Pakistan, Amir and Flight of The Phoenix

ACT 1: Rise

ICC WT20 Final, Lords 2009:  Dilshan who was coming into the final as leading run scorer. He was stunned, demolished and sent packing by a largely unknown Mohammad Amir. An unknown star was born.

Pakistan started ICC Champions Trophy 2017 campaign against Bangladesh, in first warmup match, a late order surge led by largely unknown Fahim Ashraf won the match, and they chased 341 runs. An unknown star was born.

ACT 2: Fall

Amir turned out to be a cheat, a sellout, a teenage boy who could not handle the pressure of his corrupt seniors and was jailed. That was rock bottom.

Pakistan lost to India in first match of Champions Trophy 2017, humiliated rather. As coach Mickey Arthur said that he didn't see the belief in the dressing room. Things were so bleak that pundits from archrival country were posting videos about how terrible Pakistan has got and how much they would love see a good competition. Not a victory that they used to long for, a decade or so ago but "A good competition". That was rock bottom.

ACT 3: Hustle

Amir apologized and was handed over a 5 years ban. He promised to not to get lost in wilderness, but will try his best to make amends he needs to. PCB initialized a rehabilitation program. There were few new faces Pakistan tried to fill the void with. Some worked, others didn't. But it all felt temporary, fans were not convinced, Amir was still the lost hero, still a cheat and there was no way back.

Pakistan faced South Africa in second match, Mickey promised that he had "serious conversations" with senior players without "sugar coating". He even dropped Ahmed Shehzad because he was not "buying into team's culture". Pakistan huffed and puffed to a rain aided victory against South Africa too. But it all felt temporary, fans were not convinced, Hafeez was still batting at 4, still the team was behind the international cricket standards and there was no way back.

ACT 4: Struggle

Amir made the international comeback. He was forgiven by a percentage of fans, other had a very stiff stance. Azhar threatened to leave the captaincy if he is selected in his team. But on it went. He had the skills but neither the rhythm nor the luck hence no success. Looked like cricketing gods had not forgiven him after all. Fans, beside the fact that had they forgiven Amir or not still watched his new ball spells, second by second. It was not Amir of 2010. He was still a very fine left arm bowler but he was not the hero that Pakistan lost. Pakistan got what they needed, but it was not nowhere near what they wanted. 

Sarfraz was dropped a couple of times, survived close runout calls a few other times before taking his team home against Sri Lanka. Mickey, later, termed the victory as 'Ugly'. Pakistan seemed to have a groove back in their bowling anyhow, a swagger that was missing. A left handed opener, only 2 ODIs old was getting a lot attention too, yet their fragile and ill-assorted batting lineup made the victory 'ugly'. But it was a knockout game nonetheless. They were in the Semifinals. Pakistan got what they needed, but it was not nowhere near what they wanted.

ACT 4: Fly

Source: www.espncricinfo.com

The Belief was Back. The Phoenix had taken the flight.

Pakistan steam rolled Tournament favorites England. In their own backyard. Absolute carnage. Commanding and clinical victory. Such was the momentum that even the Million Dollar Baby was not able to hit a single boundary in 64 balls. There was no glitch in the batting either. Or the fielding or the takeoff. The Belief was Back. The Phoenix had taken the flight.

ACT 5: Peak.

Amir sent Rohit, Virat and Shikhar in 23 balls for 14 runs and match was done. Rest was formality. There was no science behind it. Rohit knew a ball would come back into his pads, he could do nothing about it. Kohli knew his 4th stump would be attacked and he too, could nothing about it, twice in two balls. This was Amir with in rhythm. This was untouchable, world beater and menacing Amir. This was the peak Amir.

Left handed opener hitting a customary hundred before middle and lower middle order accumulated to a strong total to leave the left handed attack bowler to put the archrivals out of their misery. Final of ICC Champions trophy 2017 was more a nostalgia than a scientific method drawn after data analysis or studies. This was Pakistan in rhythm. This was untouchable, world beater and menacing Pakistan. This was the peak Pakistan.

  

Be a Younis to a Misbah

When it rains, it pours.

It all started from Pakistan's tour of Australia 2009/10. Misbah was called in by Captain Yousuf to share the burden of what he saw as an inevitable thrashing. Yousuf never got along with Misbah well, perhaps because he always felt that it was his place Misbah played at in 2007 World T20. Misbah was dropped afterwards for English Summer, Younis meanwhile was on his fishing trips and Afridi bit some cricket balls in Australia before becoming the captain of test team which he only stayed until one match against Australia and practically retired mid-match.

Salman Butt was named captain only weeks before going to jail with the most valuable commodities of test team at that time. Pakistan Cricket Team was in a free fall.

Man, after threatening to burn his Kit in front of PCB Headquarters could hardly believe when he was called and asked to lead Pakistan Test team, a decision not very well received by Cricket circuit around the Pakistan turned out to be the best decision taken in last 2 decades.

Yousuf was sidelined with groin injury in the first series of Captain Misbah, he never played another test and he never let any moment get away when he could or couldn't criticize Misbah over his batting, captaincy or defensive approach.

But Misbah got Younis back in the team and they drew two matches in UAE against South Africa.

Misbah went onto win 26 matches and 11 Series in next 7 years the most by any Asian Captain ever, whitewashed England and Australia, never lost a neutral (Adopted home) series, scored fastest test century, doctored a last day chase in fading light, won a series in South Africa, scored a 100 at the Lord's(and did push-ups), gave Pakistan the Test Mace and won them a series in West Indies for the first time. All with Younis Khan by his side and all with dozens of critics finding excuses to criticize him as a full time job. Probably, he is the only player which was criticized even by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan as well; when a spokesperson termed him as "Pathetic Player".

Younis was to Misbah what a gutsy Deputy Director Development would be to a Great Director. Younis not only helped Misbah by scoring runs, he helped Misbah in developing the team he wanted. Guiding youngsters like Azhar and Asad on the other end of the pitch or plotting the kill with Saeed, Yasir and co. while standing in slips in his trademark campaign hat.

Most importantly, Younis gave Misbah a confidence no other senior player could give to their respective captains in Pakistan History. A confidence and surety that there is no coup around the corner. Misbah trusted Younis and Younis commended Misbah. Which made them most iconic duo of Pakistan in batting. Probably several clicks above what Wasim-Waqar duo was in Bowling.

It was only fitting that Misbah and Younis left together and both getting out in their last innings on the shots that gave them most of their runs.

It was only fitting that Younis crossed 10,000 runs mark and went where no other Pakistani went because there was no one like him.

It was only fitting that Misbah scored couple of 99s because only that showed how little the numbers mattered in the stature of Captain Misbah.

It was only fitting that Younis crafted the final wicket with Yasir shah to claim the series for Captain Misbah's Pakistan

And it was only fitting that Misbah won Pakistan what Kardads, Mushtaqs, Imrans, Wasims and Inzimams couldn't.

No one, can possibly know: would Misbah had achieved all this without Younis and had Younis played any test after his fishing trips if Misbah wasn't made Captain?

But we Certainly know: not everyone gets to be a Misbah, which Yousuf failed to understand, someone has to be a Younis as well. So, if you cannot be a Misbah, at least be a Younis to a Misbah.  

A Qawwali of 64 years

Qawwali, some say, is more than 700 years old, yet a devotional art that old which typically requires a longer period of time and larger amount of concentration as compared to similar options is still loved by an equally devotional audience.

A. H Kardar led Pakistan in their first Test Cricket Match 64 years ago, Test Cricket, an utmost patience testing sport usually played across 5 days; sometimes with no result, yet a game of 30 hours with no assurance of a result is loved by billions across the world.

It is all about devotion.

Qawwali starts with an instrumental prelude, announcing the main tune and its variants followed by Lead to start with alap, a tonal melody,  an enriched and deep snippet of poetry to announce his mastery in the art, engaging his audience and drawing out the blueprint of the ride he is going to take his listeners to.

Fazal Mehmood took 12 for 94 at Lucknow to win a test for Pakistan, Their 4th Match since birth, their 1st victory, the tone was set, and it is going to be fast bowlers for Pakistan to leave the world in their awe. Fazal announced the art of Pakistan.

It is all about announcement.

Qawwal, begins to sing prologue. Listeners start to hold breath. It is like music, yet it is so different. Qawwal successfully creates an aura, in which his listeners find the true sense of devotion. An ultimate bond which is entirely under control of the Qawwal himself.

Pakistan immediately started winning matches away from home and series at home, Fazal swung England at the Oval and undid Australia in Karachi. Zulfiqar and Khan Mohammad scripted New Zealand's trouncing. Fazal, again, announced a new star on the horizon by depleting through West Indies and not just any star, a star with an aura.

It is all about creating the aura.

Qawwal enters the main song, picks up the singing pace with his party starts tabla, dohlak and clapping. Main verses are traditional and never improvised. However, tunes are often devised, but staying in the anatomy of main melody. The melody of announcement. Main song tests the maximum length of listeners comprehension power, it is compelling, intense, divine and yet entertaining. Qawwal is triumphant over his listeners.

Pakistan started winning overseas. Mohammad brothers and Intikhab Alam formulated debasement of New Zealand. Pakistan cricket started to attract fans from all over the world. Pakistan team started to get titles like miraculous, charming, intense, entertaining yet a triumphing side.

It is all about starting to triumph.

When the main song reaches climax, Qawwal begins his best act. The ultimate maneuverability of saargam. Qawwal presents a raag and then goes beyond and back. This is when listeners go into the state of HAAL, the pinnacle of selflessness. The audience is in the state of ecstasy.

Era of Imran Khan began, charm and charisma of Pakistan cricket reached its climax. Wickets soared and victories came flooding in. He with Abdul Qadir went on to usher the HAAL in cricket. Exuberant Immi and necromancer Qadir brought euphoria over Pakistan cricket fans. Even the mightiest West Indies were looked right into the eye bowl for the first time.

It is all about the HAAL.

During the main song Qawwal brings up an alap, usually a couplet which is totally different and entirely relevant. Listeners left gasping on the innovation. Nusrat said he never planned these alaps, they just came by when he was so deep into the lyrics that his mind started knitting things of its own.

Sarfraz Nawaz brought reverse swing into the cricket before Saqlain brought the doosra in the reckoning. Both of these arts are totally different from the tradition and are entirely relevant. They never said it was due to some scientific research. It was their mind knitting things of their own. It was an innovation. It was imagination.

It is all about innovation.

Qawwali, sometimes have two lead singers. A double act Qawwali is often more mesmerizing. Sabri Brothers is prime example. One lead singer takes the listeners to one end of rhapsody for the other lead singer to take them to the other end. They sing in sync and sometimes in tandem. Two is always better than one for the listeners.

Wasim and Waqar took cricket fans somewhere they never had been. They bowled frantically and dangerously and yet they are loved by the people whom they caused most destruction against. They took wickets in tandem and in sync sometimes. They were best when they were together.

It is all about a duet.

Just before the end of the Qawwali, The Qawwal usually slows it down, grinding the last bit of appreciation from his audience, continues effort of 30 odd minutes needs resilience and grit and just when the audience thinks that this may be the end of his performance, he takes a breath and warbles the last bit so softly and subtly that it feels like silence. Deep down, he knows his grit has won everyone's heart.

Misbah took charge of the Pakistan team in shambles and 6 years on, held the test championship mace. It was not about announcement, aura, triumph, HAAL, innovation or a duet. It was just old fashioned grit and resilience. Softly and silently he made sure he is winning. Deep down, he knows he has won everyone's heart.

It is all about grit and resilience.

A Qawwali spread over 64 years reached its end. At a landmark 400th test for Pakistan. What can surely be said is there is another one starting, just about now, in the dessert and the audience is all set to go on a ride the Qawwal is going to take them on. 

Pakistan Refused To Lose

"They belong to a land which is accustomed to turmoil." Ian Bishop said it when Abdul Razzaq sealed a nerve wrecking Pakistan's victory against Sri Lanka with a Six in 2006 at Jaipur, India in ICC Champions trophy. If we look at the scorecard now, it seems like an ordinary ODI with a tight finish and we wonder why Ian got so excited to use these words that feel quite an extreme keeping the occasion in perspective. But it wasn't that match situation Ian was referring to, neither the Jaysuria's onslaught early on nor Afridi's 13 ball 1. It was the backdrop.

Inzamam was banned for four matches for "brining the game to disrespect" Younis Khan who was his natural successor being the vice-captain resigned from his job just 2 days before the start of tournament. Muhammad Yusaf was appointed captain just to be announced by Nasim Ahraf later that Younis will lead the Pakistan Squad. It wasn't just the captaincy circus, Pakistan's pace attack dou of Shoaib Aktar and Muhammad Asif failed the dope tests before start of the tournament. Pakistan's first match was against Sri Lanka and Pakistan came from way behind to win the match.

Many of Pakistan cricket's major events include Sri Lanka, be it Afridi's 37 balls 100, Gaddafi Stadium holding a world cup final or most infamous of all, a terrorist attack on Cricket team in Lahore. Pakistan cricket was stripped of its home and it took refuge in desert. A little over a year after Pakistan lost its respect in England as three of its players were jailed for corruption, and just when all seemed to be lost, we heard that 'Pakistan Cricket should be banned.'

Aftermath of these events gave Pakistan an anti-hero named Misbah-ul-Haq and he happily accepted the role of a scapegoat. He even took so much flake that he must have felt only sane man in an asylum. But one thing he made sure was resurgence. One step at a time, but he made it sure. He didn't lose any test series in Pakistan cricket newly adopted home. He times and again told everyone how hard is to be not able to return home.

The luck has hardly been poetic just to anyone and it wasn't with Misbah either. Cricket came home but only after he retired. On May 22nd, 2015 exactly after 2217 days of exile, cricket came home. Gaddafi Stadium was vibrating till it’s very foundations. And finally, Teams were lined up on the green outfield. It was the moment when it was hard to believe that how much a nation can love a game. And then Pakistan's national anthem started.

Right at that moment, it felt that there is something bigger than the game itself. It was the victory, a victory before even a single bowl was bowled. It was a victory before even the match started. Some say it was the victory of cricket. But it wasn't, it was Pakistan's victory, it was Pakistan's victory in cricket but before the game of cricket started. It was Pakistan’s victory in cricket against those who tried to take their first love away from them. National anthem never meant so clearly to people singing it. Cricket was never celebrated more. Game was never loved more.

Game after national anthem didn't matter much. The crowd cheered for everything. Zimbabwean batsmen were throwing our bowlers all over the place. Shoaib Malik nearly killed the match, but everything didn't matter because victory was already celebrated. A Victory from way behind. A victory when we were cornered. A victory when hope was lost and Suddenly Ian Bishop's words made a lot more sense. We do belong to a land which is accustomed to turmoil.

Pakistan Avengers

Pakistan's Avengers

Zimbabwe is about to cancel their tour to Pakistan, long awaited, prematurely celebrated, a rare glimpse of sun through the very long winters and Osman Samiuddin's An immense, nervy occasion is about to be taken from Pakistan. All we are going to be left with is desperation and feeling of a left alone unwanted son of a noble family. Enemies have taken a lot from us and they still are taking, so much so that killing people of the community that didn't give anything to Pakistan other than their devotion, love and finances.

Generation born before 2000's cricket is their first love for the most of them. Something they can't do anything about. It is not new either; this excoriating pain is hurting since 2009. We are constantly losing on this front to the enemy which we seem to unable to curb. It is like something invading your planet that you can't do much about. Taking the very thing you love from you with no remorse.

A dialogue from 2012 Avengers keep coming in my mind “You’re missing the point! There's no throne, there is no version of this where you come out on top. Maybe your army comes and maybe it's too much for us but it's all on you. Because if we can't protect the Earth, you can be damned well sure we'll avenge it!" then I feel there is certain group who are fighting to give us back what we love and they are our Avengers. They are our heroes. The group of people we look at when we feel despair at its worst.

Misbah-ul- Haq is like Captain America, soldier from old time, not accustomed to the newer warfare but still wins. Well because even if he is not loved they all know who will tell them what to do when war is upon them. He hold back, then he hits, then again he holds back and again return to hit. His calculated hits and blocks frustrate his enemies and his calls to his troops make him win the fight.

Bruce Banner is ordinary man with reading glasses and knowledge and all, had he not the problem of being Hulk, he would have been teaching in a University and eventually dies on a hospital bed with few kids and grandkids around. Had Afridi not the problem of being Afridi, he would have ended his career in first class circle of Pakistan with mediocre record as leg spinner. But off course he is Afridi, when he is Bruce Banner he will get out on duck and give 60 odd runs in his bowling spell. Being otherwise, he will smash everything on the way. Harder they will come at him stronger he will get. 

Iron Man has Jarvis, Saeed Ajmal has dosra. You will be deceived  by an ordinary man with suit of armor and a Saeed Ajmal an off spinner. He gets around them, he encircles them, then he puts them in their misery and then he smiles and crack a joke about it. He gets his enemies for fun. He has so many weapons that you wonder if this is technology or magic.

Looks and muscles, fury filled eyes, a hammer in his hands, a man they didn't expected to be so forceful, so serious that they get the real feel of a battle. You think he is Thor. Ask Watson, he is Wahab Riaz. He was not hero of your first choice. He is there accidentally. For whatever reason he is there, he is pelting his hammers at them and then he is mimicking them because he is menacing.

Hafeez didn't have a special thing about him. He was just your sidekick to your M16, but then he developed on skills he had. He perfected those. Hawkeye did that with his arrow and bow. Hafeez did that with his bat and bowl. When he does what he does best, he looks extremely charming. He thinks sharp, so sharp that they may call him professor, he assesses his enemies, he holds his fire and then hit where it matters.

Need Pillars in the Middle

Think about Pakistan Cricket Team! Things that will pop up in your mind will be aggression, greatest bowlers, innovations, unpredictability and ridicules batting collapses of them and against them. For long now, it has been labeled with Pakistan’s international outfit that winning against them is easy if one can neutralize their bowling, because it has hardly been seen lately that their batting lineup has won them a match.

Recently concluded tour of South Africa if not complete has been a fail to very extent and Pakistan reputation as a batting unit has hit another low. It was predictable that batting is going to struggle in South Africa and hope for a competition resided with Pakistan’s bowling lineup. Some feel that even bowlers didn’t turn up especially in test series, but it is to understand that batsmen didn’t give enough to bowlers to play with.

It is not the case that Pakistani batsmen completely failed individually barring Muhammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed, they just weren’t able to put a collective effort, Batsmen hit personal highs and lows on indifferent times and subsequently failed to build  formidable combinations of partnerships that ultimately led disastrous results.

This conked out batting show should wake up selection committee that it is time when they have to chew some stones. Selection of likes of Faisal Iqbal and Imran Farhat is definitely a road block in Pakistan’s proper resurgence at international stage. Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq’s tiring lungs, Professor’s footwork and Umar Akmal’s temperament are among the questions that are hard to answer of any selection Panel. Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali are coming good but Asad Shafiq needs to drop down his habit of throwing away his wicket just at the time when bowlers start to feel he is a “not out” material. Azhar Ali needs to bring his ability to score runs in third innings across the all innings. Wicket keeper just has been a bonus wicket for South Africa throughout test series.  Kamran’s butter fingers and every other option’s batting abilities worse than Saeed Ajmal’s are suggesting that a search operation should be launched for right man for the job, not a half man.

Umer Amin alongside Haris Sohail scored heavily in Domestic Season

It is not selection committee only but team management is also responsible for under-par performance of Pakistan batting side, dropping Nasir Jamshed both in test and ODI series just at the wrong time and persistence with Shoiab Malik are question marks on Whatmore and Misbah’s strategies.

It is for a long now that Pakistan is yelling out that they need Pillars in middle order, but what one needs to understand that these pillars are not going to stand on their own, they need to be built. Throw Umer Amin, Haris Sohail, Usman Slahuddin ,Ramiz Raja jnr., Shan Masood, AhmadShehzad, Afaq Rahim, or Naveed Yasin in the field, let’s see what they turn into. Make Gulraiz Sadaf or Muhammad Rizwan stand behind stumps and check their surety behind and front of those planted sticks. Get Hammad Azam orAkbar-ur-Rehman to showcase some all round skills. Team management needs to act too, may be drop Muhammad Hafeez a place or two, he has scored three half centuries in T20 Internationals in a row from no. 3, let’s see if he can repeat that in ODIs too.

 Some change here some improvisation there; something has to be done to get something. These pillars are not going to stand on their own. For now it looks like that Pakistan National Selection committee is stuck in a loop that it “needs experience for job” and men able to do the job “need job for experience”.

  
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New Format in Domestic First Class Cricket is a Success

New Format in Domestic First Class Cricket is a Success

Pakistan’s Domestic First Class cricket season ended with Quiad-e-Azam trophy title going to Karachi. PCB opted a new format for first class cricket this season and it seems that they have found a longer lasting format after hit and trail for a number of years. Though, still one feels that there is a lot of room for improvement in the format but there definitely was a huge improvement seen. It is understandable that only competitive cricket at grass root level can produce competitive cricketers, while there is no doubt in amount of raw talent Pakistan possesses, a strong structure of domestic can produce a pool of players that can take Pakistan Cricket beyond limits.

Two tier new format and making Departmental and Regional teams play in different pools immensely improved the quality of cricket. Like in pervious format, there was no point of a competition between a strong team like HBL and a weak outfit like Multan. Loads of thrashings by an innings were seen in last season and reason was clear, matches between unmatched. Even selectors were reluctant to consider the players for big screen because there were doubts regarding the strength of the oppositions whom they have performed against. A hundred against SNGPL and HBL or a five-for against KRL or Port Qasim will mean something for selectors rather than any strong performance against Multan or Quetta.

Quality has improved, not only in competitions between Departmental teams but in Regional affairs too, as matches were played in two different tournaments, so players who had their duties with departmental teams could also answer the call of duty from their regional teams, which increased the quality of cricket in both tournaments. Players had more matches to play to showcase their talent and get the eye of selectors. Departments now have better look into player’s performance and hopefully we will see lots of new signings in departmental teams of players from regional teams in next season.

PCB definitely has taken some steps that worth endorsements, new first class cricket format is one of them, and results are shining too, selectors were confident to pick likes of Ehsan Adil and Rahat Ali, even Muhammad Irfan’s comeback would have been in a doubt if he hadn’t taken wickets against strong outfits, playing for a strong team and taking wickets against Hyderabad and Quetta in pervious format would have been pointless to some extent.

With a format worth keeping, PCB now needs to look into the other important issues, Players are complaining about facilities for a long now. It is fairly clear that it is the time now when PCB has to invest, if the cricket is of the quality we saw in current season, search of a sponsor for domestic cricket should not be difficult. PCB can even talk to the sponsors of upcoming PSL to invest money in First Class cricket too in order to get attached with PSL. Umpiring and coaching staff are other issues that need to be addressed on priority basis. Our players while playing at international level make mistakes that can be counted as childish and should have been accounted at lower level.

Pakistani cricket fans are starving for international cricket. It’s been more than three years now when they saw international cricket in all whites in their stadium, in this situation, if good quality cricket is being played at regular basis at first class level, it won’t be difficult to have a good crowd in. Our domestic cricket can provide our torn nation a good picnic time.

“A strong management will deliver better products.”  Even though PCB officials will not gear up to play in ground to get better results for Pakistan Cricket Team, their better management would definitely help in getting some. If Pakistan Cricket gets better and strong domestic structure it will ultimately lead to strong Pakistani outfit in international cricket. With PSL around the corner one must hope that Domestic Cricket is getting better which is very important, as around the world Cricket is not a sport anymore, it’s more like an industry now and if PCB gets success in turning our cricket in an industry too it will be no wonder if we see big foreign investment in our cricket. New format of domestic first class cricket is first and very fine step by PCB and one must say, it’s a Success.