Moin proves Pakistan are far from out (6 June 1999)

6 June 1999

Moin proves Pakistan are far from out

The Electronic Telegraph

Pakistan can never be accused of playing safe. They are the Jekyll and Hydes of international cricket and can be at once either outstanding or ordinary. They are a team full of mavericks, filled with talent, both brilliant and fallible. Not for them the virtues of hard work, graft and honest toil.

Their captain has faith in such a mix and despite the fact that they were blown away by Lance Klusener in the gathering gloom at Trent Bridge, their World Cup challenge will remain strong.

The 1999 team, to the same extent as their World Cup-winning predecessors, fight like "cornered tigers" and nobody fits the description more than Moin Khan. Although he is from Karachi his ancestry is Pathan, by nature aggressive and warrier-like, and here his fighting qualities were to the fore when his team needed them most.

At 118 for five Pakistan were in the grip of some tight South African bowling, and after he departed an hour later for 63 off 56 balls, he alone had given the Pakistan bowlers a target to defend.

He came to the crease after Inzamam-ul-Huq's dismissal. Can there ever have been two more contrasting cricketers cross on the pitch than Moin Khan and Inzamam?

The latter, run out for the 30th time in international cricket, ambled off at the pace you would take your dog for a walk. Moin entered the fray, all hustle, arms pumping and immediately set about injecting some urgency into the faltering Pakistan innings.

At the start, his bat and the white Duke ball had barely a passing acquaintance. A combination of attempting to play to third man with half a bat and the swing resulted in many a swish at fresh air. He is too experienced a cricketer to be fazed however, and he battled through his difficult period by dropping the ball at his feet and engineering the gaps and gradually the fluency came. Even the Pakistan running between the wickets, up until then faltering and suspect, gained momentum.

His technique is unorthodox and he often finds himself in a tangle at the crease. But it is his hands which get him out of trouble. Crouching over his bat in an old-fashioned way and without much foot movement to speak of, he manoeuvres the ball as well as the best of Pakistan's hockey players, using pace and scoring mainly behind the wicket.

With six overs to go he realised the need to open his shoulders. And it was almost as if he waited for South Africa's strike bowler Allan Donald before he made his move. In a ferocious assault, perfectly good deliveries were hoisted over square leg, in a manner reminiscent of Viv Richards in his pomp.

The bowlers adjusted their line to the off and he stepped away and smeared them through extra cover. I have never seen Donald and Pollock so rattled. When he became the third Pakistan batsman to be run out he had transformed the innings, without which this match, which we had awaited with such expectation, would have been one-sided.

His contribution did not end there. Does a wicket-keeper's contribution ever end? And immediately upon the restart there he was urging his bowlers on, berating the fielders, Schmeichel style, should they send in a poor throw. And when the match was finely balanced it was Moin, running backwards who helped Saqlain to achieve a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Jacques Kallis.

Like all wicket-keepers of course he gets up the opposition's nose. I remember when he appeared as a substitute fielder during the Lord's Test in 1996. He immediately perched himself next to me at silly point and constantly chirped away, offering advice on how I should be playing the leg-spin of Mushtaq Ahmed. Within five minutes chaos reigned, and the two captains, old friends from Lancashire days, had to be separated by the umpire.

Wasim Akram has recognised Moin's talents and returned him to the team at the expense of Rashid Latif. One of the hallmarks of any great team is a quality contribution from the wicket-keeper both in the field and with the bat. In the absence of Ian Healy from this tournament Moin Khan has been the outstanding figure.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph