Brothers, Sisters what an unbelievable win eh?
I am still feeling euphoric even after 7 days of celebrating!! Only our beloved nation is possible of producing such intense disappointment and despair one day and utter pleasure pride and joy in another and over the space of a few days and weeks ~ its what makes Pakistan cricket the drug that it is, hooking millions of Pakistanis [and also lots of non Pakistanis also ~ if you don't believe me read some of English newspapers] across the world.
So how do we analyse the performance [both on the day and leading up to the day?]
First ~ some important changes
~ personnel , shehzad and Wahab out , Farkhar, Junaid and Fahim in [it may not of worked but it just did].
Farkhar was a revelation ~ rub your eyes and you could be watching the touch and grace of Saeed Anwar and then the bludgeoning power of Aamir sohail all at once.
Among all the players ~ arguably he was the most outstanding player because he resuscitated the heart to our batting which had almost flat lined. With Fakhar for once we were above the rate and it allowed our other less talented batsmen to play without pressure [e.g. Hafeez in the final is a case in point].
Also the bowlers from other teams FEARED HIM ~ how long has it been that one of our bats has done that?
Junaid s lost a yard in pace but his stint in England meant he was the perfect replacement for an aging wahab~ his line was impeccable and he wobbled it just enough to be a big threat. Whatever people say about him he still retains a formidable skills set in oneday format and he got us some critical wickets.
Fahim and Raees only played onegame each but they played fearless cricket and showed an exciting skill set. I like Fahim in particular~ he bowls a lively pace and he s a clean natural hitter [he looks like a genuine batting allrounder].
We finally started to attack with Shadab and again this empowered this outrageously talented cricketer to give it a rip and he took some crucial wickets [people shouldnt judge him for the sixes he went for when the game was lost for India].
He also fielded brilliantly and he made that catch of Kohli look easy [when a] it wasn't b] many of our other players may of dropped it].
Azhur ~ hit some excellent knocks and the perfect foil for Farkhar [ two hundred partnerships in semis and finals] is a brilliant achievement.
Hasan ~ has got some x factor about him ~ combination of skiddy pace and extreme seam movement meant that he bowled a number of unplayable deliveries on batting friendly pitches. When hes on fire he s like a tornado that obliterates everything infront of it.
Amir ~Cometh the moment Cometh the man and he did it for us when we needed him most. No Pakistani bowler could of destroyed the top 3 gun Indian batsmen like that reminiscent of Akram s impact on the 1992 wc final. He looks like he s getting close to the star bowler that he was.
And finally Sarfraz ~ looked out of his depth first game [the debacle against India] but boy what a fighter he is!! In the do and die games he 'did' and he attacked when people expected us to crawl under a stone.
The earlier surrender to India which resulted in the do or die scenario was in hindsight the best thing to happen to Pakistan cricket in years.
Faced with humiliation we faced a choice ~ carry on with the same timidity and be laughing stocks and fodder for the world elite teams.
Sarfraz and Pakistan choose to ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ~ and boy did it work.
We slaughtered every team that came in our way.
No more whimpering mouse ~ now a cornered snow leopard.
People forget that Sarfraz is a wc winning captain ~ he can take pressure and he knows what it takes and it was a joy watching him ~ the fighting spirit and love for his country is written in every grimace and smile on that animated face.
Like the great Mohammed Ali people laughed at him first and then he shook up the world.
What a Eid gift he and the boys have given the nation, the diaspora and millions of cricket lovers all around
the world.
This was Rocky 1 to 4 in one movie ~ honesty, courage, fightback, skill, ultimate performance and beating the unbeatable foe 'Ravinder Drago' at the end ~ that's poetry in motion.
You could script a better story.
India [who are a great albeit slightly egotistical team] can have all the bragging rights for the inconsequential wins ~ they will always be remembered for choking and getting slaughtered by us when it really countered.
So thanks Sarfraz, mickey and the boys ~ thanks for bringing us so much joy and optimism in the potential of Pakistan!
The team looking good going forward but lets saviour this unrivalled performance
Pakistan Zindabad!
I am still feeling euphoric even after 7 days of celebrating!! Only our beloved nation is possible of producing such intense disappointment and despair one day and utter pleasure pride and joy in another and over the space of a few days and weeks ~ its what makes Pakistan cricket the drug that it is, hooking millions of Pakistanis [and also lots of non Pakistanis also ~ if you don't believe me read some of English newspapers] across the world.
So how do we analyse the performance [both on the day and leading up to the day?]
First ~ some important changes
~ personnel , shehzad and Wahab out , Farkhar, Junaid and Fahim in [it may not of worked but it just did].
Farkhar was a revelation ~ rub your eyes and you could be watching the touch and grace of Saeed Anwar and then the bludgeoning power of Aamir sohail all at once.
Among all the players ~ arguably he was the most outstanding player because he resuscitated the heart to our batting which had almost flat lined. With Fakhar for once we were above the rate and it allowed our other less talented batsmen to play without pressure [e.g. Hafeez in the final is a case in point].
Also the bowlers from other teams FEARED HIM ~ how long has it been that one of our bats has done that?
Junaid s lost a yard in pace but his stint in England meant he was the perfect replacement for an aging wahab~ his line was impeccable and he wobbled it just enough to be a big threat. Whatever people say about him he still retains a formidable skills set in oneday format and he got us some critical wickets.
Fahim and Raees only played onegame each but they played fearless cricket and showed an exciting skill set. I like Fahim in particular~ he bowls a lively pace and he s a clean natural hitter [he looks like a genuine batting allrounder].
We finally started to attack with Shadab and again this empowered this outrageously talented cricketer to give it a rip and he took some crucial wickets [people shouldnt judge him for the sixes he went for when the game was lost for India].
He also fielded brilliantly and he made that catch of Kohli look easy [when a] it wasn't b] many of our other players may of dropped it].
Azhur ~ hit some excellent knocks and the perfect foil for Farkhar [ two hundred partnerships in semis and finals] is a brilliant achievement.
Hasan ~ has got some x factor about him ~ combination of skiddy pace and extreme seam movement meant that he bowled a number of unplayable deliveries on batting friendly pitches. When hes on fire he s like a tornado that obliterates everything infront of it.
Amir ~Cometh the moment Cometh the man and he did it for us when we needed him most. No Pakistani bowler could of destroyed the top 3 gun Indian batsmen like that reminiscent of Akram s impact on the 1992 wc final. He looks like he s getting close to the star bowler that he was.
And finally Sarfraz ~ looked out of his depth first game [the debacle against India] but boy what a fighter he is!! In the do and die games he 'did' and he attacked when people expected us to crawl under a stone.
The earlier surrender to India which resulted in the do or die scenario was in hindsight the best thing to happen to Pakistan cricket in years.
Faced with humiliation we faced a choice ~ carry on with the same timidity and be laughing stocks and fodder for the world elite teams.
Sarfraz and Pakistan choose to ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ~ and boy did it work.
We slaughtered every team that came in our way.
No more whimpering mouse ~ now a cornered snow leopard.
People forget that Sarfraz is a wc winning captain ~ he can take pressure and he knows what it takes and it was a joy watching him ~ the fighting spirit and love for his country is written in every grimace and smile on that animated face.
Like the great Mohammed Ali people laughed at him first and then he shook up the world.
What a Eid gift he and the boys have given the nation, the diaspora and millions of cricket lovers all around
the world.
This was Rocky 1 to 4 in one movie ~ honesty, courage, fightback, skill, ultimate performance and beating the unbeatable foe 'Ravinder Drago' at the end ~ that's poetry in motion.
You could script a better story.
India [who are a great albeit slightly egotistical team] can have all the bragging rights for the inconsequential wins ~ they will always be remembered for choking and getting slaughtered by us when it really countered.
So thanks Sarfraz, mickey and the boys ~ thanks for bringing us so much joy and optimism in the potential of Pakistan!
The team looking good going forward but lets saviour this unrivalled performance
Pakistan Zindabad!
Probably all the way until the next 50-over world cup!
