I remember this series well. For some reason in the UK we got live coverage of this via TV Asia. A very strange series with a very strange vibe.
This was the first test series after the revolt against Wasim Akram’s captaincy.
Salim Malik took over the captaincy. Under normal circumstances this would have been a really good series to look forward to - the return of Saeed Anwar to test cricket, middle order of Malik, Inzamam, Basit Ali, the more reliable Rashid Latif after Moin’s dropathon vs West Indies in 1993, Wasim, Waqar, mushy.
Pakistan bowled first and everyone seemed to be treading on eggshells. Wasim wasn’t speaking to most of the team, waqar wasn’t speaking wasim and a couple of others. Coupled with the usual lack of spirit of the kiwi crowds (that’s if they turned up) at the time.
Both Wasim and Waqar were bowling professionally and maintained control and skill without the outward passion. Every wicket wasn’t much of a celebration or an event - wicket taken, a couple of lowkey high 5s and carry on.
This became the theme of this series. Pakistan wrapped up the series after the second game and NZ got a consolation win in the final game. The bonus of this series was watching Saeed score a beautiful big hundred.
Salim Malik as well documented played a master stroke by using wasim and waqar’s differences to motivate the other (look, he’s ready to run through the team, are you?).
Result - Wasim took 25 wickets and Waqar 18 over just 3 tests.
What’s the lesson here? A lot of people in the pcb were a bit fed up of wasim particularly, but Waqar too. It would have taken a couple of poor performances and the excuse was ready to drop either or both.
Both continued their high level of performance and their place in the team became unquestioned.
Conpare this to Shaheen. Naturally not happy after being backstabbed, reports of “misbehaving” - the PCB are looking to drop him. What does he do - give lacklustre performances giving the pcb exactly what they needed. As Rashid Latif said, they killed two birds with ones stone.
I’m not saying Waqar and wasim were great team men. Even if their motivation was self preservation, they did something about it. Shaheen basically just gave up. And that sums up the mentality of the current crop of players.
We’re probably seeing the same thing with babar too.
