Recently, I was reading an article about ‘Phoenix rising from the ashes’ and immediately Pakistan cricket came to mind. As we all know the phoenix is a mythical bird with flaming and fiery plumage. As death approaches it settles into its nest which then burns savagely and violently. The bird and the nest are both reduced to ashes. Then from these ashes a young phoenix rises — renewed and reborn.

It seems that this is the story of Pakistan cricket teams over the years. Flying high, majestically and brilliantly, then falling and burning out; and then coming back in full flight. They were all but written off, particularly in the One-Day format after their dismal performance in Bangladesh and marginal wins against lowly-ranked Zimbabwe in Lahore, so much so that even their qualifying for the prestigious Champions Trophy was at stake.

They bounced back in style with authority and aplomb. According to those who do the sums Pakistan, after their series win against Sri Lanka in the island, are now at number eight ahead of the West Indies and thus have sneaked in to grab the last berth in the Champions Trophy. Or have they? What if West Indies beat Zimbabwe 5-0?

Pakistan cricket may be on a rollercoaster ride but should never be underestimated

Pakistan’s performance in Tests apart from that disastrous first innings in the second Test at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo was clinically precise and brilliant. At Galle, Yasir Shah (nine wickets) spun them and Asad Shafiq with an artistically carved century and Sarfaraz Ahmed (95) stroked them to a more than emphatic victory. Colombo proved a disappointment because of that brittle first innings. And despite Azhar Ali’s gutsy and fighting 117 Pakistan went down by seven wickets. This was mainly because of solid batting by Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva and Angelo Mathews, and because they crumbled to the swing of Dhamika Prasad and the furious pace of debutant Dushantha Chameera, who added injury to insult by breaking the wrist of Wahab Riaz and ending his tour, and the sharp spin and mysterious guile of P.H.T. Kaushal.

The third and final Test will remain etched in every cricket fan’s mind because Pakistan did what only Pakistan are capable of doing. They chased down an almost impossible target of 377 for the loss of only three wickets to register an incredible and stunning victory. Such a mammoth total has seldom been scored in the fourth innings of a Test. The architects of this win, which gave Pakistan the series after nine years in Sri Lanka, were the ever green, sedate and stylish Younis Khan who scored his 30th century in Tests and the young southpaw Shan Masood who notched up his maiden hundred. They were involved in a 242-run record partnership for the third wicket. Credit must go to the Sri Lankan batsmen Karunaratne and captain Mathews for fighting centuries, which brought them to the brink of victory before the Khan and Masood show.

In the ODIs, Pakistan started on a winning note at Dambulla. Sri Lanka hit back at Pallekele in Kandy. The show then moved on to the Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo. The Khettarama area has a sizeable Muslim population and the Pakistani cricketers have always received favourable support from a section of the crowd here and perform well. Pakistan won both matches here with Mohammad Hafeez, who had been earlier banned from bowling for a year by the ICC compensating with the bat. By winning these two matches Pakistan achieved a 3-1 unassailable lead and won the Haier Cup and a place in the Champions Trophy. The final match at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium Sooriyawewa Hambantota proved to be an anticlimax for Pakistan. A 164-run opening stand in about 25 overs between the centurion Kusal Perera and a half century by Dilshan, who also completed 10,000 runs in ODIs laid the foundation for SL getting to 368 for four (two wickets to Rahat and two run outs) when 114 runs in nine overs were put on by Siriwardana and Mathews both getting half centuries. Pakistan’s batting crumbled for a paltry 203 in 37.2 overs. Hafeez was top scorer with 37; Sachithra Senanayake playing his first match of the series got three wickets and Thisara Perera at last in striking form picked up two.

Younis Khan (L) and Shan Masood

However, there was one sad and tragic incident during the third ODI at the RPS on July 19. The actual reasons for this ugly incident have not been revealed; suffice it to say that it was a clash between two factions. It must be remembered that Sri Lanka is preparing for general election on August 17.

I will let my good friend and respected veteran sports journalist of the newspaper The Island narrate it for you and I quote: “Sri Lanka’s reputation as a fantastic sporting destination sustained irreparable damage yesterday as play during the fourth ODI between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was suspended for 32 minutes after a stone was thrown towards a Pakistani fielder at R. Premadasa Stadium.

“A full house witnessed Pakistan posting a commanding 316 and when Sri Lanka began the run chase, a fight broke out between rival fans in section ‘D’ right underneath the scoreboard. One set of fans moved out of the ground and started pelting stones towards the stadium. Fight eventually extended to section ‘C’ and there were scary scenes as fans with children were desperate for protection. There were fears of stampede as the crowd gathered to one corner and stones were flying in several directions.

There are analysts who say that Pakistan keeps producing cricket stars not “because of” but “in spite of” our domestic structure.

“Eventually a stone fell close to the boundary line where Yasir Shah was fielding and Match Referee Javagal Srinath took the players off the field.

Expert’s: comment

“Then fans in section ‘C’ and ‘D’ were completely taken off and police presence was beefed up before players came back on the field.

“The incident could have been stopped before it went out of hand, but police were slow to react. Once Special Task Force took control of the stands, fans calmed down and their presence earlier could have saved a lot of trouble.

While the incident did serious damage to the country’s reputation as a popular sporting destination, there were serious concerns about safety of cricket fans and players ...”

It is testimony to the cordial and brotherly relations between the PCB and SLC and between Pakistan and Sri Lanka that the damage was repaired, the incident forgotten and Sri Lanka’s image as a popular and fantastic sporting destination fully restored. Normalcy was returned swiftly and not only that match but the remaining tour went on smoothly.

ICC membership

There is a question still irking the minds of the cricket fans the world over and that is on the one hand the ICC wants and strives to take cricket to the far off corners of the world and it has extended its membership to 105 countries (last count; these keeping varying with additions, suspensions, and deletions — Tonga removed in 2014 and USA suspended in 2015). Of these 10 are full members, 37 associate members and 58 affiliate members. The membership covers almost the entire world from Canada, USA, Chile, Denmark, Greenland, to Saudi Arabia, Fiji, Samoa, China and Japan and also includes Iran and Israel. In spite of its mission statement to make cricket the “leading global sport” the full membership has not been expanded for the last 15 years since Bangladesh was granted full status at the turn of the century although countries like Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan and Kenya deserve serious consideration. ICC is even keeping out two full members from one of their premier tournaments. Makes the mind boggle; but strange are the ways of the ICC.

Another point arises here: Pakistan are “just” ahead of the West Indies who are ninth with Zimbabwe 11th — Ireland are 10th. They have pulled out of the tri-series arranged by Zimbabwe which included the West Indies who surely would have pulled out if Pakistan had lost the series to Sri Lanka. What happens if West Indies plays five ODIs vs Zimbabwe and then just to make assurance doubly sure, arranges whirlwind tours of Hong Kong (ranked 15) and Papua New Guinea (ranked 16) for a total of another 10 ODIs before the cutoff date Sept 30? And win say 10 or 11 of these matches. I am sure someone has the answer; and don’t look at me!

Bringing international cricket to Pakistan

The PCB must now concentrate on bringing back international cricket to Pakistan and prove that the tour of Zimbabwe to Lahore was not an expensive flash in the pan with a price tag of half a million American dollars! England are coming on a long tour of our “home” of cricket the UAE. PCB must endeavour to make them play at least part of the series on Pakistani soil. Does anyone realise how difficult, tedious, and expensive it is for Pakistani cricket enthusiasts to go to UAE to watch the matches? Also Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan must ensure the live telecast and broadcast of these matches with commentary in Urdu as well. I once again plead that the Pakistan Super League should be staged in Pakistan and NOT off shore as it is a purely domestic show. If 25 Zimbabweans can tour Lahore why cannot 20 foreign well-paid and well looked after players do the same? Next the PCB will be outsourcing other domestic events like the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy and the ODI and T20 domestic tournaments. PCB please retake your abdicated authority and responsibility.

Breath of fresh air

Pakistan’s performance in Sri Lanka in both the Tests and the ODIs has been a breath of fresh air. The various “experts” and “pundits” both in the print media and those pontificating on the many electronic channels may now be forced to taper down their scathing analysis of the Pakistan team’s batting, bowling and fielding. Hopefully, the unnecessary and undeserved criticism levied on our domestic cricket system will give way to healthy and constructive analysis and ideas. None of the Pakistani players on display are “imported items” except perhaps, if you want to split hair, Shan Masood, who was born in Kuwait; and Imad Waseem who was born in Swansea in Wales, UK. These two and the rest of the players are all products of Pakistan’s domestic system.

It is unfortunate that the most severe criticism on the domestic system comes from those icons of Pakistan cricket who hardly played any domestic cricket at home in Pakistan and found their way to the national side on their performances abroad. PCB unlike some other boards does not and did not have a policy that selection to the national side would only be made on performances in domestic cricket at home. There are analysts who say that Pakistan keeps producing cricket stars not “because of” but “in spite of” our domestic structure. As Voltaire said “I do not agree with what [they] say but I will defend to the death [their] right to say it.” The players’ backgrounds, performances and results speak for themselves. I rest my case. Give time to the players, the coaching, support and management staff to settle down and the results will be encouraging. Congratulations Team Pakistan, the PCB management and executive staff. Best of luck for the future!

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, August 2nd, 2015

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