindu to be serving in the Pakistan cricket team, took forth the legacy of Pakistani leg-spin bowlers. His contributions to the team include taking the most number of wickets. With the right amount of height, he had the power to turn the ball according to his whim, effortlessly. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Kaneria, 35, was sentenced to a life ban by an English disciplinary panel for spot-fixing in June 2012 while playing a match for Essex. Danish Kaneria’s story erupted on to the stage when Mervyn Westfield, an Essex bowler was found guilty of spot-fixing and was suspended from cricket. While pleading for his case and to save his own neck, he accused Danish Kaneria of being the middleman in his corrupt activity of spot-fixing. Now, as injustice has its way of destroying the innocent, upon Mervyn Westfield’s accusations, Danish Kaneria was banned for life from the one thing that he loved doing most; cricket. Not just from international cricket but also from domestic cricket, depriving not just the player but also his fans from experiencing the best of cricket. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Anything that we know for sure is that the allegations resulting in the life ban of Kaneria were never proven guilty. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had no hard or soft evidence to prove those allegations or base their punishment on. All they were relying on was a verdict of a convicted player. Besides that the local police did not find any illegal amount in his bank accounts nor did the judge ask the police to re-investigate the case. As far as the allegations of Kaneria hooking up Westfield with a bookie is concerned, there is more to the story than what we were told by the media. Danish Kaneria was introduced to the bookie, Anu Butt by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) manager, Asad Mustafa during a 2005 West-Indies tour. Not only Kaneria but other well-known players were also introduced to him. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Danish Kaneria with his son.
Photo: AFP[/caption] Being an ardent cricket fan, what didn’t appeal to my rationality is the fact that three other Pakistani players were caught red-handed for spot-fixing and after completion of their respective punishments, they are now back on the playing field. Why is this trio being allowed to play, despite being caught red-handed and spoiling the name of Pakistan? Is it because of pressure? Or because of their strong backgrounds? How can we forget their past especially when they denied their activities until proven guilty? My question is, why is Kaneria being kept off-ground? Is it because he belongs to a minority group? Especially when the allegations against him could not be proven. What makes for such a strong opposition case for Kaneria that his appeals against ECB’s decision were denied, not once but twice? How they so easily separate a soul from a body and cricket fans from cricketers is beyond me. I would want to question the media and especially PCB’s role in standing up for Kaneria. PCB took the main role in fighting for Mohammad Amir’s case and made sure that he returned to his due place in the field. Why is the PCB not taking charge of handling Kaneria’s case? Why is the PCB not forming a panel that can put Kaneria back into the field by talking about Kaneria’s version of the story? Or is this another one of the many ‘prejudiced’ cases because the person in question does not belong to the ‘mainstream’ group so will automatically be subject to the discrimination that scars this country’s face? Every story has two sides, but in Kaneria’s case we only know about the side that the media told us. We have yet to hear Kaneria’s version of the story. Another interesting fact is that Kaneria being a Pakistani player was charged, tried and punished in England and who knows how fairly the events took place. Danish Kaneria, however, still has faith in the ECB and believes they will restore justice and save him from starving himself. As much as PCB’s role is concerned, I think they can take measures to allow Kaneria to play domestic cricket, coach in academies, train young talent and earn enough to sustain his family instead of starving him out in the street considering the way he has been reduced to nothing in a tiny doubtful moment. I would request the higher authorities, especially the patron chief to look into the matter.