Salahuddin Haider
Yes, it was heart-warming—the 7-wicket victory against South Africa in the first cricket Test in Karachi. The match ended within 4 days, rejoicings were there in the Pakistani camp, but the question needing serious thoughts was whether celebrations were really worthy of the occasion, or whether the win taught us some grim lessons also?
It surely did. Time therefore is to plug the holes before laurels, earned at the National Stadium, turns sour, and begins to haunt us like monsters. The biggest questions needing urgent attention is to find a reliable opening pair that could give the playing eleven a befitting start for middle or lower order to build castles on firmer grounds.
In both the innings Abid Ali and Inam Butt went back quickly, which unfortunately is the weakest link, noticed so far. Consistency in batting, or someone appearing in sheet anchor role has been missing too. The usual explanation, heard since long that such tendencies to throw wickets away carelessly, or to apply at a slow, and dicey wicket like the one laid down at the National Stadium, can no longer satisfy critics or fans, glueing to their TV sets to expect something much better than hitherto produced so far.
Gone are the days when masters like Mushtaq Mohammad, Zaheer Abbas, Asif Iqal, lent the much needed strength to the team in trouble, or openers like Majid and Sadiq or Saeed Anwar and AAmir Sohail, looked like demons for the opposition.
The fault in my opinion lay in selection and coaching boath. Misbahul Haq was a defensive captain and followed defensive approach in modern day’s game too. He forgets that cricket has undergone tremendous changes. Likewise, Waqar Yunus, without who we won the 1992 world cup. Aqib Javed and Wasim Akram wreaked havoc on rivals.
However emergence of middle and lower order batsmen like Rizwan Faheem Ashraf, during Newzealand tour, and in the latest game which ended Friday, Fawad Alam, called after 11 years, was a matter of real joy. They showed guts and fighting capabilities, pulling up teams from complete collapse, and even restoring its prestige at crucial moments. The age-old maxim that class in permanent and form temporary was proven once again—by Azhar Ali, and skipper Babar Azam. They failed in the first innings, but took the country to victory in second innings.
If Fawad Alam had hit a majestic six to complete his 100 in the first knock, he again registered a tremendous boundary to fetch victory for his side. But the hero of the match was debutant Nauman Ali who became the fourth spin bowler for Pakistan to bag 5 wickets in an innings.He and Yasir were real headache for Proteas as they shared 14 wickets among them, 7 each, which was a matter of tremendous joy. Yasir was a bit expensive, But left arm slow bowler Nauman was not only accurate but economical as well. The new chief selector Mohammad Waseem, deserves praise for picking a new look side to groom youngsters for the future. That in itself is a happy augury.
