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Pakistan Cricket: Some reasons to smile Agha Akbar - 10 November 2001
More important than the win at Sharjah is the fact that Pakistan seems to have come out of the rebuilding phase
More important than the win itself is the fact that Pakistan seems to have come out of the rebuilding phase. Other than the opening pair, most other problem areas have been sorted out, and with its self-confidence restored, it looks all set to go places. Here are some of the reasons for the confidence that Pakistan is back to its winning ways.
Waqar Younis' earning his spurs as skipper:
Getting the captaincy at the same age as Imran (at least on paper), and a big heart have given a new lease of life to Waqar's career. Barring a mishap or injury, he is likely to lead Pakistan's campaign for the 2003 World Cup with a side to reckon with.
Wasim Akram's sublime form: Right when he seemed to have lost his wicket-taking touch permanently, he literally bootstrapped himself up, giving a virtuoso performance in all the games that he played.
Whatever, the end result is a Wasim Akram rejuvenated, both in body and spirit. His determination reflected not just in his bowling and body language. It oozed from his entire demeanor. He was never spendthrifty with runs. Now he was downright mean - much in the same mould as Curtly Ambrose, who by the way heaped praise on him the other day, counting him amongst the best of his generation. The return to sublime form of this most successful bowler in one-day cricket restores the depth, variety and lethalness of the Pakistan attack. All these attributes had contributed to much of Pakistan's success in the '90s.
The magic of Saqlain Mushtaq: There cannot be a greater compliment than even the best of the best trying to emulate you. While some critics would like to point out that Saqlain may need to pick a trick or two from Muralitharan's book while bowling in the longer version of the game, the Lankan maestro has already added the former's 'doosra', the one that turns the other way, to his repertoire. Then Saqlain is not just lethal on his own; in the company of three genuine quicks and a fastish leg-spinner, he becomes a force multiplier.
The medical evidence is so compelling that one feels positive that Shoaib Akhtar would ride out this latest storm on his action. More so, because there is already the precedence set by Muralitharan. With his many injuries and illnesses behind him, he bowled fast at Sharjah; his rhythm and penetration was back. He looked an awesome force, and augmented the pace department admirably. Such a super draw card, he has the charisma to attract fans for himself and followers for his team.
Presence of genuine all-rounders: In contrast, Abdur Razzaq remains a steady customer, chipping in with runs and wickets. At Sharjah he was a tad expensive with the ball and since the upper order mostly delivered, he was not required to contribute too often with the bat. But the presence of these two genuine all-rounders, along with Wasim Akram and 'keeper Rashid Latif, gives Pakistan's batting and bowling a lot of depth. Combined, this quartet quite often makes up for the brittleness of the upper order.
Rashid Latif has had a checkered career, but in his latest comeback he has not put a foot wrong. At 32, eyebrows were raised when he was preferred over Moin Khan, his junior by three years. But unlike a fumbling Moin, who dropped a chance or two almost every game, Latif has not had a single lapse behind the stumps. And he has made extremely useful contributions in front too. Fully fit now, which he was not when he embarked on the plane to England, he is likely to last beyond the 2003 World Cup.
Batting giving a robust look: Yousuf Youhana was promoted to one-drop, a key position which had seen makeshift arrangements since Ijaz Ahmed. It remains to be seen whether Youhana opts for this position on a permanents basis. If he does, it would give the upper order a much more solid look. Especially because the opening pair remains unsettled despite quite a few talented youngsters around, who have also given a good account of themselves. Naved Latif too seems to be a genuine article, but he essentially being a middle order batsman would be relegated down the order. To his credit, Shahid Afridi has learnt to be slightly more circumspect. He even played some delicate shots, perhaps for the first time in his career. A leg glance and a couple of late cuts off his blade, all fetching fours, must have driven the message home: runs could also be gathered and fast without bludgeoning the leather.
Mudassar Nazar's induction as coach:
The flip side: Saeed Anwar has been one of the greats that Pakistan produced in the '90s, but of late, he seems to have lost quite a bit of his once glorious touch and concentration. That is why he has been inconsistent. He has also often been bogged down with injuries and health problems. All these have taken their toll. He is a fielder that a skipper cannot hide and with a substitute often filling in for him on the field, he still manages to miss the odd catch and giving away valuable runs. The selectors should by now be preparing themselves for the unpleasant duty of saying thank you to him. If they are not, they fail to do justice to their jobs. After all, the most difficult part of their duty is to take care of such serious problems while the bulk of the team mostly selects itself. You cannot select a player on past performances, or Allan Border and Mark Taylor would still be batting for Australia. © CricInfo Limited
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