Indo-Pak cricketism: Pakistani cricketers return home!

- DR. ABDUL RUFF

[Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal, Chancellor-Founder of Centor for International Affairs(CIA); Specialist on State Terrorism ; Global columnist, Commentator  on world affairs , Expert on Mideast Affairs, Analyst on  sport fixings , Chronicler of Foreign occupations & Freedom movements (Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Xinjiang, Chechnya, etc.) Former university Teacher; website: http://abdulruff.wordpress.com/mail: abdulruff_jnu@yahoo.com]

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Victorious Pakistani cricketism team which clinched the series 2-1 against India in Indian favourite turfs and eventually, without a final win, got driven out of Delhi where the bowlers played to their full to concede a self-inflicted defeat, has been accorded a warm welcome in Pakistan.

Entire Pakistan was in an extra holiday mood. Youngsters carrying Pakistani flags, posters of their favourite players and banners danced and showered rose petals on the players as they came out of the terminal. 

After playing out 2 pro-batboy matches, the Indo-Pak tams must have decided to play a pro-bowler third and final match, exposing not only the batboy weaknesses and bowler strength, but also the menace of official match fixings.

Third ODI clearly showed if blowers do their duty honestly to their full potential, none can score 50 runs. And in the 3 ODI none got a 5o run claim- not even Pakistan rising star batsman Nasir Jamshed, who scored back-to-back centuries in the first two one-dayers in the series.  .

True, seemingly the most patent batboy of the times, Nasir Jamshed tormented the Indian bowlers in the just concluded series, became man of series but has forgotten to carry his man-of-the-series trophy with him. Jamshed said the two centuries he had made in the series had given him lot of confidence and self belief. "In the rush to get to the airport to return to   home land, I forgot my trophy but the team management says I will get it soon," Jamshed said.  "But the welcome we have got today is really out of this world and it shows just how important it was for us to win this series for the people," the left-hander said. "But I will be talking to Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar again to get tips from them on how to further improve my batting," the opener said. 



Pakistani captains for the T20 and ODI teams, Mohammad Hafeez and Misbah-ul-Haq both dedicated the victories in India to the nation.  "The team won the matches for the entire nation who backed us so whole-heartedly throughout the series," Hafeez said. The Pakistani T20 captain who featured prominently in the series with his all-round performances said the team had achieved what it had set out to do in India. Hafeez, who also climbed to number one spot on Monday in the ICC allrounder's rankings, said it was a personal triumph for him. "We were all eagerly looking forward to playing in India and it was a great experience for all of us." 

Misbah, who led the side to a 2-1 win in the one-day series, said Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan and Jamshed were the outstanding performers of the tour. "Before the tour we had this belief in our pacers that they would be the key to winning the matches in India and they didn't let us down. Junaid and Irfan bowled superbly throughout the series," Misbah said. Misbah said the team was very keen to complete a clean sweep in the one-day series. "Every player tried very hard and we didn't relax or underestimate our opponents at all. But the Indian team played better than us in the match (3rd ODI) and I think they had a lot more to lose in it so they played better." 

Hafeez and Misbah also praised the hospitality extended to the team in India.  "The Indian people turned out to be very sporting. They supported every good performance which was nice to see when playing in front of big crowds. Even otherwise, although we didn't get much time to move round, there was lot of respect and affection shown by them," Misbah said. 

It could be a pleasant irony that Pakistan rediscovered itself while in India If new top bowlers and batboys replace the outdated bowlers, Pakistan can make a real mark as the most formidable team in the world. India has wisely done it in the case of a fallen Sachin by asking him to quit ODI and play for local teams for next 100s because international bowlers have systematically denied him 100 score. Indian bowlers are already crying loud over Sachiun fate and it is considered their duty to make him shine at the crease!. Indians are wiser than Pakistanis!  

Pakistan needs to develop real all-rounders who can keep, bat, bowl and bat well. Currently hardly any bowler can bat effectively.  That is cause for their senseless defeat after restricting the Indian batboys to meagre 164 runs. They could have easily chased down that meagre total. One suspect if Pakistan deliberately lost by runouts and fake hits to let India get some relief in Delhi, although it speared Indian bowlers became too reckless later on. Pakistan happily offered huge 6s but India refused to reciprocate.  .

All hard work done by Pakistan bowlers have been squandered by the entire team in Delhi. It is not just the unpredictable nature of Pakistan - but mere Pak nonsense!

Unless a player does jobs of keeper, batboy, bowler and fielder he cannot be called an all-rounder.