Pakistan's convincing come-back after surprising setbacks (14 June 1999)

There may have been some jeremiahs, doubting Pakistan's capability to enter the penultimate round of the World Cup but on a lovely sunshine at The Oval, the venue of their first victory over England 45 years ago, they literally crushed Zimbabwe by

14-Jun-1999

14 June 1999

Pakistan's convincing come-back after surprising setbacks

Lateef Jafri

The crowds, the majority among whom were Pakistani migrants, gave their team full-throated, sonorous cheers after the melodramatic outcome when the Zimbabwean tail-enders could not find an answer to the admirable flight and spin of Saqlain Mushtaq, who was duly rewarded with the first hat-trick of this seventh World Cup, the second of the global contest if Chetan Sharma's feat against New Zealand in 1987 is taken into reckoning.

It is difficult to pick out a hero, the winners played as a team. If Saeed Anwar scintillated with his effortless century and Shahid Afridi took the place of Moin Khan as a fascinating hitter, for the first time in the competition the front line clicked, minus Ijaz, who was perhaps nursing his finger.

Shoaib Akhtar from the start terrified the Zimbabwean batsmen with his thunderbolts, the speed crossing 90 mph but in this match there was control and accuracy in his action. The Zimbabwean, a surprise pack in the tournament, failed to prevail over him. However, the three wickets grabbed by Abdul Razzaq broke the back of the Zimbabwean middle line. Then came Saqlain, whose turn, length and flight were splendid. It will be sheer injustice if the efforts of Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood and Shahid Afridi were downgraded. All joined together to get the crucial victory for their side.

The field placement, as in other matches, was ill-planned but since the losers had fizzled out this became a minor point.

The Zimbabwean fielding, as usual, was of the finest order; their rapidity and agility while getting the drubbing from the Pakistani batsmen, must get the commendation of the cricket enthusiasts.

Now that Pakistan has reached the semifinals one expects them to put up a performance of extreme excellence for a World Cup double.

Before this convincing comeback Pakistan had surprisingly and regrettably struck a lean patch in the crucial and tough encounters in the Super Six league of the World Cup.

At least this was the general consensus of most of the critics and scribes after the contemptuous treatment of their mighty bowling force by Lance Klusener of South Africa and their decimation at the hands of India in the next tie - virtually a test for qualification to the penultimate round of the cricket carnival.

There were sad faces of the Pakistanis at Old Trafford, Manchester, after the cricket loss and at home everybody was stunned and shocked not only by the defeat but the woeful show put up against a country, which had been given a battering by Australia just four days ago.

The team had been installed as the top favourite after playing as a powerful unit in their group in the earlier phase of the competition. Many are trying to find the reasons for the slump. It may be over-confidence, complacency in the approach towards the matches, flawed strategy before and during the duels. The team was, no doubt, unlucky to have lost the toss and India had the good fortune to face the Pakistani bowlers on a soft wicket. But despite Shoaib Akhtar bowling at over 90 mph, as the speedometer recorded, and Wasim Akram displaying accuracy in his seam and change of pace in his swings the Indian batsmen handled them confidently and without awe and all the top order willow-wielders, including captain Azharuddin who suddenly staged a comeback to form, made ample contributions, except Jadeja, who was out early. Many may point to Pakistan's poor and atrocious fielding as one of the principal causes of their fall from grace against the arch-enemy. Fielding wins matches is an accepted principle in cricket.

Did Pakistan's fielding back up the bowlers? Was their pickup and throw of the international standard? Only fearsome speed deliveries or exquisite piece of work by Saqlain Mushtaq would not have caused a rival squad's downfall. Nimble and sprightly field work and quick anticipation for running catches were needed. Even the field arrangements left much to be desired. The Indians had fully and nicely protected the boundary line both on the on and off sides; scores of fours were saved. The Pakistanis thought that the Shoaib hurricane would devastate the Indian batting line or the Wasim artillery would demolish them. Fielding was atrocious and messy. India hit just one boundary between the 20th and 40th over but swift running between the wickets and embarrassingly delayed returns helped the adversary to push the scores with a rapidity that was amazing. If the ground fielding had weariness the dropped catches added to their damage.

The Zimbabwean athleticism though they lost against Australia was admirable. Both South Africa and New Zealand were delightful sights while leaping forward to save runs or springing up for almost impossible uppish hits - a click or a flick.

There were several injuries on the Pakistan side. Yousuf Youhana was unable to join the team due to hamstring problem. Inzamam and Ijaz were not 100 per cent fit. Sorrowfully because of the low sugar level of the captain, Wasim Akram, he could not exhibit his usual brisk driving at the crease. Yet it has to be admitted that the batting from the first ball starts in a meek way. There is no genuine opener to keep company with Saeed Anwar and hit the ball into the open spaces. Wasti was tense when facing the music, Afridi was uncertain. The solidity of Ramesh, Ganguly or the incomparable Tendulkar was hard to be found in the Pakistani lineup. Inzamam made 41, playing defensively and doggedly unlike his usual style, while facing 93 balls. However, the real action began when Moin Khan arrived and tried to wield a long handle but perhaps it was late in the day. The forceful strokes should have come from the earlier batsmen.

Salim Malik's short visit to the crease was pathetic. The Pakistani supporters could not believe their eyes that he was the same player known for his firm strokes during his captaincy or while helping Essex in county matches. It was a batting of indecision. It was a fearful and incompetent approach in a World Cup match when as an experienced batsman he was supposed to play with assurance. Why, at all he was taken into the side?

The Indian bowlers did not put emphasis on explosive pace. Both Srinath and Prasad bowled with command of length and direction. Still they had been hit in the tournament and a spate of runs had come against them in Pakistan's duels in Canada, India and Sharjah. Why a psychological depression and a breakdown in Manchester?

The Indians had a great revival after their success over Sri Lanka. Both their batsmen and bowlers ran into fullness of form. There was no let-up like Pakistan's gift of a win to Bangladesh, which was purposeless, and had more affected their morale than provided any help and boost to the fourth South Asian aspirant to full membership of the ICC. This was the stage when the Pakistan combination had become cock-sure of their prospects in the ongoing cricket fiesta. The Bangladeshis think they had earned a genuine victory and had brought down the Pakistanis from their high pedestal. Was it really so? At least not in the opinion of their sacked coach, the West Indian Gordon Greenidge.

After the Indian match Pakistan slipped to 9-4 in the bookmakers rating behind South Africa's 6-4. Their odds were the highest some days before.

Imran Khan thought the team had peaked too early in the tournament. "The turn-around had been quite surprising", according to Imran, one of the ablest captains that Pakistan had produced.

"Pakistan did not play in their attacking fashion. Right from the start they were very much on the defensive, very tentative in their cricket," Imran further commented.

The fixture against the fit-as-a-fiddle South Africans could have been clinched by Pakistan. No doubt, the batting had been slow and unconvincing, precariously poised at 118 for 5 till Moin Khan arrived and hammered every ball which he received. His forceful shots were dazzling and brilliant. One six off Donald fell into the car parking lot. There was an assurance in his play; his bat sweeping in the grand manner.

South Africa were shaken by Shoaib's volcanic speed. They were 58 for 5, quite broken and vulnerable. Pakistan should have pressed home the advantage. Yet on the contrary Kallis and Pollock stuck to their task to give South Africa some chance to recover the lost ground. Then came the slaughter of the bowlers by Klusener. It was merciless hitting, it was devil-may-care style of powerful driving and took his team to victory.

Perhaps Shoaib must have got some lessons in the match for he has to develop accuracy and variety in his bowling. From the start he lets loose thunder and lightning but there are too many short-pitched deliveries, the result was the Klusener assault.

The commentators are at one to hold the South Africa-Pakistan tie as the best of the competition and a real thriller.

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