ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan’s cricket team began batting, in a packed public transport van Sohail Ali was criticising the team management for not having a regular opening pair against India.

As he listened to the match commentary on his mobile phone, he began to sound exacerbated.

“Oh my God now the captain is sending Younis Khan and Ahmed Shahzad to open. I fail to understand this move,” he said.

“I think the captain sent Younis only to fall prey to new balls in early overs, as he has no experience of opening especially on bouncy pitches,” the young man said.

Nazakat Hussain, another traveller, echoed Ali’s opinion. He said Younis is a very good middle order batsman, who has the capacity to develop partnerships and his expertise must be utilised in the middle order.

“I don’t think Younis can play a good innings. Three overs have passed without any damage, let’s see,” he said.

Meanwhile, the van travelling from Bhara Kahu reached Aabpara.

“Oh no. Yonis Khan is out. It had to happen,” Hussain said, as he disembarked from the van, shaking his head.

Earlier, many people Dawn spoke to expressed concerns about team selection.

“For a mega event like the world cup there should be a balanced team. We are playing against India without a single off-spinner and an all-rounder, who could assist fast bowlers,” said Khawaja Abdul Kabeer, who was eating breakfast at a Hotel in Bhara Kahu, while watching the India-Pakistan cricket match on the television.

Asif Khan, sipped his tea, while commenting on Yasir Shah’s bowling as he was about to bowl the 25th over. “Our spinners are failing to deliver, Kohli and Dhawan are not taking them serious,” he said, gesturing towards Virath Kohli, on the television, who placed a leg spin of Yasir Shah towards deep midwicket for two runs.

On the next delivery, Kohli easily hit the ball towards long-on and added another single. Now, it was Shikhar Dhawan, who came down the wicket and hit the ball over midwicket for four runs. Then again, on the next delivery, Dhawan scored another boundary.

“Look at them, how easily they are playing our leg spinners. Here an off-spinner and medium pacer all-rounder is needed for stopping the runs,” Khan said.

In next over, Dhawan was run out. In the 32nd overs, part-time wicketkeeper Omar Akmal dropped an easy catch, missing the chance to get Kohli out. Earlier, Yasir Shah also dropped Kohli’s catch in 12th over of the game. Everyone in the hotel was upset when Kohli’s second catch was dropped.

“You are playing against India with a part-time wicketkeeper. This is bound to happen. Today, regular wicketkeeper, Sarfraz Ahmed, should have been given a chance, but I don’t know what team management is doing,” said Laiq Akhlaq.

Later, as Indian batsmen continued their onslaught against Pakistani bowlers, people began predicting Pakistan’s defeat.

“For us, this match is the World Cup final. Other matches don’t matter to us but I think we will be losing this crucial match. The 38th over is being played and India has already crossed 200 runs,” said Javid Ali, a barber.

However, later when Ahmed Shahzad and Haris Sohail were playing convincingly against the Indian attack, people began thinking maybe Pakistan has made a comeback in match.

“These two are playing very well. I hope Pakistan will win,” said Adnan Rashid, a youngster, who along with dozens of others was glued to a television set in Aabpara Market.

However, this batting pair’s dismissal dashed people’s hopes.

Sulman Gill, a tailor, listening to the match commentary on a radio set at his workplace said: “I’m disappointed over the poor performance of the middle order batsmen. However, I’m optimistic as Misbahul Haq and Shahid Afridi are still at the crease,” he said.

He said all teams prepared for the World Cup well but Pakistan experiments all the time which resulted in defeat. Unfortunately, Mibahul Haq and his team could not come up to mark and Pakistan had to taste the six consecutive defeat at the hands of India in the World Cup matches.

Published in Dawn February 16th , 2015

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