Judgment day for Pakistan (20 June 1999)

20 June 1999

Judgment day for Pakistan

The Electronic Telegraph

Nothing less than inspiration will be required to prevent Australia winning the World Cup today for the second time. It was at Lord's that they announced themselves as England's first rivals in the game of cricket, and while those bold colonials of 1878 are long gone, Australians have maintained ever since a strong affinity with the ground which will today stage its fourth World Cup final.

Australia can win if they bat first or if they have to chase; a flexibility which Pakistan do not have in such abundance. Australia have won (or tied) their last six matches after their cold start to the tournament. They not only know the battlefield through tradition, but played on it less than a fortnight ago when they defeated Zimbabwe, and they have drawn the away dressing-room, which is familiar to them. They are also a team of sound habits, whose fielding and running between wickets will fray less under the greatest pressure cricket can impose - and that has little to do with a prize of US$300,000 for the winners.

Pakistan have their chance too, as in any two-horse race, but it is a lesser one because they want to bat first. The pressure of batting second in a World Cup final has proved overwhelming on five of the six previous occasions; the exception coming in 1996 when unsuspected dew descended by night upon Lahore and Australia's bowlers. In this World Cup tournament Australia have won all but one of their games after batting first, and all but one after batting second, a far more even spread than Pakistan's.

But if Pakistan can bat first, when the early cloud and damp which is forecasted have evaporated into the sunshine to follow, they have the means to win the cup for the second time. More so than any other of Australia's opponents in this competition, they can attack.

Pakistan still have, too, that motivation to succeed, beyond patriotism, which was apparent when they defeated England in April and won the Sharjah tournament. The better they do, the less mud will be flying around in the Lahore High Court when Justice Qayyoum at long last announces the results of his inquiry into match-fixing any day now.

At the outset of his inquiry the judge made statements which boded ill for several senior Pakistan players in addition to Salim Malik. Malik has subsequently had a poor World Cup, and he is expected to play no more cricket again, of his own or of judicial volition. But the others will no doubt have little to fear if Pakistan repeat their World Cup triumph of 1992, as the truth of the saying that 'everyone loves a winner' is fully illustrated.

The ICC match-fixing commission, which is to meet at Lord's on Wednesday, will surely hope for wider-ranging conclusions in vain. Majid Khan did not have his contract renewed as chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board when it expired last month, and is no longer present to add his weight to a cleaning of the stables.

On this subject, Barry Richards, as president of the International Cricketers' Association, yesterday called upon ICC not to act on their own about match-fixing. "The crux is that administrators and players have to look the problem in the eye and come up with a meaningful solution for the sake of the game's integrity. ICC have got to be given more clout by member countries and hear the cases which are brought, but it can't be left to them. The ICC have to consult the players and get their commitment to stop match-fixing spreading," he added. "I think it's a very small percentage of players who have been involved, but the more it comes out in the open, the less it will happen in future."

Betting, as opposed to match-fixing, is sure to be rife at the final today, and black marketeering too. Of the 30,000 tickets, priced between £70 and £100, 90 per cent were sold before the finalists were known. Pakistan's many ardent supporters have therefore felt compelled to pay prices which passed £600 yesterday and may reach four figures.

But if Pakistan will have more supporters, Australia have their knowledge of Lord's for a great advantage. Yesterday afternoon Pakistan's three young pace bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar, Azhar Mahmood and Abdul Razzaq, practised bowling against left-handers on the Nursery ground, as Australia have three in their top six batsmen, but there is no substitute for bowling on the slope in the middle. Australia have averaged 16 wides and no-balls per match, against Pakistan's 22, a differential which is sure to widen today.

Pakistan's young cricketers - including Yousuf Youhana who is fit to return to No 6 - have an admirable fortitude, but there is no substitute for that experience which can calm natural nerves.

Experience will be invaluable too if the start is delayed (though there are enough hours of daylight for the game to be finished even if it does not start until 1pm), or if controversy occurs with the umpires David Shepherd and Steve Bucknor intervening to change the white ball. Shoaib was incensed and thrown out of his stride when the ball was changed towards the end of Pakistan's match against South Africa at Trent Bridge, after which the match referee, John Reid, had a private word in Pakistan's ear about tampering.

The dry, whitish pitch should be abrasive enough to encourage the reverse-swing which makes Pakistan's bowlers the best at the end of an innings. But it should suit Shane Warne too, and if Australia have less potency in their attack, which is bent more on containment than wicket-taking, they have less to go wrong with it on the day. Australia are favourites. If any team can be inspired, though, it is Pakistan.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph