Most of you will have seen or heard of the horror flick titled 28 Weeks Later, what we have witnessed of late though is the Pakistani version, which is titled 5 Weeks Later.
Being appointed captain of your country is an honour, any schoolboy's dream.....irrespective of whatever sport.
To be asked to lead out your team mates and face the mighty Australians in your debut test as skipper was a challenge that Salman Butt accepted and faced head on. A challenge that many thought was too big for him, but a challenge that he overcame, much to the surprise of the cricketing world.
A remarkable but tense three wicket victory at Headingley was an effort that not even the most die-hard Pakistani fan would have dreamed of, especially given the nature of events in the prior test match at Lords and Pakistan's build up for Leeds.
Butt's personal performance with the bat at Headingley was not breathtaking or indeed eyecatching, but his performance as skipper was impressive. Marshalling his troops with authority and thought, he caught the eye as the leader of a team under pressure and a team who was expected to meekly surrender to the Australians.
Butt during the Leeds test match came to each press conference with his chest out, proud that he was captain and gave decisive and honest answers to each of the questions that he was asked by the media.
Some sharp answers, some wit, some humour, some quick corrections and each time he responded, he looked at the questioner in the eye and literally without blinking and gave them a solid response.
I met the Pakistan team on the morning of the last day of the Headingley test match, at the team hotel. As I arrived, several of the players were finishing off their breakfast, whilst others were waiting for the team bus to arrive, others relaxed listening to ipods and some shared a few jokes with me. The atmosphere was a strange one, considering the match was literally in the Pakistani boys grasp.
Salman Butt was one of the first ones to leave the hotel lobby. Carrying a shoulder bag and chatting to Wahab Riaz, he looked like a man who was looking ahead to savour the taste of victory, against an opposition that had mauled Pakistan time and again.
I approached Salman and as usual he shook my hand and we exchanged greetings. I spoke to Salman about the forthcoming day's play and with a certain degree of anticipation, he said that "InshAllah we will do it", although his tone displayed a fair degree of tension and nerves, which to be fair was expected. There was a steely determination about him, but also I could sense the frustration that he would not play any part in the day's proceedings on the field. Salman boarded the waiting team bus and was set for a journey that he hoped would result in victory.
The day's play at Headingley was a nervous affair of course. There was nothing solid or certain about the Pakistani batting on day 4 and they stumbled across the finishing line. As the Pakistan players celebrated their victory over their nemesis, Butt was obviously pleased, but looked thoughtful and dignified as his team celebrated the win.
I was on the pitch taking pictures with the Pakistan team when they celebrated the win and during that time I got the chance to have a few quick words with Salman. He was beaming with pride, he was elated, he was that excited that he was literally out of breath. I congratulated him, he responded with a firm handshake and he replied with "Allah ka Shukkar Hai" (many thanks to Allah).
At the post match presentations and press conference, Butt's responses were once again and as expected, to the point. He was impressing everyone immensely with his leadership and wise words and you could sense the nods of approval from the world's media. Were we witnessing a new era in Pakistan for test cricket led by the young man from Lahore? It all seemed so rosy, the garden of Pakistani cricket was once again flourishing and there were smiles on Pakistani fans of all ages. It was a memorable occasion for all, a day that young and old would not forget, the anticipation, the tension and then finally the relief, followed by the celebrations.
I joined up with the Pakistani team at the hotel after the Headingley victory and it was a relatively calm atmosphere. Some of the players were grinning from ear to ear, others were celebrating the victory by going shopping in Leeds city centre, some of the boys were just so exhausted that they were sat outside their hotel rooms speaking to relatives and friends in Pakistan. 2 of the players I chatted to were Azhar Ali and Tanvir Ahmed who were sat on the floor looking relieved and of course elated.
As I spoke to them, I noticed a smartly dressed little boy sat near them. Azhar noticed me looking at the boy and smiling and confirmed to me that the young boy was Salman Butt's son. Azhar asked the young boy to shake my hand and tell me his name, which he did ever so politely. I didn't catch the young boy's name, but was impressed with his manners. The young boy pointed at one of the nearby rooms and one of the players confirmed that we were near Salman Butt's room.
Later that afternoon as I left the team hotel, I noticed Salman and his family in the reception area. The skipper was happily signing autographs, posing for pictures with fans and chatting to team mates. He looked at me, smiled, puffed out his cheeks as if to say "that was a relief". A few minutes later Salman and his family left the hotel towards Leeds city centre.
Being appointed captain of your country is an honour, any schoolboy's dream.....irrespective of whatever sport.
To be asked to lead out your team mates and face the mighty Australians in your debut test as skipper was a challenge that Salman Butt accepted and faced head on. A challenge that many thought was too big for him, but a challenge that he overcame, much to the surprise of the cricketing world.
A remarkable but tense three wicket victory at Headingley was an effort that not even the most die-hard Pakistani fan would have dreamed of, especially given the nature of events in the prior test match at Lords and Pakistan's build up for Leeds.
Butt's personal performance with the bat at Headingley was not breathtaking or indeed eyecatching, but his performance as skipper was impressive. Marshalling his troops with authority and thought, he caught the eye as the leader of a team under pressure and a team who was expected to meekly surrender to the Australians.
Butt during the Leeds test match came to each press conference with his chest out, proud that he was captain and gave decisive and honest answers to each of the questions that he was asked by the media.
Some sharp answers, some wit, some humour, some quick corrections and each time he responded, he looked at the questioner in the eye and literally without blinking and gave them a solid response.
I met the Pakistan team on the morning of the last day of the Headingley test match, at the team hotel. As I arrived, several of the players were finishing off their breakfast, whilst others were waiting for the team bus to arrive, others relaxed listening to ipods and some shared a few jokes with me. The atmosphere was a strange one, considering the match was literally in the Pakistani boys grasp.
Salman Butt was one of the first ones to leave the hotel lobby. Carrying a shoulder bag and chatting to Wahab Riaz, he looked like a man who was looking ahead to savour the taste of victory, against an opposition that had mauled Pakistan time and again.
I approached Salman and as usual he shook my hand and we exchanged greetings. I spoke to Salman about the forthcoming day's play and with a certain degree of anticipation, he said that "InshAllah we will do it", although his tone displayed a fair degree of tension and nerves, which to be fair was expected. There was a steely determination about him, but also I could sense the frustration that he would not play any part in the day's proceedings on the field. Salman boarded the waiting team bus and was set for a journey that he hoped would result in victory.
The day's play at Headingley was a nervous affair of course. There was nothing solid or certain about the Pakistani batting on day 4 and they stumbled across the finishing line. As the Pakistan players celebrated their victory over their nemesis, Butt was obviously pleased, but looked thoughtful and dignified as his team celebrated the win.
I was on the pitch taking pictures with the Pakistan team when they celebrated the win and during that time I got the chance to have a few quick words with Salman. He was beaming with pride, he was elated, he was that excited that he was literally out of breath. I congratulated him, he responded with a firm handshake and he replied with "Allah ka Shukkar Hai" (many thanks to Allah).
At the post match presentations and press conference, Butt's responses were once again and as expected, to the point. He was impressing everyone immensely with his leadership and wise words and you could sense the nods of approval from the world's media. Were we witnessing a new era in Pakistan for test cricket led by the young man from Lahore? It all seemed so rosy, the garden of Pakistani cricket was once again flourishing and there were smiles on Pakistani fans of all ages. It was a memorable occasion for all, a day that young and old would not forget, the anticipation, the tension and then finally the relief, followed by the celebrations.
I joined up with the Pakistani team at the hotel after the Headingley victory and it was a relatively calm atmosphere. Some of the players were grinning from ear to ear, others were celebrating the victory by going shopping in Leeds city centre, some of the boys were just so exhausted that they were sat outside their hotel rooms speaking to relatives and friends in Pakistan. 2 of the players I chatted to were Azhar Ali and Tanvir Ahmed who were sat on the floor looking relieved and of course elated.
As I spoke to them, I noticed a smartly dressed little boy sat near them. Azhar noticed me looking at the boy and smiling and confirmed to me that the young boy was Salman Butt's son. Azhar asked the young boy to shake my hand and tell me his name, which he did ever so politely. I didn't catch the young boy's name, but was impressed with his manners. The young boy pointed at one of the nearby rooms and one of the players confirmed that we were near Salman Butt's room.
Later that afternoon as I left the team hotel, I noticed Salman and his family in the reception area. The skipper was happily signing autographs, posing for pictures with fans and chatting to team mates. He looked at me, smiled, puffed out his cheeks as if to say "that was a relief". A few minutes later Salman and his family left the hotel towards Leeds city centre.
).. only to add up to this 
