India tour, a victory for healthy cricket (8 February 1999)

8 February 1999

India tour, a victory for healthy cricket

Lateef Jafri

Whatever the Jeremiahs or the pessimists may have thought the Shiv Senaiks had to take a back seat and the duels between the two arch-rivals got going even though the Chidambaram Stadium of Chennai had the appearance of a beleaguered place with stern security measures taken to man the main roads leading to the venue of the first Test.

As the manager of the Pakistan team, a top-class diplomat, Sheharyar Khan, said with a feeling of relief that it was cricket which ultimately won with the revival of Indo-Pakistan Test series.

When the scene shifted to the Ferozeshah Kotla ground of Delhi four days later no hordes of extremists stormed the ground, like four weeks ago when they had dug up the pitch, and despite the tense atmosphere the spectators enjoyed their cricket.

As the opening Test came to a melodramatic and breath-taking finish everybody present at the venue and those glued to their TV sets in this country agreed that this was one of the greatest tussles in cricket history. Pakistan had almost pinned down India to 82 for 5.

The Indian hopes were deflated. But then came one of the most organised and technically efficient innings from Tendulkar. Every ball - fast or slow - was treated purely on merit. The strokes against Wasim, Waqar and Saqlain were effortless, unfettered and full. The bowling was extremely difficult with the pacers moving the ball disconcertingly on an unresponsive strip and the off-spinner sending his deliveries with a deceptive and tricky trajectory.

Certainly there was no relaxation in the concentration of the Bombay batsman till he sent a skier off Saqlain towards mid-on to be caught by Wasim Akram for 136. Perhaps he had become over-confident about India's success as only 17 runs were to be had with four wickets in hand. Or he was unable to stand the back pain and wanted to hit out to reach the target.

The psychological pressure on the remaining Indian batsmen had grown so much that it was well nigh impossible for them to parry Saqlain and Wasim operating from two ends. The off-spinner, it appeared, would remove the tail with the skill of his fingers. Both Joshi and Srinath were astounded by the immaculate length and low flight of the turning deliveries.

Was it not injustice to have deprived Saqlain of the man of the match award?. With five wickets in the second innings - and taking the earlier five of the first knock - he was certainly the match-winner, if at all one single person's effort is to be reckoned as such. Even Shahid Afridi, with an aggressive and dashing 141 in the second venture and a haul of 3/31 in the Indian first innings had qualified for the award.

One cannot but be surprised over the way the Pakistani lower-order collapsed in the second innings. With 266 for 4 at the tea break they were advancing to a reasonably good score of 350 or more. But foolish strokes against medium-paced bowling which had no bite and venom saw the last six batsmen making a beeline to pavilion for just 286. Heavens would not have fallen if they had played steadily and responsibly for a higher total, instead of aiming at over-boundaries or missing the shots.

One fails to understand as to why Wasim Akram did not place a fielder on the leg-side. Both Tendulkar and Mongia took full advantage of the gap in the field placing and at least 30 runs may have been gained by them.

The Chennai triumph by a close margin was something special to be attained, considering the political overtones that go with such meetings and the pre-match tension built up by the threats of the Shiv Sena fanatics. Despite some mournful faces at the Chidambaram Stadium there were quite large numbers among the spectators who gave sonorous cheer to the Pakistanis when they grabbed victory in what had become a trying situation.

Naturally many cricket enthusiasts were reminded of another close finish 12 years ago at the southern city of Bangalore when Pakistan, under the helmsmanship of Imran Khan, had lowered the colours of India by just 17 runs. It was a low-scoring match but Pakistan had slumped in the first attempt at batting for the lowest total of 116. India had also not fared well but took a first innings lead of 22.

They had to make a modest 220 for a Test and series win. But Tauseef and Iqbal Qasim tossed up their spin with curling flight and cleverness to contain the Indians to just 204, thus wrapping up a victory by 17 runs, then the narrowest margin of win for Pakistan against India. This despite Sunil Gavaskar's disciplined 96 in the second knock. The latest result at Chennai was the closest in the subcontinental Test combats, in which Pakistan now leads by 8-4.

The Ferozeshah Kotla ground of Delhi is historic for the Indo-Pakistan cricket as this was the venue at which their inaugural Test series was launched. Vinoo Mankad, with left-arm spin and changeful flight, did not allow the Pakistani batsmen to settle down and won the match almost single-handedly getting 13 wickets in the match.

But Pakistan were not to lag behind their arch-foe on the cricket field. In the next engagement at Lucknow they turned the tables on India with victory by an innings - a sweet revenge for the cricketing babes as Pakistan then were. They thrashed India by an innings and 70 runs. It was at Lucknow that Nazar Mohammad, 124, had played through the innings, a rare distinction for an opening batsman. It was here that Fazal Mahmud, bowling with hostility and vitality, ran through the Indian lineup with a bag of 12 wickets. Fazal's bowling had variety for besides change of pace he sent down leg-cutters which puzzled the Indians in boththe innings. India in the first knock crashed for a paltry 106 which is yet their lowest in a Test against Pakistan.

The next India-Pakistan meeting at Ferozeshah Kotla ground was in the 1960-61 series, which resulted in a stalemate. Polly Umrigar hit 112. For Pakistan Mushtaq Mohammad made a polished 103.

In what was a tragic tour in 1979-80, which ended in a disappointing series defeat for Pakistan the Delhi crowds saw a drawn Test. Wasim Raja was unfortunate to be out when three short of hundred. Vengsarkar, then in great form, struck a hard-hitting century.

However in the last Test of the same series at Madras Pakistan suffered an agonising defeat by 10 wickets. It was almost a Kapil Dev match for the famed all-rounder not only captured 11 wickets at a cost of 146 runs but scored a delightful and aggressive 84. The triumph at Madras won India the rubber by a margin of 2-0.

No further Tests were staged at Firozeshah Kotla, so the present Indo-Pakistan engagement is the fourth one between the two countries at the venue.

Both the subcontinental countries, as also Sri Lanka, would benefit a lot from the current matches, and the scheduled Asian Test championship. The ties would provide them with a good buildup opportunity for the upcoming greatest show of the year in England, the World Cup, set to start in June.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)