Lateef Jafri
CRICKET is becoming so much a `draw` that it is year by year, if not day by day, expanding and the desert sheikhdoms have attained associate membership of the ICC and qualified to take part in the just-concluded World Cup. Certainly if Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar can throw the gauntlet in the global field in football and athletics they can with the resources at their command requisition the services of foreign trainers to become serious cricket competitors as well.
If the Philadelphian J.B. King can cross the Atlantic to show his swing, swerve and a fiery break-back and earn the plaudits of the English pen-pushers why can`t the Arabs turn their attention to cricket and wield a powerful bat and exhibit their trickery with the ball in the battle of wits on the playing field.
Asian cricket is expanding as Bangladesh is knocking at the doors of ICC for enlisting them as a full member. They are competitors at the continental level having joined the comity of Asian Cricket Council. As associate or affiliate members Brunei, Fiji, Malaysia, Nepal, and Papua New Guinea will in future come out of their cloisters as Hong Kong stages regular six-a-side or eighta-side shows with the participation of youngsters and veterans.
Singapore has shown the sense and sensibility to initiate a South Asian triangular. Cricket interest will be ignited and sooner than later the Island State will itself raise a squad and join the fray. Perhaps a time is not far off when a combined Asian team will lock horns with a full European side and Kerry Packer will invade America to broaden and develop cricket. It will be then that the game will become a rival of football in popularity and agitated and enthusiastic mobs will fill all the space at a venue like sardines to give the players their due and a big hand.
As the seeds of Asian cricket are being sown, Singapore has organised a purely subcontinents competition with the presence of the World Champions in international one-dayers, Sri Lanka. The other two combatants in the Island triangular are India and Pakistan, arch-rivals and not prepared to make any concessions on the field of play.
Sri Lanka, having lifted the World Cup this month, should be taken as odd-on favourites. They are hard hitters of the ball. The squad had depth in batting with flamboyant and cavalier batsmen like Gurusinha, Mahanama, Aravinda de Silva, Tillekeratne and Ranatunga to name only a few. After their World Cup success, with confidence soaring they must be capable of tackling any sort of bowling. Their pace attack is slightly inferior but the spinners are cunning and clever, possessing the tricks of the trade. It is they who will lure the batsmen into making errors. Their fielding is keen and quick but captain Ranatunga knows his field placing. The hits will exactly travel where the fielders are standing. Ranatunga solves the problems of the matches as a thoughtful captain see his calmness, deportment, concentration and cautious yet enterprising approach to the Calcutta and Lahore duels.
India too has a strong batting lineup but regrettably they have developed a tendency and psychology to depend too much on the skillful Tendulkar. The rival squad wants to keep him quiet and earn his scalp to gain ascendancy for its team. Tendulkar may be the driving force for India but the latter batsmen have developed a complex and are soon overwhelmed and make a beeline to the pa- vilion. If Tendulkar gets going India are a force and in a posi- tion to win matches.
India`s seam attack is effective but not as penetrating and violent as that of Pakistan. Their spinners have the variety to challenge the batsmen`s mettle. However, the Calcutta happening has hit their morale and it is to be seen if they can play true to their potential.
Pakistan`s bowling is superior to all the three competitors in the triangular. With a fearsome and vehement action that Waqar Younis has he can shake any batting line. However, occasionally and more so on the big occasion he becomes careless; there is no change in pace, line and length. The tragic situation developed in Bangalore where he was smote for 40 runs in the last two overs.
Perhaps there won`t be a repeat of such a sad occurrence. He is a hard antagonist and may yet prove to be a match-winner. Aqib Javed, Akram and Ata ur Rahman have to sweat hard in Singapore and have not to throw to the winds the accuracy needed in the at- tack.
The curving and twisting deliveries of Mushtaq and Saqlain Mushtaq are good enough to deceive and trouble the batsmen.
Pakistan has a chance to take a sweet revenge from India and also turn the tables on Sri Lanka despite the latter`s grit and determination.
The fielding of Pakistan has to show improvement as the Lankans have displayed. But it appears difficult with Intikhab Alam the manager and supervising the camp that just ended. He was a poor fielder in his playing days and one thought a replacement was due.
The regular captain is still nursing his injury. One hopes Aamir Sohail rises to the occasion and puts up his best possible performance as a batsman, bowler and captain.