Pakistan towards 20/20 Victory Stand 

 - By  Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

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The two best cricket teams, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have reached the 20/20 finals and one of them will lift the trophy and go home as 20/20 champions of this edition.  West Indies have already packed off to reach home to treat to the eventual thrashes there the Indians who have left long back after being thrown out of the field at Super8 level itself denying them entry into Semifinals without necessary gate passes.

South Africa’s Exit

South Africa played extremely well through out but fell at the pre-finals.   India is happy that at least SA is finished now. On 16 June, on a spin-friendly Trent Bridge surface, South Africa’s slow bowlers rubbed salt and some spices into India’s gaping World Twenty20 wounds, defending a modest total of 130 with consummate ease. The real difference between the sides though was AB de Villiers, who batted quite magnificently for a 51-ball 63 on a pitch where no other batsman excelled. Botha and Dale Steyn snuffed out the challenge to send South Africa through to the semi-final undefeated. India lost again and with not a single win in the Super 8s stage.

The South African juggernaut was brought to a screeching halt by Shahid Afridi who, with a little help from his team-mates, dumped the tournament favorites out of the World Twenty20 and secured Pakistan’s place in the final. Afridi put in an all-round performance of tremendous intensity, lifting Pakistan to a defendable total with an aggressive yet methodical half-century, before bowling a spell that left the South Africans struggling at Trent Bridge.

Pakistan coach's Intikhab Alam had said on the eve of the game on 18 June that his team would be looking to set a target of around 150. Pakistan got exactly that after an innings which followed a strangely symmetrical pattern. Pakistan’s early dominance was due to Akmal, who was intent on smashing the ball from the start. Pakistan had raced to 47 for 2 after six overs, with Afridi pulling Jacques Kallis twice through midwicket but South Africa then cut off the boundary supply.

After winning the Semis before going for the finals for another showcase, Afridi, the Man of the Match on 18 June in UK said: I am very happy to see my team in the Finals. My captain and coach supported me a lot, I asked them to send me at Number 3 or send me to open, they believed me and that has paid too. I am enjoying both my batting and bowling. Everything is coming out well with the bowling, I am very happy today.

South Africa went in to this tournament as the favorites and Pakistan, who started as a very ragged unit, came to the fore when it mattered the most, to send South Africa packing. Something about World tournaments and South Africa! They choke just when it matters after showing great promise and the story has not changed this time around either. Chasing 150 was not going to be easy with Pakistan’s bowling, but it was neither beyond reach. Afridi bowled exceedingly well and Gul came in late to fire in those lovely yorkers to seal the game in Pakistan’s favor.

Although it  is sad to note that South Africans lost the most critical match so far, but its is, on the other hand, heartening to see a supposedly weak Pakistani team overwhelmed the champions in a convincing but dramatic fashion. SA skipper Smith remarked: We lost the plot midway, some really good bowling made sure that we stayed behind all the time. It's unfortunate. I think we were beaten by a good team, we played well but they were better.

The clinical South African side, unbeaten in the competition, were favorites going in to the semi-final and their bowlers fought admirably to restrict Pakistan to 149 when, at one stage a total of 170 seemed on the cards. Jacques Kallis anchored the South African reply with 64 from 54 balls including seven fours and a six. South Africa had reached 40 for 0 in the sixth over when Mohammad Aamer gave Pakistan an opening, holding a skier of Graeme Smith off his own bowling, minutes after the South African captain had been dropped by Gul. Afridi beat the dangerous Herschelle Gibbs (5) with a leg-spinner outside the off-stump and then bowled him with a delivery that slipped straight through. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was also outstanding with one for 23 from four overs and his dismissal of Kallis, caught on the long-on boundary by Shoaib Malik, was the beginning of the end for South Africa.

Kallis and JP Duminy prevented the fall of any more wickets but they were unable to raise the run-rate.

South Africa had made a dominant start, racing to 44 from the first five overs. Both Graeme Smith and de Villiers cut powerfully and there was one magnificent straight drives from de Villiers. But tye ended pathetically. But they defended their meager score forcefully. And they won. Throughout the matches, it was a struggle. The real difference between the sides was AB de Villiers, who batted quite magnificently for a 51-ball 63 on a pitch where no other batsman excelled South Africa most certainly are the best, but are not the best batsmen around. .

A target of 150 appeared less than what Pakistan was on course to get when Afridi was at the crease. But Afridi the bowler ensured that it would be enough. South Africa desperately needed Afridi's wicket and it was duly picked up by JP Duminy, who struck with his first ball. After Pakistan innings of 149, skipper Smith applauded his bowlers as he rushed back to begin the innings target of 150 to win. A commentator quipped quickly: "SA have a good chance of making this. They have a very good batting side. And this is a good pitch."

Forward

Shahid Afridi shone with bat and ball as Pakistan dumped South Africa by seven runs to storm into the World Twenty20 final at Nottingham. "The crowd simply loves it, Afridi's not given Pakistan fans an innings to cheer for a while now and they are relishing it. It's a near full house at Trent Bridge and massive support for Pakistan." When he was out and was leaving, the crowds gave him a standing ovation. Afridi was the real hero there.

Boom Boom Afridi!!! Flash Flash Pakistan!!! That is the best way to summarize this fantastic game of cricket. Yes, Pakistan won 20/20 Semifinals by 7 runs and go through to their second consecutive ICC World Twenty20 Final on 18 June. Shahid Afridi conjured a spectacular all-round performance to propel Pakistan to a seven-run victory over South Africa in their Twenty20 World Cup semi-final at Trent Bridge on Thursday. Afridi scored 51 from 34 balls in Pakistan’s 149 for four and then took two for 16 from his four overs as South Africa struggled to 142 for five.
After Afridi's departure, only Shoaib Malik with 34 from 39 made any impact and Pakistan added just 29 from the last five overs with one boundary.

The man always appeared to be hurry to hit 4s and 6s is a different mould now has some patience to stay on for some more time and score more quick runs. Afridi swung his bat in an arc but the bat lift had clearly been cut down. Instead of aiming ambitious sixes over extra cover, Afridi was only chipping it over the fielder. It must be the only fifty in Afridi's career where he did not hit a single six and still took just 34 balls to reach the half century. This is his first half century in any form of cricket after 18 months. He shunned opening, where all his big innings have materialized and preferred middle order.

Just when Shahid Afridi's international career was touted as over, he rolled back his years in magnificent style, fashioning Pakistan’s seven-run victory over South Africa to power his side into the finals of the Twenty20 World Cup at Trent Bridge.

Afridi still is the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2007 edition of ICC World Twenty20, that he still has the fastest hundred off mere 37 balls in one-day cricket; that the 18 balls he took for his half century once is only one ball off the fastest ever; that he has 249 sixes from 276 matches; that he has been one of the leading bowlers in ODIs for the last two successive years.

Afridi, batting at number three, finally recaptured the explosive form which makes him such a threat in ODIs. Afridi was a runaway man-of-the-match but it's just not his qucikfire 51 runs and two for 16 spell alone, he mattered when Pakistan were tottering at 28 for two in the third over while batting and hopelessly watching South Africa coast to 40 for no loss in the sixth over in the second half. Faith once again was put on his strong Afridi shoulders and Pakistan chose him as its' best man when a crisis was brewing. Another wicket at that stage and Pakistan were as good as gone. South Africa, like a shark, had tasted blood and was circling in the pool menacingly. He repaid the faith of selectors and cricket fans with interest at Trent Bridge.

Now Pakistan pins a lot hopes on Afridi among others, and that is quite natural.

Indian Complex

Denied backdoor entry, Indians have run away to West Indies to relax for a few days before they begin another edition of practice in possible cricket exercises. Accompanied by the media persons the Indian cricket boys would land in New Delhi not now, but after some time when they complete the wreckage in West Indies.

India, the defending 20/20 champion, is offended now for being openly humiliated in UK thoroughly on the grounds, legally. Immediately after the Indian poll that was won with back money and foreign support this deadly defeat is indeed deadly for the innocent India.

It was SA which finally kicked Indian out of the field without conceding some complementary gift to them. South Africa’s innings had followed a similar sort of pattern. None of the other batsmen looked remotely at ease once the pace was taken off the ball, and India's pace bowlers were left to watch from the outfield until Zaheer Khan was called on to complete the innings. SA made Indian boys enjoy initially, also the paid commentators, they all had started with some panache, as Gautam Gambhir creamed both Steyn and Wayne Parnell through the covers. After demolishing all Indian hopes on English soil, Graeme Smith said: I thought 130 was a good total. The wicket was not quite good. We needed to adapt to the surface. Our fielding was great and the guys bowled very well in the middle period. Today was the day of the slower bowlers with this pitch helping them a lot.

 Of late, India is shambles as far as sports are concerned, perhaps, because their coercive diplomacy has failed. Obviously, the Indian sport s portals do not enough space to report the remarkable performance of Pakistan and it is understandable. If fact India was undergoing painful time now a win by neither South Africa nor Pakistan would have made them happy. Any one who chanced to listen to the awful fast running commentaries of paid Indian at4rocioauyus specialists on AIR (anti-Islamic radio) will readily testify the Indian mindset of arrogance and big boss attitude.

Indians consider sport teams as an extension of terror military forces expecting them to win every where demolishing every body around. Indians crumpled when Indian cricket was looking to flex its muscles, but the die hard fans showcase instincts of fascism in expressing their over ambition and jealousy. . Indian supporters are the "most immature" in the cricketing world and they should grow up and accept defeat as an essential part of the game, says former England captain Mike Atherton. In an article in The Times, Atherton said Indian fans need to understand that the team they support will not win everything. It is time for Indian cricket supporters to grow up and accept defeat as an essential part of the game. Indian supporters, the most immature in cricket, cannot seem to grasp this simple fact. After India crashed out of the Twenty20 World Cup, fans in India have reacted with unbridled anger, trying to make Delhi favorite Shewag to be the skipper. The Indian fans tend to go overboard with their reaction to both success and failure. Veneration of India great has now turned to vituperation. There is not even a mentioning of 20/20 Women’s cricket which India lost miserably to New Zealanders. On has to find the right word  to describe such small minded attitude of Indians and their media

There was a feeble hope, however, among the media lords and state paid commentators that South Africa would some how let Indians take the last match in Super8 before quitting England so that India news media impatiently waiting by keeping space for photos and write-ups and could give prime space in multicolors about the India thrashing the best team. When SA made a paltry 130 runs in the allowed 20 overs, the hope became a nourishable possibility and the openers hit some good knocks giving substance to the dream, but Indians collapsed at 118 for 8 wickets.

When many names are doing the round for the next skipper, Zaheer Khan, a non-Delhiite, is not one among them. Some argue Khan lacks the charisma and magnetism of a leader, the approach and command of a captain.

The IPL India 2009 hurriedly played in South Africa by Indian players with foreign assistance powered by Indian black money has not done the expected magic for India and India is on the death bed now. The IPL outcome was disastrously against India interests. Now 20/20 also proved to be anti-India. India is indeed in a pathetic situation.

A Comment: Can Pakistan overwhelm Sri Lanka?

That is the question, because the winner of 20/20 trophy would be decided on 21 June. But as far this writer is concerned it was decided on 18 June itself when the world‘s best cricketers were overwhelmed by Pakistan team, which finished the runner s up last time. 

On domestic scene Pakistan is in shambles now with more and more human casuaiites in many parts of the country caused not only by state terror bouncers and the by US drones. But in cricket, Pakistan is placed better and way ahead now. The 20/20 is dominated by bowling and bating almost failed with a few exceptional shots from all players irrespective of the country they represented. Bowlers decided the outcome of the matches while the batsmen, even best, could not provide fluid runs as they use dot do. Pakistani skipper who other wise cannot resist temptations to blast 4s stayed at the crease like a stranded passenger at Karachi station without taking risks and hoping for some miracle to happen.

In the final at Lord's on 21 June on Sunday, Pakistan will meet Sri Lanka that beautifully thrashed West Indies the winners of Friday's semi-final. Pakistanis deserve the trophy the most. A nation in total dislocation and turmoil, Pakistan needs some solace form the players at least. Pakistan's run to the final of the Twenty20 World Cup has helped lift the mood in the country following months of suicide bombings, militant attacks and economic hardships.

Indian post-paid commentators should be some professionalism but it seems the only thing they know is to be biased in their estimation and sometimes their “wishes” purely transform into words and “slip out” of their mouths. Absolutely nonsense! At the recent SCO meeting in Russia the leaders of Pakistan and India met for the first time after the Mumbai-Lahore terror shots. In fact except the Pakistani president Zardari, no other leader took Indian premier Manmohan Zardarji seriously. Will Indians, including Muslims, now pray for Pakistan? 

The question is not about winning the finals alone, but doing enough justice to what ones tries to do. Pakistan should play to the fullest capability of each cricketer so that even a loss would not be a real problem, rather it will a stimulating challenge for future.  India did enough, rather maximum, but could not deliver and had to vacate the UK stadium, but they feel humiliated because of their superiority complex. Unless they shed a part of it, India will have going tougher in future.

Rise of Pakistan at least in cricket is no good muse for the ears of Hindus and their Muslim assistants in India. All strategic maneuverings they have indulged in so far have brought disgrace to them.  It is no hush-hush that the contention between India and Pakistan is bottomless and sour but once again the Indians have proven themselves as being a nation who seems to be against the very idea of Pakistan.

Pakistan should do well keeping in mind, Sri Lanka almost buried the West Indians on 19 June before reaching the finals. WI opted to field but could not restrict the WI, and also they lost 3 wickets in the first six balls with just a single run on board and it then appeared SL would require just a couple of overs more to wind up the match and kick the WI out back home where Indians were eagerly waiting. Some how, WI reached 101 with 9 batsmen failing to reach even the double digit..  Younis Khan was reluctant to takes risk even though they have plenty of wickets at hand and was confident that 140 plus would be a safe account and Pakistan could successfully defend 149. South Africa thrashed Indian in the Super 8 level by clipping 9 wickets. While India lost only 3 wickets and won the match against the SA super cricket king.

Younis Khan has full confidence in his bowlers and the bowlers did they defence job neatly for their team restricting SA to 142 runs. Pakistan hopes to win the finals and take home the trophy too. Hard work and sincerity pay, they say. Someone asked Afridi, can you win the tournament? And he quickly replied “Inshallah".  I enjoyed batting, bowling and fielding. It was our last chance. This is the semi-final. I was just trying to keep wicket to wicket; there was some turn and bounce." Best Wishes!

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Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

Independent Researcher in World Affairs, The only Indian to have gone through entire India, a fraud and terror nation,
South Asia.