Hussey leads the great revival

With 48 required off the last 18 balls of the match, the entire Australian dug-out gave a resigned look, one that is seldom – almost never – associated with the masters of the game and has not been seen on their faces for a long, long time.

The dejection clearly showed, the gloom omnipresent and the heads in their hands. It seemed almost destined, unbelievable even, that Pakistan will go through to their third successive World Twenty20 final – after becoming the only team to have featured in the semi-finals of all four ICC events since World Cup 2007. The earlier humiliation against Australia was forgotten, the spills against England forgiven and the complacency against New Zealand overlooked. The nation was sitting planning their Sunday evening.In a similar manner to last year, the men in green had saved their best for the best, had performed on the day and the resemblance to the cornered tigers of 1992 was being relived. Undeserving, underperforming and terribly lucky, Pakistan had both feet in the final, even a hand on the winning trophy which was touted as their excess baggage on the way home yet again.

This, according to all but Michael Hussey.

An innings with a subdued start, playing second fiddle to Cameron White via innocuous singles and bland nudges, did not have the legs to last but end in a whimper for a side that should have ended second best.

However, the innings first annoyed Pakistan, it then alarmed them and as the winning hit was deposited over long-on, it left the defending champions aghast, and out of the competition.

No change of angles, no disguised doosras and certainly no rocketing asking-rate managed to hold Hussey back or even drag his cause down. Pakistan’s complacency in the second half of the innings, where singles and doubles were gifted and boundaries were gladly met with a smile by Shahid Afridi, came back to bite them and confine them to bystanders’ status as 53 came off the last 17 deliveries.

By the time Pakistan, and its millions of fans and followers, realised what had hit them, the Australian dug-out gave a deserted look – they were all celebrating in the middle.

Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in the tournament, and often Australia’s nemesis in the past, presented a traumatised look, mauled by the Hussey aggression in a show of brutality that probably surpasses numerous, if not all, cameos witnessed in the shortest format of international cricket.

Twenty-four deliveries – nine of those bringing 48 runs – was all that Hussey took to shatter Pakistan’s hopes but in the space of the 38 minutes that he spent at the crease, he, defying odds and predictions, stamped Australia’s authority over mankind.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2010

Title-defence riding on history

A sense of déjà vu prevails as Pakistan finds itself in exactly the same situation at the World Twenty20, as June 2009.

Needing to win four matches on the trot to lift the 2009 World Twenty20 following a miserable tournament courtesy dropped catches and poor fielding, Pakistan face New Zealand today in a must-win situation for both sides. England’s first win of the tournament, and Pakistan’s second consecutive defeat, has the defending champions fighting for survival, knowing fully well that a repeat of the dismal show against England will be curtains for their title-defence.

Stats favour Pakistan

While the head-to-head certainly favours Pakistan, having won all four Twenty20 internationals played between the two sides, the defending champions are missing their star performer from the rout of New Zealand at The Oval last year. On that day, the Kiwis were bundled out for 99 with Umar Gul taking a world-record five for six in his three overs.

Worrying sight for Pakistan

Today, Pakistan has no Gul and no worthy replacements. Mohammad Sami, who started the tournament well, was hammered by the Australians. Mohammad Asif, who was surprisingly overlooked for the first two matches, looked out of sorts and was duly thrashed as well. With Abdul Razzaq, who made his international comeback in the corresponding fixture last year, faring no better against England, lack of support for Mohammad Aamer poses a huge worry.

New Zealand’s new hero

While the Kiwis have had troubles at the top of the order with Brendon McCullum, the recalled Jessie Ryder has proved his worth as his partner with knocks of 42 and 33. However, the younger McCullum, Nathan, has stolen his older brother’s limelight with consecutive man-of-the-match awards in New Zealand’s opening two matches. A timely maximum off the penultimate ball in the tournament- opener sealed the result in favour of New Zealand against last year’s finalists and regular breakthroughs while opening the bowling ensured the Kiwis’ progress.

The missing captain

While much hype and promise followed Shahid Afridi’s appointment as Pakistan Twenty20 captain, the man himself has been quiet ever since the team’s arrival in the West Indies. Bar a quickfire 33 in a losing cause against Australia, Afridi only has a slight tan to show for his efforts in the West Indies. A single wicket in three matches is not what Afridi would have hoped for in his first tournament as captain. Nor was his suicidal dismissal against England. Needless to say, Afridi, like the team itself, needs to play video tapes from their triumphant journey through England.

Styris substitutes for Bond

Shane Bond missed last year’s tournament due to his involvement with the now-defunct Indian Cricket League. His inclusion in this year’s tournament, at the back of fiery spells against all oppositions carried the Kiwis’ hopes. However, two wickets from four matches, the fast-bowler is already behind medium pacer Scott Styris whose handy cameos with the bat have proved useful.

All-round performance

With five wickets opening the bowling for New Zealand and knocks of 16* and 26*, Nathan McCullum has moulded into a handy allrounder in the tournament. Daniel Vettori, the side’s premier spinner, has only picked up two wickets thus making Nathan’s feat all the more remarkable.

Under-pressure captain

The captaincy, it seems, has gotten to Shahid Afridi. Eager to lead his side from the front, Afridi has not just adapted bizarre tactics on the field but has been unable to cope with the demands of performing as a captain. A hurricane 33 is the highlight of his tournament which has brought him a solitary wicket so far.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune, May 8, 2010