Social media is extremely wonderful platform to interact. I won’t say that I am a regular there but I tend to tweet whenever I have something important to say. I am happy to share that on August 12th I tweeted my wish saying that it will be wonderful if Pakistan can win The Oval Test match on August 14th which is our independence day as well. Well, it was not only wishful but something that I was quiet confident about. And it was extremely heartening to see that when the innings was merely 13.1 overs on August 14th, Pakistan had won the Oval Test match. With this they had levelled the 4-Test series 2-2 and millions of Pakistanis had their wish, a proud effort culminating on our independence day.
I am proud of the Pakistan team, the set of players who were given little or no chance to do well in England by most cricket pundits...including yours truly. I am happy now to eat my words and say that now Pakistan has a wonderful platform to build on. I hope they can do that. Before going on to the players who have done well on the field, let me congratulate the behind the scene boys. Let me begin with chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq. He made some notable omissions from the line-up for which he was criticised in certain sections of the media. Inzy bhai didn’t budge and kept going about his job with thick skin. I also heard that some senior players were spoken in no uncertain terms reminding them of their duties. I could see that it was working.
I have spoken to a few players in the team and they say that coach Mickey Arthur is a wonderful addition. The players feel he is a pleasing guy, very organised and good in strategies. I’d wait to be judgemental on him as I feel that the real test of the man is when the chips are down. Spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed’s impact can be seen in the performance of leg-spinner Yasir Shah. Besides, Mushy is a wonderful guy, someone who is loved by his team-mates for his personality.
It was an impressive show by the two senior statesmen of the team – Younis Khan and captain Misbah-ul-Haq. To me it is not about scoring that hundred or a double hundred but the way they controlled and led the side when the chips were down. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that England would be feeling that they were beaten in this series although scoreline reads 2-2. Well done Pakistan.
Well, I have been to India a couple of times in last 10 days and I am happy to note that the entire country is focussing on the Olympics rather than India-West Indies cricket series. Although the medals have eluded India but I understand there were some creditable performances. Most notably, the gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who finished fourth and missed the medal by a whisker. The entire country was proud of the way she performed and I was not surprised. India deserves a medal and I hope it comes in badminton or wrestling. It will be a heartbreak for millions of Indians if there is not a single medal to show.
My heartfelt condolences to the family of Hanif Mohammed saab ji who passed away on August 11th. He was the first legend to have played for Pakistan and very, very nice man as well. I haven’t seen him play but my cricketing friends tell me that he was an artist at work. I am sure that God must be admiring his cricketing talent up above in the Heavens!