Pakistan Cricket: Some reasons to smile

More important than the win at Sharjah is the fact that Pakistan seems to have come out of the rebuilding phase
Even before Pakistan quite convincingly won the Khaleej Times Trophy 2001 at Sharjah, that shrewd lot, the bookmakers, had rated the team amongst the top three favourites to clinch the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. It was exactly the same rating that Pakistan was accorded before the 1999 version of the event.

Wasim, Inzamam and Waqar with the Trophy Photo © AFP

While the Cup itself is a year and a bit away, the victory at Sharjah has lifted the pall of gloom that hung over Pakistan cricket. For too long had it remained without a win, nearly a year and a quarter to be precise after its first Asia Cup victory at Dhaka and the away Test rubber win against Sri Lanka in 2000. Twice this year they did make it to the last hurdle, and in style, only failing to crown it with a triumph. In that context, despite the rather tedious hullabaloo again over Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action, the win was a much welcome one for it broke a pattern.

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:
When he took over the captaincy earlier this year, for the first time in his own right, Younis' spot in the side was anything but guaranteed. He had a tentative start, but has gone from strength to strength since then. The turning point perhaps was the Old Trafford Test, in which more than his captaincy his spirit and his bowling turned the tide, saving Pakistan from the ignominy of losing their first series against England in England since 1982.

Waqar Younis Photo © CricInfo

Subsequently, he bowled exceptionally well in the NatWest Trophy, in one of the games returning with a bag of half a dozen scalps. At Sharjah, he was as self-assured as they come. That is what success does - it breeds self-confidence and as a consequence further success.

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:
It may well sound awkward, but Wasim Akram was the real surprise packet of the Sharjah event. This all-time great southpaw was alternately ridiculed and sympathised with since last winter's England visit to Pakistan. Lack of success made him drop himself from the Karachi Test, which Pakistan lost giving the visitors their first rubber win in Pakistan in nearly four decades. On the return trip to England this summer, he grabbed just five wickets at almost double his usual average, and even against minnows Bangladesh, despite bowling well, remained wicketless.

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.

Wasim Akram Photo © CricInfo

While he should be grateful, and he definitely is, as reflected in his brief appearance on satellite TV and statements to print media, to Waqar Younis for affording him the understanding and support which as skipper he himself had not accorded to his former bosom pal, one suspects his clinical psychologist wife too has had a hand in his mental makeover.

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:
Since his debut in 1995, he has been amongst the leading wicket-takers almost every year in limited-overs cricket, topping the list on two occasions. He was absent from the eleven when Pakistan won the trophy. This alone reflects the domination of the pace attack, with Shahid Afridi contributing with useful wickets.

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.

Shoaib Akhtar Photo © CricInfo

Shoaib Akhtar factor:
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:
Such a fundamental thing, in both forms of the game. Pakistan has at this point many quality all-rounders. Azhar Mahmood was back after a layoff, and in spite of fears that he had been put back into the squad too soon, he did reasonably well both with bat and ball. But for someone who made a century on Test debut, and added another two soon enough, he has been somewhat of an great under-achiever and it is high time he performs up to his potential.

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 Photo © CricInfo

Rediscovery of an outstanding 'keeper:
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:
Despite the hara-kiri that an otherwise solid Younis Khan committed, gifting his wicket away in Muralitharan's last over in the final, Pakistan's batting looks to be in good shape. Inzamam seems to be getting better and better by the day, and his hunger for big scores remains undiminished. He is easily one of the best batsmen in the world today, and his genius and consistency reflect in the ratings: he is in the top five in all rankings in both Test as well as one-day cricket.

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:
For whatever reason, no high calibre foreign coach is willing to do duty with the Pakistan team. Despite their sounding out a number of Aussies and South Africans, with a fat paycheck in hand, all the PCB got was a 'No' for an answer. So they had to fall back on a Richard Pybus or Javed Miandad, whose knowledge of the game may be second to none but whose man management skills leave a tremendous lot to be desired. Anyway, the net result was that Pakistan lacked the stabilising influence and tactical support of a permanent coach.

Mudassar Nazar Photo © CricInfo

Mudassar Nazar's induction, who by the way is not just knowledgeable and canny but a qualified coach to boot, fills that vacuum. Whether he is allowed to continue in this position is a point of conjecture, for if he is the Board would have to find his replacement for the all-important position of the chief coach of the Academy.

The flip side:
While so much seems to going for this Pakistan team, the only thing that this Pakistan team has to guard against is itself by somehow shedding its now infamous unpredictability. It also has to decide on a pair of openers, to go with Afridi.

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.