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

Southerners aim to break monopoly

While the Asian trio of Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka pose a decent threat of mauling their opponents en route to glory, the southern hemisphere trio of the formidable ‘chokers’ South Africa, the ‘nearly-there’ New Zealand and the ‘undeniable’ Australia remain a huge obstacle.

New Zealand and South Africa made it past the first hurdle last year but the duo had their title-dreams shattered by eventual champions Pakistan. The Australians, however, have barely had time to dream so quick was their exit from the tournament.

The golden boys remain a potent threat

Despite its poor record in the shortest form of international cricket – winning just 15 of their 29 Twenty20 internationals – Australia remains one team that cannot be ruled out of walking away with a trophy every time they enter a tournament.

The current world champions and the Champions Trophy holders, Australia have won four of their last five T20s and with the likes of the hardhitting David Warner, the irrefutable Shane Watson and the dangerous Shaun Tait, the warning bells are already ringing for the opposition. Led by Michael Clarke, the side will also see Dirk Nannes in yellow instead of orange – he represented Netherlands last year in England and was instrumental in his side’s shock win over the hosts in the tournament-opener.

And with no Ashes to divert their attention, the Australians may well put their 110 per cent into the four-hour format to bear fruit, one that is missing from their trophy cabinet.

‘Chokers’ may well become the kings

South Africa may well be thanking the Indian Premier League in two weeks for instilling the attacking mentality into its players.

Albie Morkle was part of the winning unit, the Chennai Super Kings, while Dale Steyn proved his worth with the ball for Bangalore. Jaques Kallis, opening for the same outfit, scored at will while captain Graeme Smith got the much needed break courtesy a broken thumb.

The South Africans remained favourites in England until they faced a rejuvenated and inspired Shahid Afridi who handed them a ticket home – sealed with a kiss. The addition of Loots Bosman will provide the flair up the order but the exciting talent that is the 19-year-old Wayne Parnell, who was South Africa’s star finding of the 2009 World Twenty20, will be sorely missed.

Providing South Africa take time getting acclimatised to the conditions, their second match – against Afghanistan – may well prove to be more than just a stroll that the whole world expects.

Vettori desperate for onfield support

New Zealand have always been a nearly-there side. It gathers support, momentum and wins.

However, as things start heating up and wins become a necessity rather than a bonus, the team falls flat, more so due to lack of support for captain Daniel Vettori than due to lack of talent. Vettori, apart from being the chairman of New Zealand Cricket, is everything to New Zealand’s cricket: scoring runs, taking wickets, plotting other teams’ downfalls, restricting runs, inflicting run-outs and stroking the bristled chin.

However, with the oftenmisfiring Brendon McCullum promising glimpses of useful, and regular, contribution, and the availability of Shane Bond, Vettori may well find time to relax on and off the field. And with the slow and turning pitches in the Caribbean, Vettori will also get to enjoy his primary role in the team —as a spinner.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune, Apr 28, 2010

Asians remain contenders

International cricket’s shortest format has been aptly adapted by the South-Asian nations as a much-loved one and where they have made a huge impact since its inception.

Only India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan (twice) have reached the final of the two World Twenty20 tournaments taken place so far and much of the same looks on the cards as the teams arrive in the West Indies. Pakistan and India are missing key players but, according to the team managements, credible backup exists to make up for the loss.b

Defending champions remain strong

Suited to the ‘crash-and-bang’ format that the youngsters grow up breathing on the streets, Pakistan are once again strong favourites to reach the final of the third edition.

Despite the forced absence of Umer Gul Pakistan’s fast-bowling remains a potent force with Mohammad Aamir, the debutant who impressed all in England, as well as Mohammad Asif, bowling with the unerring accuracy that continues to annoy batsmen. The batting remains strong enough to disrupt the oppositions’ plans. Opening remains a cause for concern but Kamran Akmal looks set to resume duties at the top with Shahid Afridi promoting himself to number three in order to cause as much destruction as possible.

Pakistan’s middle-order remains weak in the absence of Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik but the attacking tendency instilled in Umar Akmal and Hammad Azam can ensure plenty of fireworks even in the middle overs.

India vow to improve on last year

The defending champions arrived in England last year with heads held high (that went higher following a warm-up thrashing of Pakistan). However, the strongest batting line-up in the tournament faltered, especially as short deliveries grew tall and before the semi-finals were even finalised, the Indian team were sitting across the Atlantic training to take on the West Indies.

The IPL was blamed for the exhaustion last year but this time it may prove a blessing for them. MS Dhoni lifted the trophy for Chennai, Yusuf Pathan scored a blistering 37-ball century and Zaheer Khan refused to fade away. Harbajhan Singh carried on his wicket-taking ways and with Murali Vijay in death-mode, a repeat of last year looks highly unlikely for a team that remains strong even without Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag.

Sri Lanka desperate to go one better

The Sri Lankans were surprise but worthy finalists last year and it was not Sanath Jayasuria or Chaminda Vaas that got them there but the unorthodox stroke-play – if Dil-Scoops and paddles can be labelled that – off the bat of Tillekaratne Dilshan. He remained the tournament’s highest scorer by a distance and was voted the player of the tournament as well. Although teams will be wary of his extended handle, Dilshan will no doubt continue his merry ways.

Mahela Jayawardene, in astonishing form with the bat during the IPL, may even move up the order to free up an all-rounder’s slot with captain Kumar Sangakkara’s versatility ensuring Sri Lanka will be likely to post competitive totals every time they take the field. Ajantha Mendis does not remain the force he once was but the spinning tracks in the Caribbean may prove ideal location for him to revive his and the team’s fortunes.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune, Apr 27, 2010

SA’s Nashua Dolphins keen on signing Afridi

Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain, has been approached by South Africa’s Nashua Dolphins for the Pro20 series scheduled to take place in February.

While the franchise administration refused to confirm the signing, sources said that the contract has been signed and Afridi will join the Dolphins after Pakistan’s tour of Australia that finishes with a one-off Twenty20 on Feb 3, 2010.

“I can confirm that we have shown interest in availing the services of Afridi who we believe will be available from February,” Jesse Chellan, CEO of KwaZulu-Natal franchise that owns the Dolphins, told Dawn. “Nothing has been signed yet and the negotiations are on-going. We hope to confirm things by the end of the week after discussions with the board and stakeholders but the arrival of Afridi is sure to be a big attraction.”

Afridi, who was declared Man of the Match in the semi-final and final of the World Twenty20 held in England earlier this year, will join the likes of Loot Bosman, Hashim Amla and Yusuf Abdulla in the Dolphins squad, all of whom have represented South Africa. Having scored 421 runs in 24 Twenty20 Internationals, Afridi has also taken 34 wickets that places him second on the all-time highest wicket-takers’ list — three behind compatriot Umar Gul.

Dolphins, who lost out to Cape Cobras in a Super Over in the third leg of the Pro20 semi-finals last season, kick-off the new series with a home match against the Warriors on Feb 7, 2010.

© Faras Ghani 2009.
Published in DAWN newspaper, Oct 7, 2009.

Younis Khan’s men — poor starters, great finalists

Second chances are rare in sports. Unimaginable, especially in the shortest form of international cricket. Seldom is a poor performance overturned by sparks of brilliance to win matches. Rarely is an array of poor fielding displays — that continuously let opposition off the hook — followed by shattered stumps that pulls them right back. It simply belies all cricket ethos and sits against the norm.

But the Pakistan team was never the one to bow to ethos and adhere to norm. It seemed an eternity to wake them from the Bhurban conditioning camp and the many Selfridges’ trips. The load-shedding, it seemed, had tampered with the veins and an early exit loomed as the team took to the field in their first warm-up.

As the team progressed unconvincingly, temperament went astray with the bat in hand. Until Younis Khan, followed by Kamran Akmal, came of age. Accuracy seemed a lost art with the ball and overstepping was adopted as norm. Until Umar Gul treated opposition with swinging spaghetti. The fielding display went from poor to wretched. Until Shahid Afridi galloped towards long-on boundary, clutching onto his prize from the heavens.

And out of nowhere, against expectations and predictions, it all seemed to fall in place. Just like that. Younis had issued repeated reminders that Pakistan have always been slow starters and will pick up pace with each victory. Never had that statement been more aptly illustrated on the field as the men in green saved their best for the best, South Africa at Trent Bridge, in an attempt to appear in their second successive final. Pakistan’s route to the semi-final is as much courtesy a favourable draw as spurts of brilliance. Skipper Younis and Intikhab Alam, the team’s coach, shared plans that contradicted, and fouled any hopes the fans had of a decent performance by their idols. While Younis wanted stability at the top, Intikhab preferred aggression. Neither seemed to work and the experiments that the team management vociferously pointed out would lead to an improved performance landed flat, failing to make an impression.

Not so much the cornered tigers, but cornered nevertheless.

And out of nowhere, as Salman Butt was put out of his misery by the team management, Akmal repaid Younis’ trust and gamble in him. Shahzaib Hassan deposited a few in the stands but it looked as if the injury to all-rounder Yasir Arafat, and the subsequent arrival of Abdul Razzaq, brought with it a change of fortunes and a bag of miracles.

Gul seemed to realise he still had it in him to bowl fast and swing the ball. Young Aamir was the surprise packet while Saeed Ajmal left doubts about the legality of his action behind and continued to flux batsmen.

Afridi, first-ball slogs and rash stroke-play aside, remembered he has improved as a bowler of late. Then came his batting which was, indeed, a revelation with a renewed vigour to occupy the crease and accumulate runs for his team. And Akmal, as a wicket-keeper with no Danish Kaneria in the side, held onto catches and created world records.

Younis, who had up until the semis shouldered batting responsibilities, sat back concentrating and scripting the perfect plot. Tweaking Shakespeare, with mirth and laughter let the greatest prize come, hoped the captain.

The route to success, surprisingly, was smooth off the field as well. With Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in a different time-zone, the team rather became a damp squib as far as the sniffing paparazzi were concerned. No curfew-breaking clubbing nights, no training scuffles, no bat-fencing at team-mates, no blazing-up to speak of.

Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain who was sidelined for much of the tournament due to injury, did try and help matters by blurting out desperate excuses to justify the humiliation received at the hands of Umar Gul. To no avail, unfortunately as his ‘informal inquiry’ for the match referee to look into the state of the magic white ball was shooed away and buried forever.

There were also reports of a rift in the camp, as Abdul Qadir, post-resignation, decided to reveal all. But rifts have been omnipresent in the dressing room since time began and that, on most occasions, failed to affect the combined performance on the field. Beffiting, perhaps, was the presence of Shoaib Malik, who Qadir would have omitted from the squad had he been able to ‘do things his own way’, in the middle as the winning run was scored.

Younis on the eve of the tournament made it clear that he wanted to face India in the final and beat them this time. That changed as short balls grew tall on the Indian batsmen. He then wanted it to be South Africa but in the end, it did not really matter to him.

As the light training sessions failed to replicate the growing tension among fans, the players, especially the youngsters, had realised destiny was a tiger tamed.

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, June 26, 2009

Players repaid the trust and confidence I reposed in them: Younis

It was a script that bellowed splendour as the victorious captain sat down to answer questions for one last time. Perhaps God had given Younis Khan a sneak preview on how the World Cup would curtail on the sun-drenched afternoon when the script was crafted, for he gave a look of a man who knew the ending even before the directors had started casting.

There was no fits of laughter, no continued references to his favourite word ‘fun’, the eyes were not popping out, he termed the sport cricket and not WWF and as he sat draped in the green flag, he wore a calm expression that merely said ‘I told you so’. And as the world stood dumbfounded by the revival that led to the final victory, Younis alluded to the confidence he had in his team from the start and how the win was not a complete surprise.

“Before the start of the tournament, I had labelled ourselves and West Indies as semi-finalists and people laughed at me when I said it,” Younis said. “Even when we failed to perform in the warm-up match, I had complete faith in my players and I knew that we have special something that would take us through.

“Everybody knows we are slow starters but my players knew we needed to win this tournament to lift our nation. It is indeed a huge achievement for us and I’m glad to have given this gift to our troubled nation.”

The win, as Younis pointed out, carried extra meaning as Pakistan had lost the last two finals played on this ground: World Cup 1999 and Natwest Series 2001, both against Australia. Pakistan also lost the inaugural World Twenty20 final against India and with survivors from each of those matches present in the squad, the captain’s plea not to succumb to pressure and apply the finishing touch was heard.

“I chatted to Razzaq and Afridi prior to the final and asked them to hold their nerves and apply the final touch. And I think it worked as Afridi batted sensibly — he even took singles and twos! — and the senior guys performed.’

As he talked of the senior players — adding his own name to the list repeatedly — Younis also took time out to remember Bob Woolmer, the former Pakistan coach who died following Pakistan’s early exist in World Cup 2007, and dedicated the win to the ‘father figure of the team who I owe this trophy and captaincy to’.

“He did well for the team whole incharge, especially me as an individual. If it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t have been the captain of Pakistan so credit must go to him for our achievement. I can just see how happy he would’ve been had he been sitting here right next to me.”

Not forgetting the performing youngsters in the team, Younis sent out a plea to nations to resume playing in Pakistan. It will, according to Younis, not only provide a distraction for the terror-struck nation but will also promote the sport among the Pakistani youth.

“Everybody is following Twenty20 cricket and since we are the champions now, I request all the countries to come to Pakistan. The law and order situation is not good but that’s not our fault and we need international cricket in Pakistan to motivate youngsters, especially at school and college level and I believe this will help build new cricket structure in Pakistan.” While that plea is not the one to be answered in the foreseeable future, by lifting the trophy Younis not only ensured a temporary grin on the Pakistan faces, but also fulfilled his personal dream of following in the steps of Imran Khan as a world-cup winning captain but issued a warning that there exists a world outside Twenty20.

“Imran Khan was my hero and I had dreamt of lifting the World Cup and being remembered as a world-cup-winning captain after I leave the sport. Although it brings me a lot of pleasure to have accomplished that, we must perform well in the coming series and ensure all the hard work does not go to waste.

“I still believe Twenty20 is a fun game and a great entertainment factor and we came out emphatic winners [by eight wickets]. However, if we promote it too much then there will be no Test matches and therefore we must do something about this [Twenty20].”

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 23, 2009

Pakistan fans

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published on Cricinfo June 21, 2009

We want to win World T20 for the nation: Younis

Skipper Younis Khan has made it crystal clear how badly Pakistan wants to win the World Twenty20 on Sunday with reasons ranging from the dearth of silveware in the last decade to his team getting labelled serious contenders in major tournaments once again. But most of all, he wants to win it for the terror-struck nation facing a bleak future.

Speaking after defeating tournament favourites South Africa in a pulsating semi-final at Trent Bridge, Younis lauded Shahid Afridi’s match-winning all-round performance but made sure the audience were reminded of the sufferings in Pakistan.

“The World Cup is everything for us,” Younis said. “I want to win it for the team, the nation and the millions suffering back at home, especially in the northern areas where I’m from. There are fights going on on a daily basis and I believe that winning the trophy will bring some smiles on their faces for a change.”

While the captain and team are unable to affect changes on the war-field, they ensured that they left the playing field at Trent Bridge with their best performance in the tournament so far, something Graeme Smith, South Africa’s captain, agreed with.

“Although we played great cricket throughout the tournament and today as well, credit must go to Pakistan as they played their best game of the tournament today,” Smith said. “Afridi had a great game with the bat and then the ball and he basically was the difference between the two sides.” We lost to a better team and that is something we’ll have to deal with.’

Afridi, consistent performer with the ball, repaid Younis’ trust and decision to promote him to number three. While he had shown glimpses of sensible batting, albeit in patches, as the tournament progressed, a significant contribution was surely missing.

He had told Dawn in an earlier interview how he was available, and prepared, to be promoted up the order to prove his worth with the bat. And although his aptly-timed first half-century in international cricket since January 2008 resembled one of a changed, and matured, cricketer, Afridi was adamant he was still as aggressive as ever.

“I was given a huge responsibility and told to play my natural game,’ Afridi said. “The captain really supported me and that’s always a benefit for any player. Playing aggressive cricket is my nature and I always enter the ground with the aim to win as I firmly believe it is my right to win and I have to fight for it.”

Credit must also go to the team effort, according to Afridi, as it was the self-belief in the playing eleven that got Pakistan through their toughest opponents thus-far. While marked improvements are constantly witnessed by the bowlers, Pakistan’s fielding — two dropped catches — and batting in the death overs — no boundaries in the last five overs — has become a cause for concern. Younis, with his customary light-hearted jokes and laughs, shrugged aside the concerns and said the plan for the final was simple: “Just go out there, do your best in all departments of the game and the cup is ours.”

Pakistan’s earlier experiments of juggling the batting line-up and playing elevens seemed to backfire at will, resulting in an inconsistent show on the tour. Keeping with his trend of parting with humorous and straight-forward remarks, Younis reckoned it was impossible for his side to be consistent. “We’re from Pakistan, nothing is stable there so how can we be stable,’ he said before adding that the slow-starters tag is something his team seems to carry into every series but it was the ‘momentum that we carry with every win that enables a strong performance in the following match’ was what mattered most.”

“It is important that we deliver the right thing at the right time and going into the final, I expect a strong performance from our match-winners namely Misbah-ul-Haq, Afridi, Umar Gul and Kamran Akmal. South Africa is the toughest team in world cricket right now and now that we have beaten them, I believe we can go and win the cup.”

While Pakistan await the winner’s of the second semi-final that took place at The Oval last night, Jacque Kallis, the South African allrounder, must be ruing the barrage of short balls that faced Afridi’s wrath and, in turn, delivered a damning verdict on the outcome of the match, sealed with a kiss.

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 20, 2009

Razzaq, Shahzaib delighted with contributions in T20 wins

Abdul Razzaq, the Pakistan all-rounder, has branded ICL as ‘low standard cricket’ and breathed a sigh of relief after quitting the ‘rebel’ league last month and being fast-tracked into the international side for the ICC World Twenty20.

Making his comeback for Pakistan against New Zealand at The Oval, Razzaq was handed the new ball, under pressure to perform straight away following a poor opening over. What followed seemed an effortless transition, after a two-year absence from international cricket, but even an impressive return of two for 17 failed to come up to the standards he had set himself.

“It wasn’t easy to get back into international cricket after a long absence,” Razzaq told Dawn. “This is the highest standards of cricket being played in the world and playing in ICL and its low standard cricket, it needs a great deal of mental adjustment. Even after the performance against New Zealand, I believe I still need another two to three weeks to get up to grips with international cricket.”

Fresh from topping the wicket-takers’ chart in Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20, Razzaq barely had 24 hours to adjust to conditions. While his team-mates took much longer to get acclimatised, the all-rounder started as if it was Lahore. His first ball almost capped off a memorable comeback if not for an inside edge off Aaron Redmond’s bat. However, he did not have to wait too long though for a lofted drive off Brendon Mccullum’s bat landed safely in the fielder’s hands and Pakistan were off to a great start.

Not surprised at being rewarded so early in his comeback match, Razzaq owed much to his spell with Surrey who have The Oval as their home ground. He also spent a season as Middlesex’s overseas player and thus the pitch and conditions were not alien to him. “I have played at this ground before and that helped me immensely. I was also able to provide input in the team meeting on the type of pitch, the outfield and the conditions and I think it helped me a great deal to have that background information.”

He also welcomed the inclusion of youngsters in the team, while commending a great effort by Mohammad Aamer and Shahzaib Hassan, but stressed the need for individual improvement in order to succeed at the highest level. “It’s basically a survival of the fittest. They [the youngsters] need to work hard on their fitness, get the experience and gradually, in about two to three months, they’ll constantly deliver the goods.”

Shahzaib, making his international debut in a must-win match for Pakistan, also showed no signs of nervousness with the bat or when questioned about his 27-ball 35.

Shahzaib was confident he had shone glimpses of the talent he possesses and will get more chances despite the opener failing to match his debut performance in the second match. “Although I scored against New Zealand, I wasn’t totally satisfied with my performance,’ Shahzaib told Dawn. ‘It was a chance for me to do well for myself and for my team and I was really thankful for the opportunity given. However, I’m sure I’ll get another chance to prove my worth and improve on what you saw on Saturday.”

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 17, 2009

We can’t afford to relax despite good show: Younis

Demons were buried convincingly. Worried faces breathed a sigh of relief. A repeat of the 2007 Jamaican debacle was too much to ask for from the Irish as a convincing 39-run win at The Oval confirmed Pakistan's place in the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20 2009.

Younis Khan, Pakistan's captain, had earlier asked his team to 'crush Ireland and march on'. Although the darker shade of green did not quite crush their opponents, Younis was adamant his side, who were hammered in the first two games at this ground, had what it takes to go all the way.

“We've always been slow starters,” Younis said at the post-match press conference. “It's not necessarily a good thing but what matters most is that we peak at the right time and carry forward the momentum that we have gained from the wins.”

Admitting his side fell short by twenty runs, Younis had complete trust in his bowlers – comprising three of the top six bowlers in this tournament – to carry Pakistan through.

“Opting to bat, I wanted to post at least 180 as it was a good batting pitch and the conditions were suitable for batting. However, despite the team falling short, I had complete faith in our bowlers and in the end, they kept my faith and, as you can see, we are through to the semis.”

Of the bowlers, Gul, once again, proved deadly with the ball. Younis, while complimenting his fast-bowler, was not pleased with New Zealand making an informal inquiry about the condition of the ball following their dismissal for 99.

“Reverse swing is an art, not cheating. Gul has a perfect action for reverse swing and he has pace so he doesn't need to get involved with cheating. Although we weren't really upset at the comments and inquiry, It's really disappointing to hear what happens. But then they got out really cheaply so maybe they inquired because of that.” Laughing off the Daniel Vettori's comments, Younis reminded all that Pakistan was surrounded by enough controversies and did not really need another one. “We need to forget these things and concentrate on cricket. That's what we do best.”

With Pakistan carrying the momentum, Younis shrugged aside signs of complacency as “bigger things and teams were to follow.” While Pakistan's passage through to the semi-finals has been confirmed, their position in the group will depend on the result of the New Zealand and Sri Lanka match taking place at Trent Bridge today and could see them up against South Africa in the last-four.

“We're through to the semi-final but we can't relax. The beauty of the Twenty20 format is such that it can change very quickly and you need to do the right things at the right time in order to come out on top. It's all about how you turn up on the day.”

Now that the team has acclimatised to the conditions, and have a chance to lift the trophy, Younis assured fans of his team's, and his, commitment on the field, promising a hundred per cent in all three departments of the game. “Although this game is good entertainment for the fans, with lots of boundaries being hit and bowlers like Gul hitting the stumps, I can assure everyone that we still take it very seriously. When we take the field for a match, we play with dedication and commitment that is expected, and asked of, by our fans.”

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 16, 2009

We feel let down by Qadir’s comments: Intikhab

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has brushed aside comments of ‘too much interference’ made by the former chief selector Abdul Qadir.

Sharing his disappointment at the timing of the comments – in the middle of Pakistan’s ICC World Twenty20 campaign – Intikhab told Dawn that the squad was selected in agreement with all parties concerned and it was shocking to hear Qadir’s comments given that he, himself, had agreed to the name beforehand.

“Comments regarding our interference is Qadir’s own opinion,” Intikhab said. “Whenever the team is selected, everybody, including the selectors, coach, and captain, and it is only then the piece of paper with everyone’s signatures if forwarded to the PCB chairman.”

“If he [Qadir] had issues with our interference or had problems with the selection, why did he sign those papers? He should’ve come out there and then and shared his thought instead of waiting until after tendering his resignation before making such statements,” quipped Intikhab.

Following his resignation last week, Qadir blamed Intikhab and Yawar Saeed, the team manager, for interference in selection matters, tendering his team of selectors as a ‘dummy committee’.

According to Qadir, he would have also stripped Younis Khan of the team’s captaincy in the Twenty20 format of the game while omitting Shoaib Malik, Younis’ predecessor as captain, from the side altogether for conspiring against the current captain.

Denying a rift in the current squad, Intikhab termed the allegations baseless and felt let down by the former chief selector making such statements when the team could do without them.

Meanwhile, Intikhab praised the stunning performance of Umar Gul and comeback guy Abdul Razzaq with the ball against New Zealand here on Saturday that won a key match for them in the Super Eights.

“He’s [Umar Gul] a fantastic bowler,” he said. “He’s disciplined, trains hard and is always thinking about his bowling. No wondered he achieved that feat [world record].”

Intikhab admitted Razzaq’s inclusion has strengthened the squad.

Highest wicket-taker in the recently-concluded domestic Twenty20 tournament, Razzaq shone with the bat too and scored the only century of the tournament. Judging by his performance on Saturday, he did not look short on confidence.

The coach said that Pakistan has hit form at the right moment.

“’It’s important to peak at the right time and this is what the team is doing right now,” he said. “Our batting clicked, our bowlers performed and our fielders took their catches. Special emphasis on Afridi’s brilliant catch and it’s moments like these that life the team’s moral on the field and turns players into match-winners.

“His [Afridi’s] batting was a bit of a concern prior to Saturday but it was due to circumstances [not many overs left in the innings] rather than anything else. He’s a match-winner and despite his lack of form with the bat, his bowling been brilliant as he’s shown how a leg-spinner can be so effective in Twenty20 cricket.”

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 15, 2009

Poor start spoiled our act: Younus

Pakistan captain Younus Khan blamed poor starts with both bat and ball as the main reason for his team’s loss to Sri Lanka in the Super Eights match here at Lord’s on Friday.

Good starts, by the looks of things is what Pakistan is dearly missing, an absence of which throughout the tournament seems to worry the Pakistan camp as well.

‘We have the potential but our players seem to miss out on good starts, both while bowling and batting,’ Younus Khan, Pakistan’s captain, said after the 19-run loss.

‘In this match, for example, we had a poor first over by Sohail Tanvir who gave away 18 runs including a few extras. Then again with the bat we lost Salman Butt in the very first over. So obviously that is something we need to work on.’

The horrendous first over by Tanvir — labelled a match-winner by Younus — provided an ideal platform for Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillekaratne Dilshan to latch onto. They did so for the first nine overs and prior to Shahid Afridi’s timely intrusion, Sri Lanka looked oncourse for a healthy total.

‘I was quite happy to have restricted them for 150. At one point it looked as if they would easily reach 200. Our spinners once again put in a good performance and we looked comfortable chasing that target if not for the regular wickets we kept losing.’

Afridi, shining once again with the ball, took two for 23 while briefly overtaking Umer Gul as international Twenty20’s leading wicket-taker. As a bowler, he has been Pakistan’s saviour and go-to guy of late.

With the bat, however, he poses a huge worry. A first-ball slog today failed to help Pakistan’s cause but Younus refused to show much concern.

‘We have all seen Afridi in the past. All he needs is one innings to get back into form but unfortunately for us it didn’t come today.

However, he still is a very important member of the side and his contribution with the ball and in the field has been tremendous.’

‘Though our fielding wasn’t that bad today, we gave away too many runs where we should not have [extras]. In a match like this, where the total is in front of you, we needed to form partnerships, perhaps someone who could’ve batted for 20 overs. We failed to do that and hence lost,’ said Younus.

In the end, it was Sri Lanka’s commitment to the task at hand, and pin-point accuracy with the ball by Lasith Malinga, that has left Pakistan with lot of thinking before Saturday’s late match against New Zealand at The Oval.

Some eyes may be on Salman Butt’s performance at the top of the order and some, perhaps, will be on a late arrival into the team, Abdul Razzaq.

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 13, 2009

Women’s World Twenty20: Sana and Co open campaign against SL today

The Pakistani and Sri Lankan governments should just declare Friday a public holiday. Not only are the two nations squaring up against each other in the men’s ICC World Twenty20, their women counterparts will also set off their World Cup campaign 170 miles away in Taunton, hoping to match proceedings at Lord’s.

Both women outfits go into the match having suffered back-to-back losses in the warm-ups against South Africa and West Indies. Sana Mir, Pakistan’s captain, however, is hoping the experience gained by throwing away a winning position in the losses will help the girls register a convincing win on Friday.

“Obviously victories in the warm-up matches would’ve boosted our confidence but the important thing is to realise what we did wrong and work hard on overcoming that when it matters the most,” Sana told Dawn on Thursday. “Our morale is still very high and the team’s looking forward to winning tomorrow’s match convincingly.”

While a win remains a possibility, a convincing margin looks far-fetched given Pakistan’s performance with the bat recently. Chasing 115 against West Indies in a rain-shortened match, Pakistan lost regular wickets and could only muster up 88 with only two players reaching double figures. Similarly, against South Africa, they crumbled from 43 for no loss to 90 allout, chasing a meagre 127 for victory. While restricting the opposition to low total seems no problem, batting, by the looks of things, remains a cause for concern.

“We have been poor with the bat but we have worked hard on it and know how to handle it well now. Our collapse against South Africa was very disappointing but we are getting used to conditions and our opponents well and working hard to overcome our lapses in concentration.”

While Pakistan women have yet to play their Sri Lankan counterparts in the shortest format of the game, the girls in green will take heart from the last time these two sides met: A group match in the Women’s World Cup that Pakistan won by 57 runs.

“We have been playing a lot over the last three years and although we’ve only won once, we have come close to beating them on numerous occasions. We will take our win against them in Australia into the match but we fully realise they will come back at us strongly as well with revenge in mind so we can’t solely rely on that win alone.”

The team, much like their male counterparts in the warm-up matches, have shuffled the batting order around, looking for the best eleven. While Sana himself came at number three against Sri Lanka, her demotion to number ten against West Indies was all part of the plan to try out as many players as possible.

“We have taken our time getting used to conditions and we’re finally there. We performed well in Ireland and we wanted to gauge our best eleven hence the shuffling batting order. It was only a temporary move and I’ll be seen in the middle order come tomorrow.”

As the team heads off to watch India play England, the two other sides in Pakistan’s group, Sana emphasised on the importance of learning from other teams and ensuring they know their opponents. It will all help when we are pitted against them in the days to come, according to Sana.

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 12, 2009

I need to play up the order for more impact: Afridi

After three mediocre performances with both bat and ball, Shahid Afridi finally came good — albeit against the minnows, the Netherlands — and carried Pakistan through to the Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20.

His career-best four for 11, the fourth best bowling figures in international Twenty20, was labelled as the difference between the two sides by the Dutch captain, and spared Pakistan’s blushes of exiting yet another tournament in the group stages.

Showing no signs of complacency after a thumping victory, Afridi vowed to deliver an improved performance in the next three matches against Sri Lank, New Zealand and Ireland.

“Judging by the performance on Tuesday, I think a lot will depend on my performance in the next round,” Afridi told Dawn after a training session on Wednesday at The Oval. “The team needs me and I’m fully aware of that and that is why I will be focussing a lot on improving my individual performance in the next round.”

It was difficult, according to Afridi, for the team to adjust to the English conditions and the pitches, with a lot of squad members totally alien to these conditions. On the other hand, players from other team benefiting from the recent IPL trip, had a huge advantage as the pitches in South Africa were remarkably similar to what the ICC World Twenty20 is witnessing.

“I think the Pakistani players were unfortunate to miss out on the IPL as it would’ve benefited us greatly. It’s not easy to arrive in England and start playing our natural game

straight away. It took time for us to get acclimatised to the conditions and as we move into the business end of the tournament, we will be able to deliver what is expected of us.”

While his performance with the ball came as a huge relief for Pakistan, Afridi as a batsman has yet to shine for his team in the tournament so far. No wonder then, that he appears desperately keen to put things right. “I’ve not been able to bat to my ability as I’ve often arrived at the crease with only a few overs to go. I wanted to carry my UAE form and strategy into these matches where I would have a few overs to settle down before attacking. However, that has not been possible on the tour so far and that is why I’ve made it quite clear to my captain that I can be, and am well-prepared as always, to be utilised at the top of the order if the need arises.”

Of the three Super Eight matches Pakistan will be playing, two of them will be at The Oval, the ground where Pakistan was handed a nine-wicket loss against India in the second warm-up followed by a 45 run defeat at the hands of the hosts England. Despite the two results at the venue, keeping in mind the Oval debacle of 2006, Afridi shrugged aside notions of apprehension.

“No matter what the location is, we need to come good in all departments of the game. Super Eights is where the real challenge begins. We will now see how good our team really is,” Afridi concluded.

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 12, 2009

Take mind off Pakistan unrest to excel: Younus

An early exit loomed briefly before Pakistan laboured into the Super Eights. But the Super Eights may not be as forgiving as the orange threats as Pakistan take on the ferociousness and twirls of Sri Lanka at Lord’s on Friday.

Pakistan captain Younus Khan has focussed on getting the basics right in order to go past the first hurdle while hoping his wish of playing India in the final comes true.

Speaking to the media on the eve of the match, Younus urged his team to focus on the job in hand, despite the law and order conditions back home, and do well in tournament for the nation’s sake.

‘They (Sri Lanka) are a very good side and we all are aware of this,’ Younus said. ‘We have played a lot against them recently and we know their team very well. However, we must ensure that we get things right at the right time and, providing that happens, we are capable of beating anyone.’

While backing his batsmen to counter the spin threat that Sri Lanka poses, Younus welcomed the inclusion of Abdul Razzaq – who is due to arrive in England late Friday afternoon – despite his past links with the ICL and termed it a relief after losing Yasir Arafat due to injury.

‘Although Razzaq will arrive here tomorrow [Friday] it will not be possible for him to play the match after spending seven to eight hours on the plane. However, being the fantastic allrounder that he is, especially in Twenty20 cricket, he can be in our playing eleven for the remainder of the tournament. His return will be good for Pakistan cricket,’ said Younus.

With the potential the Pakistani team possesses, it sometimes appears as though they lack focus thus resulting in being caught off-guard and being handed heavy losses.

‘It is hard for my team to focus at times, especially with the situation back home. That bomb blast in Peshawar, for example, which happens to be my hometown, did take our minds off cricket and it becomes difficult to concentrate on cricket. But this is what cricket’s about and we need to ensure we start this round well.’

In Sri Lanka they have an opposition which has endured tough times off the field. They have also dumped Australia out of the tournament before stopping West Indies well short of a healthy target of 192.

With the team scoring runs, taking wickets and holding onto their catches, complacency can easily be a bigger threat than Pakistan’s unpredictability but the Sri Lankan captain chose to label it confidence.

‘Yes, we have a lot of confidence going into tomorrow’s match, especially after beating two good teams, but this is Twenty20 cricket and a bad five-minute spell on the field can bring about your downfall,’ Kumar Sangakkara said at Lord’s on Thursday.

‘We played against Pakistan recently and we know the team inside out but these are different conditions and a different game altogether. It all depends on tomorrow’s performance, whichever team wants it more will come out on top basically.’

The biggest threat to Pakistan will arguably be that almost-40 maestro at the top of the order, Sanath Jayasuriya, especially following a blistering 47-ball 81 against Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards and Co on Wednesday. But Sangakkara is refusing to put much pressure on Jayasuriya.

‘As a side we’ve never had any doubts over what he [Jayasuriya] can do. It added to his and the team’s confidence that he got those runs [against West Indies] and the manner he got them in. However, we have a strong batting line-up that follows so despite the opening partnership being crucial, it won’t be the end of the world if he fails to click.’

Not wanting his bowlers to take a back seat, despite Pakistan’s potentially-explosive batting line-up, Sangakkara also laid much emphasis in his spinners, namely Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan.

Five wickets in the tournament for Mendis so far while Murali only has a solitary scalp against West Indies to bring into the match, Sangakkara is keen for the duo to form yet another great partnership.

‘Spin has been our strength for years and it won’t change tomorrow. If you’re a good bowler, batsmen will find it difficult to play you no matter what format of the game it is in. Hopefully, our spinners will keep performing and adding to their strengths and win us games like they have done in the past.’

With forecast of overcast and windy conditions, it is perhaps time for Pakistan’s fast bowlers, especially Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Aamir, to show why they are considered among the best in the country. And while Sangakkara plans one match at a time, Younus is already hoping for a Pakistan-India final at Lord’s.

‘I have good memories of Lord’s having managed good scores everytime I have turned up,’ Younus said. ‘Therefore, although we have hurdles to cross before that, I hope I lift the trophy at Lord’s at the end of the tournament.’

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 12, 2009

ICC yet to receive PCB request about replacement

While the Pakistan team management in London confirmed that a replacement for the injured Yasir Arafat has been sought in the form of Abdul Razzaq, the ICC technical committee has yet to receive any formal requests from the PCB.

“There have been reports of the PCB seeking a replacement for the injured Arafat but we’ve had no official word from them as yet,” Steve Elworthy, the ICC World Twenty20 tournament director and member of the ICC technical committee, confirmed to Dawn.

“The process can be started as soon as a request is received and, if done electronically, can take up to 12 hours.”

Considering Pakistan play their first Super Eights match on Friday, the delay comes as a surprise, puzzling especially given that Pakistan’s coach Intikhab Alam confirmed that a request has already been sent to the PCB.

“Arafat is definitely out of the tournament and we have asked the PCB to send Razzaq as replacement,” Intikhab had told Dawn.

“Losing Arafat is obviously a big blow to us as his attitude towards training and performing for Pakistan was terrific but it’s an unfortunate thing that can happen to anyone, and at any time.”

Arafat will be leaving the squad today and will rejoin his county Sussex that he is representing in the on-going county season as their overseas player.

Razzaq, an ex-ICL player, was originally named by the PCB in the 30-man squad for the tournament in May but his name was quickly scratched off due to ICC’s objections to ICL-linked players at that time.

Given the fact that he terminated his contract with the ICL recently, and was part of the recently-concluded domestic Twenty20 tournament in Pakistan, Razzaq seemed an obvious like-for-like replacement given Arafat’s withdrawal despite having not played international cricket for just over two years.

“Razzaq is a talented and professional cricketer who shone in ICL as well as Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20,” Intikhab said.

“I’m sure his performance will not be hampered by the fact that he hasn’t played international cricket for a long time and we look forward to having him in the squad.”

Razzaq, given the PCB sends in the replacement request in time, can feature for Pakistan against Sri Lanka as early as Friday, and can become the first ex-ICL player to return to international cricket.”

© Faras Ghani 2009.
Published in DAWN newspaper June 11, 2009

Younus keen to see his men go all the way

Missing the hysterical laughter from the previous press conference, Pakistan skipper Younus Khan did not shy away from labelling Twenty20 as entertainment yet again as he faced the media in a post match conference, even comparing the event to WWE.

However, with a comprehensive win under his belt, a win made possible by his senior players delivering what was asked by him, Younus has now set his sights on taking the cup home. ‘We’ve always been slow starters, the whole world knows that,’ Younis said. ‘Now that we are through to the Super Eights, showing fighting spirit at just the right time, we must now ensure we win the tournament.’

While Pakistan’s batting and bowling showed signs of considerable improvement, albeit against a weaker team that their previous opponents, the fielding still left much to be desired.

Salman Butt, who faced his captain’s wrath after a dreadful time in the field against England, was guilty of dropping another catch today before managing to hang onto a top-edged sweep. Apart from Butt’s drop, a few half chances went begging but luckily for Pakistan, they did not prove fatal.

‘We formed good partnerships, both with the bat and with the ball. However, for those achievements to matter in the end, we need to improve our ground fielding and hold onto the catches,’ emphasized Younus.

‘The simple plan is go out, bat well, bowl well and play the role that you’re been assigned in the team. We have a good momentum going into the Super Eights and we will need to ensure that we carry it forward and put it to good use.’

Pakistan went into the must-win match with two changes: Fawad Alam coming in place of Ahmed Shehzad and Sohail Tanvir replacing the injured Yasir Arafat. While Fawad’s contribution to the team was three runs and a few stops in the field, Sohail’s miserly figures of 13 runs in his three overs impressed Younus.

‘He (Sohail) has been out of form and it was essential for him to come forward and have a good match, especially considering it had become such an important match for Pakistan,’ said the captain.

‘The pitch and the conditions were suitable for him and he gave it his all and a repeat of such performance is simply what we need in order to make it through the next round.’

The destroyer-in-chief, however, was Shahid Afridi, who briefly entertained with the bat (a towering six over long-on in his 7-ball 13) but returned to haunt the Dutch batsmen.

He took three wickets in ten deliveries at one stage and his return of 4 for 11 — the fourth best figures in International Twenty20 history — was labelled by the opposing captain as the difference between a win against England and a thrashing against Pakistan.

‘We were simply unable to play him [Afridi],’ Smits said after the match. ‘Although we played Adil Rashid, the legspinner, in the previous match, it proved really difficult to bat against Afridi today and his bowling was what made the difference.’

A side looking much relaxed that the one that left The Oval on Sunday, Pakistan now have two days off before taking on Sri Lanka at the same venue on Friday afternoon in the first of three Super Eights matches.

© Faras Ghani 2009.
Published in DAWN newspaper June 10, 2009

Sana Mir aims to lead by example

If success was achieved by words, Sana Mir would right now be the best captain in the world and Pakistan would be holding many trophies. To be showing the level of confidence in her team that she has, with an implausible self-placed favourites tag on her team, does not come as a complete surprise given the team’s recent ascent.

Pakistan play their opening match of the tournament on Monday against the West Indies, fresh from six back-to-back matches in Ireland and against English Academy.

Speaking exclusively to Dawn at the captains’ photocall at Lord’s on Friday, Sana confirmed that preparations for the tournament could not have been better despite the alien conditions the team has found itself in.

“Prior to our arrival in Ireland, we had a training camp in Muridke’s sizzling conditions,” Sana said. “Upon arrival, we were greeted by freezing conditions for the first match against Ireland. However, the girls adjusted well to the weather, the conditions and the pitch and came back strongly in the following matches.”

Sana, who replaced Urooj Mumtaz as Pakistan’s captain for the tournament, was quite satisfied with her own performance as well, having taken a career-best 4 for 13 against Ireland last month followed by a 2 for 5. “Although I’m in good form with the ball, I would like to contribute more with the bat as well. As captain, I would like to lead from the front and ensure players, who have the potential, bring out their best when turning up for Pakistan.”

Her elevation as captain came as a surprise given Pakistan’s performance at the World Cup under Urooj Mumtaz where they defied all odds to make it past the group stages. Not much has changed due to a change at the helm, according to Sana, who assured that the decision has not affected Mumtaz’s performance either.

“I don’t think there is an issue [with Urooj being replaced as captain]. I’ve carried about in the same manner in the team as before, taking suggestions from everyone including Urooj who is, as always, more than willing to help the team. It’s a team effort once we step onto the field and we’ve improved as professionals, we don’t seek positions in the team any more. Captaincy, however, has come naturally to me. I’ve always thought it was my team.”

Hoping to replicate Pakistan’s performance in Australia, Sana remained adamant that her side has progressed well from their achievements down-under and is capable to causing more upsets. The morale, despite the blistery conditions at times, was high and their job was to exceed everyone’s expectations yet again. “Not many people expected us to go past the group stages in Australia. In fact we were handed our return tickets to Pakistan for the day straight after our last group match. But playing as we did, and going past the group stages, giving those tickets back to the organisers was one of the happiest moments.”

“However, now that we have achieved much and changed people’s mentality, a lot of the same is expected from us. We have a massive following back home and I’m backing my players, who have realised the importance of each and every game, to gather momentum at the right time.”

Although having beaten Ireland, Nottinghamshire and the English Academy, stronger teams like West Indies, Sri Lanka, India and England — who won the ICC Women’s World Cup in Australia — lie in wait. The job on hand, as Sana and her team have realised, is difficult and making it to the semi-final is an uphill task.

Much emphasis will be put on good starts following Pakistan’s mediocre performance with the bat in the matches preceding the tournament. But, due to conditions, Sana predicted low-scoring encounters, placing her faith in Pakistan’s bowlers to defend any total and is confident that another good show on the road will further aid the improving image of women’s cricket in Pakistan.

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 7, 2009

Flintoff’s absence huge advantage for us: S Malik

Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan all-rounder, has termed the absence of Andrew Flintoff as a ‘psychological advantage’ for his side and urged his team-mates to utilise the opportunity and start the tournament with a win.

Malik, speaking after Pakistan’s training session at Southgate on Friday, was confident of Pakistan’s victory when they take on England at The Oval on Sunday despite back-to-back losses against South Africa and India during the warm-up matches.

‘We arrived in England quite late and need some time to adjust ourselves,’ Malik said. ‘We played poor cricket in the two matches that we lost but we’re growing in confidence gradually while getting accustomed to the conditions and I’m sure we can start with a win on Sunday.’

‘Although England have a slight advantage over us due to home conditions, the absence of Flintoff has surely tilted the balance in our favour. He’s a great all-rounder and his absence is a huge psychological advantage for Pakistan, something we’ll utilise and ensure we win the match and carry the points into the next round.’

Refusing to pick his favourites for the tournament, Malik termed India, Australia and South Africa as strong teams but stressed that Pakistan must not be counted out on the basis of their poor show in the warm-ups.

‘It’s near impossible to pick out favourites in this type of cricket. You only need a couple of batsmen to score fifties or a couple of bowlers to take two or three wickets and the balance suddenly shifts in your favour.’

‘Obviously you don’t get as many chances as in ODIs or Test matches, but strong teams cling on to whatever chances they get and that is exactly what makes them strong in Twenty20.’

Mohammad Aamir, meanwhile, was cherishing his wicket of Rohit Sharma at The Oval on Wednesday and was confident he would be able to carry the his good performance upon the team’s return to the same venue on Sunday.

He, too, pointed at Pakistan’s late arrival into England as his side’s sluggish performance but promised a much-improved performance.

‘We were basically short on match practice but have had several training sessions since that loss and we’ll enter the ground [on Sunday] with a positive frame of mind,’ Aamir told Dawn.

‘Although winning or losing doesn’t matter when you give your 100 per cent, we are quite weary of expectations back home and will hope to win the tournament this time round.’

Coming into the tournaments shouldering huge individual expectations after being spoken highly of by Wasim Akram, Aamir shrugged off any notions of nervousness that he might have had prior to taking on the field against India.

‘It has been a great honour being spoken to highly of by Akram but despite it being a Pakistan-India match, I was confident of my abilities, gave it my 100 per cent and was very happy with the fact that I took a wicket in the match. Despite the loss, we remain confident of a good show against England as a lot of our players are used to the conditions and we posses an array of Twenty20 specialists and no wonder we sit on top of the Twenty20 rankings.’

While having high hopes for his side, Aamir has set high standards for himself as well, wanting to be a ‘top-ranking bowler’ in the next five years. ‘Everyone knows the things Wasim has said about me and it is purely because of that I don’t want to disappoint him.

He’s a great bowler, has appreciated me and I feel really lucky not only to have such comments from him, but also being able to spend time working with and learning from him.

He is my sole idol in world cricket and I want to come up to his expectations and, in five year, hope to become a top-ranking bowler.’

Following the match against England, Pakistan will take on Netherlands on Tuesday and are scheduled to play back-to-back Super Eights matches on Thursday and Friday if they qualify for the second round.

© Faras Ghani 2009.
Published in DAWN newspaper June 6, 2009