Pakistan's performance simply breathtaking (18 June 1999)

18 June 1999

Pakistan's performance simply breathtaking

Mark Baldwin

London, June 17: Breathtaking! The performance of Shoaib Akhtar in the World Cup semi-final demolition of New Zealand was truly special. Pakistan played with purpose and controlled aggression to reach Sunday's final at Lord's, and those qualities were most apparent in the express bowling of the man they call 'The Rawalpindi Rocket'.

Shoaib's three wickets, one in each spell, kept the outclassed but rugged New Zealanders on the defensive at key times. He is the spearhead of the Pakistan attack, and Wasim Akram's attacking policies allow him to be used in just the right way.

Azhar Mahmood, Abdur Razzaq and Saqlain Mushtaq are also performing heroically with the ball for Wasim - they are all quality bowlers in their own right but their speciality is giving their captain control.

What Shoaib gives Pakistan is the capacity to shock, and I thought that the way he outperformed Wasim himself in the semi-final spoke volumes both for his sheer talent but also for his magnificent temperament.

You can see in his eyes that Shoaib wants nothing more than to be THE star of this World Cup. He wants the big stage, but most importantly of all he wants to stand tall in the centre of that stage. Shoaib wants to impose himself on the opposition, but I'm most impressed with how he has grown in stature during this tournament.

Wasim's public criticism of Shoaib, after the youngster had lost control of his pace during the Super Six meeting with South Africa and had been battered by Lance Klusener, was tut-tutted at in some quarters here. What could Wasim be thinking about, humbling his star fast bowler in public? The answer, now, is there for all to see. Shoaib was being tested by his captain, he was being asked to strive even harder and think even harder about his game. And, being the right sort of character, Shoaib has responded to a skipper he respects.

By contrast, English management tend to want to protect their young players - in any sport - and shy away from public criticism. Wasim's frank assessment of Shoaib's profligate bowling against South Africa was just another example of how Pakistan approach things. If a highly-talented and highly-promising youngster cannot stand up to criticism and react in the right way, how will he ever be able to stand up and be counted when the heat gets turned up in the cauldron of competition?

Shoaib, in fact, has learned the lessons of this World Cup so well that, against New Zealand, he looked more like the old pro while Wasim resembled the nervy teenager.

Wasim's opening spell was riddled with wides and no balls, and it did not look as if he had warmed up properly. His opening over, especially, was very ordinary and lacking in rhythm.

In the field, he did not look as edgy and agitated as he had during the defeat against India, on the same Old Trafford ground, but I think the Pakistan management need to sit down quietly with Wasim and make sure he is as focussed on his own cricket for the World Cup final as he is on the job of captaincy and of motivating his team. He is transparently giving this World Cup campaign his all - but he must now mix the emotion with a dash of coolness.

It will be important, if Pakistan are to win the World Cup, for Wasim to be concentrating 100 per cent on his primary playing function of new ball aggressor. The trophy itself could be as well as won on Sunday if Wasim and Shoaib, steaming in with the new ball, get in amongst the opposition during the first dozen overs.

Shoaib's accuracy is as astonishing as his pace, but the fact that his final wicket - that of Chris Harris - was claimed with a markedly slower but cleverly-disguised delivery shows that he is right on top of his game. A thinking, smart cricketer is always likely to triumph over an undisciplined one.

New Zealand had been urged by Shane Warne, no less, to relegate out-of-touch opener Nathan Astle to the middle-order and promote Adam Parore to open. He was right, with Astle being made to look like a hapless club player in the face of Shoaib's speed. Wasim, settling down, then removed Craig McMillan, and the tone of the innings had been set.

But three run out chances were missed in the first nine overs, and fielding is an area Pakistan really must improve on during the final.

Ironically, however, it was some of the most slipshod fielding of the innings which inspired Shoaib to even greater heights. Five runs were gifted to New Zealand from successive Shoaib deliveries as first Inzamam let a ball through his hands on the deep square leg boundary and then Saqlain at mid-on allowed a drive to run through him for three. Shoaib's response? He thundered in more determined than ever and plucked out Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming's leg stump with an irresistible 92 mph yorker.

At that moment, with New Zealand reduced to 152-4, you could see Pakistan's spirits soaring.

"I was proud of the performance, and the wickets came at the right time," said Shoaib afterwards.

English counties are likely to be squabbling for his signature next season, and Shoaib's agents, the communications company WorldTel, have been right to bide their time and wait for the World Cup to act as the perfect showcase for their client.

Finally, a word about the Pakistan batsmen. Saeed Anwar is now at the top of his form, which is another vital component for any Pakistani success, while Wajahatullah Wasti confirmed what many of us have been saying since the competition began - why wasn't he opening the batting right at the start?

Wasti is technically correct, beautifully-balanced at the crease, and unafraid to go for his shots when the opportunity is there. His 84 and Saeed's unbeaten 113 not only underscored the gulf in class between the two sides - it also told Pakistan's Cup final opponents that they will be quite happy to chase a target as well as defend one.

Ijaz Ahmed's little 28 not out was also important, in terms of getting players into the right frame of mind for the final. Ijaz has struggled to get going in recent matches - but he will be a lot happier now.

I would expect only one change for the final - Yousuf Youhana replacing Shahid Afridi in the middle-order, if he has fully recovered from his hamstring strain.

Otherwise, everything is ready. But, Wasim, don't forget you are first and foremost a potential match-winner with the ball. Why not let Moin Khan sort out the field for those first dozen overs while you try to outshine Shoaib!

Source :: The Dawn (www.dawn.com)