CWC19: Moist looking old Trafford wicket, a disguise that deceived Pak captain
Shoaib Akhtar’s recent video in which he lashes out at Pak team seems to be a trend to get subscriptions for his YouTube channel, not a sportsman’s remark
YOUNUS RASHID
The crucial and most anticipating game of cricket was played Sunday at Old Trafford ground in Manchester. The game of cricket between two arch-rivals India vs Pakistan which was being watched by almost 1 billion people viz television and around 24000 people inside the stadium. The ticket application turned up to 5 lakh. What a game of cricket, for which fans wait for four years.
The game started, after the toss won by Pakistan- a big blunder as termed by many experts, Pakistan choose to bowl first. Pitch was undercover as it was raining there for so many hours. Captains and coaches after assessing pitch thought moisture can help blowers and went for the bowl to get earlier wickets.
Despite good blowing spell from left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir and Wahab Raiz they failed to get the earlier wicket of Rohit Sharma or KL Rahul who batted up after Shikhar’s injury. One must give credit to Rohit the way he batted, took his time and batted long to put his team in a better position.
Meanwhile, Pakistan got a chance to run out Rohit when he was at 46, but Fakhar Zaman threw at the wrong side of the wicket displaying poor judgement. Pakistani fielders were at extreme pressure the way we saw fumbles during the game. At the end India put a big total on the board, 337 was not an easy job to chase.
Pakistani openers from the start of the game were not looking comfortable, rotation of strike was nowhere. There middle order collapse again, Shoaib Malik failed to get to the ball, with a poor average in England at 13.57. He scored 8 runs in 3 games, and is being backed by coach and captain, how pathetic!
Pakistan team at the end of the day couldn’t give India a tough competition, it was a one-sided game. Pak disappointed its fan one more time and it is 0-7 for them in the world cup records against arch rivals India.
What if Pak is way ahead when it comes to overall ODI matches – 131 matches between the two, in which Pakistan have won 73 and India 54 while four produced no results?
The cricket ground at old Trafford has match statistics of teams blowing first have won more matches, while as first inning average total is 214 and highest run chase achieved is 286/4 by England in 1986 against New Zealand.
In the India-Pak cricket encounter 336/5 is now highest runs in the first inning by any team at Old Trafford ground.
While analyzing the blowing attack of Pakistan, at one end Amir was hitting the length quite beautifully and at another end, Hasan Ali was blowing short of the length to that batsman who loves to play pull shot. Then how come it would have put the strong batting side under pressure.
Hasan proved the most expensive blower from this blowing attack. Now see the strategy, they choose five blowers including 2 spinners, Imad and Shadab, Imad is not good in turning the ball nor have any sort of specialty except blowing straight. Experts say; when you play with the five main blowers then you must choose to bat first and then with special blowers try to defend the total. Nevertheless, India outshined Pakistan in all levels of the play.
Post-match: Many experts while commenting on this match gave their overview, and Shoaib Akhtar too put forth his opinion that Pak team should have batted first and he goes on to say; Sarafarz is brainless captain and other things about the team which is very unfortunate remark from such a cricketer.
Shoaib while lashing out at Pak team in his recent video seems to follow a trend to get subscriptions for his YouTube channel. When any team loses the game, all these things are given a space. While as when the same team beats world top class team then everyone appreciates. For every team in the world there comes bad as well as good days, but one must not speak such bad remarks when their team is down.
It is not a good indication of a sportsman. Back your teams when they are not doing well. Even some Facebook experts put out the photo of Sarfaraz and trolled him while he was yawning. First, it was after the game restarted post that rain. It can happen when a player is in the game and rain stops play then getting back to the field – it can happen. Let’s try to become a true sportsman, other than watching and then criticizing players is not doing any good to the game of cricket.
(The writer is a B.A student at GDC Boys Anantnag)
KV Network
