Wandering At The Wanderers

FEBRUARY 2003 - Where does one begin with Pakistan cricket? It is now regarded as almost sedition should one remotely criticize the wayward and irresponsible policies of the Cricket Board, since the only criticism they take kindly to, is ‘positive criticism’ which we all know, means no criticism at all. Having said that, what on earth was happening at the match we threw away to Australia? There’s hardly been any review worth the name, since the print media has been neutralized with strategic appointments and lucrative perks.

Lehman and Bevan were out of the team and the biggest bombshell of Warne dropped the morning of the match – Australia was reeling. I haven’t seen a side so shell shocked and nervous as the Aussies that morning, but they prevailed and they thrashed the living daylights out of us. First the team selection. Azhar’s taken to South Africa, unfit as he has been for almost 16 months – and he goes without a fitness test administered!! The reason given is that Azhar performs well versus the Springboks, an event that took place 5 years back when he scored two hundreds in tests (not one days). Azhar’s been in and out for two years, yet he goes. Someone like Naveed Latif scoring consistently and great in the middle order is not taken. Taufeeq Omar is not a ODI player – look at what he did with the full tosses; he is by temperament, a test player, so in the twisted logic that’s earned disaster for the national side, he is in the ODI squad!! Saqlain is dropped. So how are the 50 overs to be shared? If Wasim, Waqqar, Akhtar take 30 is Afridi regarded as a 10 over bowler? We all know he is not, which is why Younis Khan was bowling. As for Razzak is it a secret he has been struggling for months now? This was strange.

We had the Aussies reeling at 82 for 4 – Wasim had done the demolition and we have Symonds in who hasn’t scored more than 25 in the last 6 months, a man, whose selection has been heavily criticized by the Australian media – a poor replacement for the legendary Steve Waugh and what do we do? Our strategically blessed captain constitutes as before. No pressure tactics, no close in fielders, no surrounding the batsman moves, no pressure-building mid pitch conference, no bringing in Shoaib Akhtar, no nothing. Symonds survived, took the easy singles offered and then proceeded to slaughter us. When Wasim is brought back in for his last 3 overs, it is all over anyway. Where was the think tank? We have sent the largest delegation of officials, a move that has been criticized, but side stepped by the Board, and what are they doing there? Where are all the analysts, the coaches, and the managers? Sleeping? Waqqar has as much strategic drive as a sack of potatoes. His lack of imagination, his use of tactics, of any or all means that intelligent skippers use, was totally and completely absent that day as it has been for months now. Yet, perverse logic and bull headedness rules the day and he continues. The rightful captain, Wasim Akram is not considered because he may ‘sell’ the match. For starters, he takes 3 wickets and scores the highest runs. As for throwing the matches, Imran Khan on TV said that it was poppycock to go on suggesting that. There is in any case the ICC’s anti corruption squad who is watching the proceedings with hawk eyes. Convoluted thinking meanwhile dominates our planners. We gave away 31 extras and even Younis Khan bowled no balls. What kind of ‘serious training’ our team has been undergoing in preparation for this great event? We are the only side that has been touring South Africa playing 5 ODIs and 3 tests and are fully acclimatized unlike anyone else, yet we are unable to take advantage. We are constantly falling behind our over rates. Why? Why don’t the Australians? Only Shoaib has a long run up; Wasim bowls from 10 paces, so why did we get into a situation where we were rushing through our overs with Afridi and Younis and in the process allowed the Aussies to completely take charge? Even at 145 for 5, with Ponting gone, we were still in the game, yet we gave away about 162 runs in the last 20 overs at an average of 8 an over. What planning, what control!!

On PTV, Wasim Bari, the eternal Chief Selector, said that now that Australia had scored 300 plus, his strategy was that we use up the first 20 overs, score say 40 runs and lose just one wicket and then go for the target. Is the man sane? He is asking the team to score 270 odd runs in 30 overs at a rate of 9 per over against the world’s most disciplined attack? No wonder he is the Chief Selector. The already-purchased compere, Mohsin Hassan Khan, readily agreed and concluded by saying ‘Let’s pray.’ If prayers of 140 million people are all that it takes, we should have won all the Cups, but those in Pakistan who still think that starting your matches on Hajj day and with the final on 23rd March (Pakistan Day) means the heavens are with you, need to be locked up. The sad truth is that there isn’t an ounce of planning that’s gone in. There are a lot of big names and paper pushers who call the shots, but the truth is that it is all hopelessly lost in the cross currents of favourites, intriguers, self-servers, etc who have led us to the bottom of the barrel. Even when we batted, there was more confusion and madness at play. Who asked Afridi to play a totally out of character innings? He is no defender. We all know that. He is in the side not because he plays like Hanif Muhammad, yet he is instructed to do that and perishes, but even after that, what happens to the think tank? What about a change in strategy? We were facing a 6 plus run rate target. Ever heard of sending in a pinch hitter? We had three that day. Wasim Akram, Rashid Lateef, Abdul Razzak, but no the captain said 1,2,3,4,5…..the same batting order that had been settled, never mind what the situation is. We were on autopilot and we crashed as was expected. A sack of potatoes only contains potatoes.

As for the great question of Shoaib’s fitness and the recent issue of a personal doctor accompanying him. Shoaib is only good for 4 overs, Dr. Tauseef or not. His second spell was as lethal as a blob of butter. His injuries are all there. Watch Brett Lee or McGrath and you will see the difference. News about his doctor is stoutly defended, then days later, it is decided he is returning. If the decision to take him was correct in the first place, why the turnabout? Shoaib sat out the tour of South Africa, but months later, can bowl only 4 overs. What are we paying for all these months? Can one dare ask? As for Waqqar Younis, he is bowling off breaks. His ‘surprise’ ball is the faster one. He can’t reverse swing; that requires strength. He doesn’t have it. On top of it, he hurls a beamer at Symonds, then sends him a four-letter bouncer and causes us the global embarrassment of being taken out of the attack!! Is this the stuff leaders are made of? Can you imagine this treatment being meted out to say Imran Khan? No, what ails our cricket is deep and painful and needs drastic surgery but who is going to do it? Those who dream of 1992 have conveniently forgotten the perilous route we took to get there, but we had Imran to guide our unstable ship. This time we have free loaders and opportunists on board plus a rag tag side that is leaderless and riven from within. No surprise to learn that the Chief Executive of the PCB, Chisty Mujahid is also doing radio commentary for Radio Pakistan! Another new record? Cricket is a very uncertain game but don’t lose sleep over winning the great trophy the way things are.