Match #23 : Pakistan v Zimbabwe

Pak 17-2

As I watch in some dismay and subconscious satisfaction, the Pakistani batsmen make trouble for themselves yet again for the 3rd consecutive time in this World Cup, I am aware that this is not good for Cricket.

The problem is twofold. After India's 1.2 Billion, Pakistan's 180 Million people are the second biggest population following Cricket as their most popular sport. Bangladesh is the 3rd with its 160 Million, but whereas the incompetence of the Bangladeshi Cricket team makes them perennial no-hopers, Pakistan is actually an original superpower of the game. If they are knocked out of the tournament without even reaching the Quarter final, it will mean hundreds of millions of TV screens switched off all over the world where the Pakistani diaspora follow their team. This would mean a huge financial challenge for Cricket. Even more serious however would be the potential impact on the game itself in Pakistan.

Pakistan is perhaps the greatest fast bowling nation in Cricket, and the only one to rival the mighty West Indies teams of the 70s, 80s and 90s in terms of fast bowling firepower. Even now, when the West Indian stables are empty, Pakistan keeps throwing up rustic lads with the trademark hairstyle sprinting in and flinging the Cricket ball at extreme speed with no thought to the pain it causes the human body. Pakistani Cricket is a story of courage, style, flair, and fearlessness, if not consistency.

An early exit from the World cup would mean further undermining of the sport in a country already troubled by the loss of international Cricket within its borders. No other nation except Afghanistan plays 100% of its international Cricket outside its borders. While Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are the best places to live in Pakistan, and provide fantastic Cricket facilities probably more modern and better maintained than in Pakistan itself, these grounds cannot compare to Qaddafi stadium or National Stadium, or even Multan or Peshawar, where the beating heart of Pakistan Cricket really lives.

Pakistani fans represent more than 10% of the global following of the sport, and its players represent a unique, rich and undoubtedly great tradition. The loss of both would do incalculable damage to World Cricket. There are fans at Brisbane today holding up a sign saying the miracle of 1992 will be repeated, but there are 3 question marks on that sign, as there must be in the hearts of every Pakistani fan hoping against hope now as their team's chances recede further. For their sake, I hope that Afridi's retirement does not coincide with the beginning of the end for Cricket in Pakistan. Hope that it does not come to pass that the only memory of Pakistan Cricket will be its bastard step-child the Afghan Cricket team.

Pak 127-4
Yet another time that U Akmal gets out in the 30s. The best thing that can be said about U Akmal is that he is not K Akmal.  Afridi walks in.

Pak 127-5
Afridi walks out. No addition to the score board. Way to draw down the curtain on a 20 year career glittering with great promise, flashes of mad brilliance and little else. Feel Waseem bhai's pain in the commentary box. This must hurt.

CWC 15 Match #17: Afghanistan v Scotland

What a game yesterday. Afghanistan had Scotland 8 down at 142, but the Scots tail wagged and stretched it to 210. Still, it seemed Afghanistan's day. Watched them until 85 for 2, seemed like smooth sailing so took a break. Come back 30 minutes later it is 95 for 7!!!!! How did that happen? Thought it is all over and switched off in the living room, but something did not feel right so switched on the bedroom TV and watched again, and stayed watching until the end!! What an end! Oh Shenwari!! Oh Hamid Hassan! Just kept plugging away. 76 from 85, 72 from 72, chipping away, Shenwari turning down easy singles to stay on strike and shield Hassan until with 40 more to get from 30, Hassan started to ask for singles. What fantastic fielding by the Scots!! Best I have seen thus far in the tournament. Berrington, Evans, McLeod, Coetzer!! Every hard hit was stopped, 4s converted to singles, singles converted to zeros. Then THAT over. Shenwari takes 19 off Majid Haq and its 19 from 19. But oh no!! Shenwari hits one right into the hands of Berrington in cow corner, and it is just one wicket remaining. Shapoor!! The Zadran! So cool, while Hassan was visibly nervous. 19 from 18, 18 from 16, 13 from 11, 10 from 8, the Afghans hanging on by a thread. Last over, 5 from 6, 4 from 4. And finally the Scots blinked. One bad ball, played off the hips by Shapoor for a 4 and its over. What a match!

CWC 15 Match #18: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka

Bangladesh are a blot. If their play matched their imagination of how they play, they would be better than Clive Lloyd's West Indies. In reality, they make Jason Holder's West Indies look like Ponting's Australia. At the moment they are sitting on Ireland's spot at the ICC full member's table, and doing it without any shame or remorse. They have been at the top level long enough to actually now show something for it, but they have nothing. No Asia cup, no ICC event semifinals even, no Test wins away from home against the top 8 teams. Forget the results, they do not look like they will win anything. Their players, generation after generation, look stylish and attractive, but can not summon up the maturity and consistency or even simple grit to win. Afghanistan wins, often wins ugly. Ireland wins, sometimes wins ugly. Bangladesh have perfected the art of looking good while losing. Useless.