Pakistan Cricket has produced some extraordinary heights and
declivities over the past 60 years. Formidable players, invincible teams, bad boys,
off-field mess, unbelievably weak outfits at times, match fixings, spot
fixings, empires with almost sub-human eyesight, sixer machines, doosras, sinful post
tea spells to finish the even strongest batting line-ups and Left Armers are few
Pakistan Cricket legacies that tend to live to for eternity, and of these legacies, one denied to die even after that disaster that ruined a fresh and promising part of it.
Yes, I am talking about Left Armers.
"Left arm round the wicket...Darren Lamb has been
cleaned up", everyone who knows cricket can remember this line from
commentary on live telecast of the Contest, Pakistan cherish the most. It all started
from that, Wasim nailing two in two with two deliveries that went in exactly
opposite direction after hitting the turf on exactly the same place. Wasim then
onwards became the worst nightmare for any batsman who took guard against him,
once asked that how can one be successful on a dead wicket, "it’s simple,
don't use it" was Wasim's answer with that signature smile which was seen
many a times on his face after seeing the rising finger of umpire on his
trademark exuberant appeal. Wasim left Green caps in 2003, leaving Pakistan wandering
for another left armer to step into his shoes. Batsmen were relieved and
coaches managed to smile again. Pakistan was ready to act, Muhammad Khalil was
the first one to be tried, failed.
Najaf Shah came next, ran in, and soon he ran into Sanath
Jayasuria, and for the next almost two years Pakistan fast bowling attack was
all Right Armers. Sohail Tanvir was a surprise entry in ICC world T20 2007, again Sanath Jayasuria
was there to welcome Pakistan's wrong footed, Sohail dropped Sanath standing at
Short fine Leg. Next over he was asked to bowl, he ran in, bowled on wrong foot
and went through cross bat to disturb the timber. That was his first delivery,
and soon it was understood that he can bowl well to the batsmen who are playing
his first ball. Kamran Hussain came afterwards and vanished due to reasons that
reside well in "Chamber of Secrets".
In ICC world T20 2009, Pakistan fielded a rookie, 17 years
old country boy, Thin, medium height and down to earth he looked. Framing and
getting out the tournament's best batsman in the first over of the tournament
final. Muhammad Amir was announced. Wasim himself said "He is more
intelligent than I was at his age". Panic was among the ranks of
opponents, coaching staff went into store rooms to search for what they dumped
after World Cup 2003. Amir took off like
an F-16 and crash landed like a drone whose jockey slept. Whether it was Salman
Butt, Muhammad Asif or Mazhar Majid or some unknown underworld mafia which off
course seems like a unicorn of cricket world, whatever the reason was Pakistan
struggled. They lost their left armer. They lost their superhero. They lost
what they longed for 6 years.
"They lost their left armer they said, they won't find
one soon they said", legacy denied to die, Pakistan fielded 7+ feet left
arm behemoth in space of 15 days. Experiment thought to be failed, smiles were all
around, until, a quiet afternoon in Abu Dhabi caused a few eye-brows to rise.
Reverse Swing, Left arm, round the wicket, Yorker, result is predictable. Mighty
Heart, mighty talented, furious Junaid Khan was depleting strong Sri Lankan
batting Line-up, but it was only Pakistan's so celebrated tour to India that
made people realize what they are up against. Virat Kholi for instance, was
thought to be one Indian batsman who is going to make marry on Pakistani bowlers like cream pie with cherry on top, scored 1 run for 19 balls and 3 dismissals
against Junaid. 7 feet Irfan came back to scenes again, much improved, testing
batsmen and smiling while they were failing to answer the questions asked.
Irfan's huge frame can come under question, so is Junaid's
fitness, Sky may be is not as clear as it should be, but in monsoon in Pakistan, it
is said, when you can see the west horizon clear, buckle up, clouds are moving.
West horizon is clear now. Junaid and Irfan are roaring, only cricket will test
their abilities and only time will tell that whether Pakistan found another superhero they crave for or not. Breeding ground is not doing bad either. With Wahab Riaz and
Rahat Ali already in national contention Sadaf Hussain, Zia-ul-Haq, NasirMalik, Emmad Ali and Rizwan Haider are knocking few doors. Even Fallen
superhero can take flight of Phoenix. Left armers keep coming, Pakistan cricket
after every jitter, propel with even more esteem and is revered even more. Legacy lives on. Left Arm, Fast, Swinging both Ways is still the problem to
cater for every Batsman that plays against Greens.
