I do not wish but doubt

Pakistan did win its 1^st match against host Bangladesh in Asia Cricket Cup but I have my serious doubts that we lift the cup where India and Sri Lanka is also playing.  Firstly if we critically see the match result between Pakistan and Bangladesh it will be established that we did not play up to our reputation. We could not give a difficult target to Bengalis and at one point Bengalis were very much nearer to win but unluckily for them and luckily for us their last batsmen who were bowlers in any case could not sustain and failed to score the remaining runs which were not that many in any case. Remember, Bangladesh is not that ranking team like us so over victory over them is not to boast about. Which one of our certified batsman scored and how much and that too against low rated Bengalis?

Now coming to India and Sri Lanka match played yesterday one can very safely but regretfully say that both the teams have proved to be much better teams than Pakistan. Target of 306 given by India to Sri Lanka itself speaks aloud of their strength and though Sri Lankans ran short of 50 runs to taste defeat but nevertheless they were never awed and felt timid and its batsmen really played very heroic innings from each and every angle. Had we been given such big target like that I very seriously doubt that Pakistani batsmen could have even reached 250 in reply what to talk of scoring 306 to win.  Very seldom we have come up to face any gigantic task like this. Indian batsmen Gautham Gambhir and Virat Kohli had scored 205 at 2^nd wicket partnership whereas we have seen that at times even our whole team what to talk of just two players struggles to score that much.

I as a Pakistani quite but naturally wish that we lift the cup but in the given situation when I have seen our performance in the 1^st game it is very much difficult if not impossible for us to defeat Sri Lanka and India to lift the cup unless we restore our past glory when we lifted World Cup. Not only mere wish even if duly punctuated with the prayers of millions of Pakistanis including myself will work at all and fetch the good news rather on the contra only the dedicated work of just 11 players will earn us the laurels so now we very vividly know as to where lies the result-in the air or on the ground. We do not lack in any quarter whatsoever. Our team has a foreign coach; experienced manager; seasoned players and millions of prayers so where does it lack and how, may I ask?

Who opposes me or for that matter who garlands me?

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait /