Left Arm Fast and Swinging both Ways

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.