After the spot fixing saga in 2010, Pakistan was in desperate need of a solid opener to fill the gap left by Salman Butt. And it was none other than Mohammad Hafeez who took the challenge upon himself to work his way into becoming Pakistan’s next regular opener in all three formats. Before 2010, Hafeez had a questionable batting average and his inclusion in the team was criticised because he was never able to establish himself as a preferred player in our team. Despite that he worked hard on his techniques and scored numerous runs against competitive teams like England, South Africa and New Zealand. From having a low average to becoming Pakistan’s first choice opener with an average of almost 35, he exhibited the determination to improve. In fact, it would not be farfetched to say that the best phase of his career was during the couple of years in which he was the opener. Having seen his progress, even Shahid Afridi praised him as a true team-player and someone Afridi would go to for advice every so often. After Afridi’s decline in form, Hafeez became Pakistan’s main all-rounder and won 14 Man of the Match awards, one of which was given to him after the 2011 World Cup quarter-final. No other Pakistani cricket player has won that many awards. In addition to this, according to the latest ICC ODI rankings, Hafeez is the best all-rounder in the world! Despite all these achievements, many people in Pakistan label him as selfish and a failure. They never understood his importance and the balance he brought to the team. Unlike many other Pakistani players, Hafeez has never been involved in any spot-fixing or ball-tampering incidents. In fact, Hafeez is the only Pakistani player who was nominated for the Spirit of Cricket award in 2012 for not claiming a false catch versus England in UAE. Considering how our players have given us global recognition in terms of cricket scandals, it was quite a great moment of pride for me to see a member of our team being nominated for the award. His excellent form led him taking over T20 captaincy from Misbahul Haq  just three months before the 2012 World Cup. Despite his late appointment, he led his team to the semi-finals, winning four out of six matches. During the tournament, Pakistan won against teams like Australia, South Africa and even defeated the reigning T20 champions, West Indies. His knock against India in Bangalore sealed the victory for Pakistan against India after a long gap of four years. Hafeez made a record of winning most matches as captain and our team rose to the second position in the ICC rankings. During the 2014 World Cup, due to poor performance, Hafeez stepped down from his post as captain on his own. To this, even Imran Khan, Pakistan’s World Cup winning captain, expressed his disappointment and asked Hafeez to reconsider his decision. In a country like Pakistan where people never willingly give up a position of power, it was refreshing to see such a controversy free resignation. Like Imran Khan though, I was very sad to see Hafeez leave the post – to me, he had taken the team to new heights and I was hoping he would continue to do so. After his resignation, however, the Pakistan cricket team engaged in locker-room politics once again and appointed Afridi as the new captain. And it was due to these politics that we had the dreadful series against Australia. Unfortunately, due to a hand injury Hafeez did not participate in the recent series and his absence was felt most when the team failed to find the right balance. Yes, it is no easy feat to replace a player who bats up the order at three and bowls 10 overs; I wish taking him for granted was as difficult. His bowling, particularly against the likes of David Warner and Mitchell Johnson, would have been extremely useful in this series. The last time Pakistan and Australia played, Hafeez scored 99 runs in three matches at an average of 33 and took more than four wickets including those of Michael Clarke and Warner. Although he could not do anything special with the bat, his contribution with the ball was spot on and barred any effort to make runs, frustrating the Australian batsmen into eventually succumbing to our bowlers. In short, Hafeez is one player who has demonstrated exemplary talent in all three formats of the game and has played a crucial role in reviving Pakistani cricket post 2010. In my opinion, Hafeez has been nothing short of a hero for the Pakistani cricket team and his fans. He should be given the respect he deserves and the respect his performances demand.

The hardest thing to do is to empathise with a person who is causing you inconvenience; to contain your righteous anger, with a self-reminder that the person doesn’t intend to bother you, and is probably as uneasy about the situation as you are. Some time ago, Rich Wisken wrote an acerbic letter to the airline company, Jetstar, complaining about being made to sit next to an obese gentleman on a flight from Perth to Sydney. He’d spent the duration of his flight periodically arguing with the flight-attendants, and heaping insults on the passenger next to him. In his letter to the company, he referred to the fat man as a “fleshy boulder” and an “infant hippopotamus”, and described his body odour in ways too uncultivated to be reproduced here. He introduced into his letter every fat-shaming cliché imaginable, from comparing the obese passenger to large animals, to exaggerated whining about his smell. He even insulted the female flight attendants for refusing to bow down to His Majesty in a borderline sexist way (sexism and fat-shaming often go hand in hand). In a world where sensational write-ups and F-word carpet-bombings are highly sought, his letter went viral after he posted it onto his blog. You’ve likely heard many complaints about sitting next to fat passengers, who “overflow” into their adjacent seats. You’ve likely never heard fat people’s horror stories about being humiliated by rude passengers sitting next to them, because in our minds, we ‘deserve’ that humiliation. Since the aforementioned flight incident, Rich Wisken’s letter has generated many laughs and enthusiastic nods. A precious few possess the empathy to condemn this horrid fat-shaming, and speak up in defence of the fat person. You may be surprised to find out that people don’t “choose” to be fat, to inconvenience you personally. Some people, for a myriad of genetic, medical and social reasons beyond their strict control, are unable to maintain a healthy weight as efficiently as others. That does not mean they’re not trying. Not having a medal around your neck at the end of a race isn’t proof of you never having participated in the event. You tried your best, but you still didn’t win; that is not a criminal offense, and you don’t deserve lifelong mockery for it. On a bus or a train, I prefer to stand than to sit next to another person, bearing his comfort in mind. And buying an extra ticket for yourself is not always an option, either due to the inordinately high expense or lack of seat availability (one can’t accommodate half his body on 24-K and the other half on 61-F). I’ll be blunt: If I ever encounter a passenger as rude as Wisken on a bus or an airplane, I’d rather sit on him, than next to him quietly enduring his rudeness throughout the journey. I have no power to contract my body size mid-flight for his sake, but my fellow passenger has the option to be a little understanding, and act like an adult.

Younus Khan silenced all conjectures. The doubters have been taught the consequences of tickling Mardan’s sleeping dragon. He probably broke the record for breaking records in this two-match series. Stats have brought him head to head with some of the galactic greats of the game but the hero chooses to remain in the shadows of conflicting egos, serving our cause with what little is left in him. Younus is indeed an odd hero. For a fan base that dwells on little moments of glory, the progress of his tons and Pakistan turning tables has been soporific to many. The exploits did not characterise the typical Afridi-esque flamboyance. They were rather meticulously crafted by Younus, who was provided cover fire on many occasions by Azhar Ali, Misbahul Haq, Asad Shafiq and Sarfaraz Ahmed. Younus has never been a boastful anarchist. His methods have been less precarious and more pragmatic. He cajoled the Kangaroos with his amiable character. A smile here, a chuckle there and unknowingly one of the most formidable sides in the game was in tethers. He has dominated the contest so far with sheer tenacity. His heroics will be remembered for a period longer than the results of the second test and the series on whole will be. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Younus Khan hits ton as Pakistan bossed the first day. Photo: AFP[/caption] Our bowling arsenal has been missing lethal hit men like Muhammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal, who over the years have ruthlessly gunned almost all sides in the game down. Novices in the international circuit like Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan and Zulfiqar Babar had to fill their boots in and few believed they would be able to pull it off. Yasir and Zulfiqar’s unfamiliar combination was a glimmer of hope as their performance proved to be an ode to our magician Ajmal, who is itching to get back in the side. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Left-armer Zulfiqar Babar, who has played two Tests and has six wickets to his name, will be Pakistan’s frontline spinner in the Test squad, with uncapped Yasir Shah also making the cut. Photo: AFP[/caption] Imran’s pace averages far below the standard Pakistan cricket boasts. But with the delivery that left Michael Clarke spellbound in the first innings of the ongoing match, Imran did full justice with his name. The performance was indeed aided by the opposition’s innocuous bowling attack and the moribund pitch. But the Australians were still not able to emulate the ‘flat-track bullying’ that Pakistan carried out with bat and ball both. Imran and Rahat worked wonders with the same track that clipped Mitchell Johnson’s and Peter Siddle’s fangs. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Michael Clarke was bowled through the gap with a sharp incoming delivery by paceman Imran Khan. Photo: AFP[/caption] As I write these words, Pakistan leads by 370 runs and eight wickets in its second innings. The unflappable Younus and his apprentice Azhar are still batting Australia out. No matter what the result comes out as, Pakistan deserves all the adulation. Amidst the test of time, Sarfaraz is on the verge of dethroning the Akmals from behind the stumps. Shafiq and Azhar are gaining momentum and well on their way to shoulder the responsibilities of our middle order for years to come. Pakistan continues to produce exuberant bowlers. Above all, Misbah looks happy. Our unsung hero is smiling even after Afridi bit into his wounds when a cricket ball wasn’t around. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Sarfraz Ahmed tucks the ball off his toes, Pakistan v Australia, 2nd Test, Abu Dhabi, 2nd day, October 31, 2014. Photo: AFP[/caption] The only concern at this point is the average age of our frontmen. At a time when the world is shunning conventional cricket, our boys proved that despite playing in exile, Pakistan cricket is still viable. They may be inconsistent with both winning and losing but they give us hope. As prudent as the statement can be, Pakistan, without doubt, completes world cricket.

Pakistan, home to 180 million people, saw another deadly Muharram this year when 57 people were killed in a suicide bombing in Lahore. Each time, short term administrative solutions are followed to bandage the plague of ideological intolerance that has infected us for years. Cities are put under curfew, statements of condemnation floated, promises of fool-proof security made and cellular services blocked for as long the government deems fit. Nothing much has changed since last year, when Raja Bazar in Rawalpindi was gripped by sectarian violence. This religious intolerance and administrative failure is in stark contrast to what I recently experienced in a foreign land. I come from a Sunni background, but this year, I took part in a 10^th Muharram procession organised in Melbourne. This was to show solidarity with my brothers in faith back home. Australia is known for its racism. Hence, I expected at least a few condescending glances as thousands of people from the world over wore black and walked the city’s street as a unified force. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Mourners walk on LaTrobe Street. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Participants pass through LaTrobe Street towards Carlton Gardens. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] Nohas were played on loudspeakers and participants thumped their chests in grief. Information leaflets were also distributed which explained the reasons behind this procession and who Imam Hussain (RA) is. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Participants perform 'matam' at Carlton Garden. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Participants perform 'matam' at Carlton Garden. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] People from all nationalities and races transcended their nationalistic differences and came together for a single cause – the cause of Imam Hussain’s martyrdom. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] Family is distributed information leaflet to explain who Hussain was. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] The procession was taken out right before the Melbourne Cup was to take place a few blocks away. It is a popular horse race that allows people to bet on their favourite horse and drink in celebration. Just that fact was enough proof of the plurality and tolerance of divergent views. We walked further on towards Carlton Gardens where a wedding was taking places only a few minutes earlier. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Tram with Melbourne Cup Carnival poster running parallel to the Muharram procession. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Bridesmaids getting their picture taken seconds before the procession reached. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] Following that, Zuhr prayers were offered and the participants dispersed to peacefully go home. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="479"] Zuhr prayers being offered in Carlton Garden. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="479"] Man carrying flag with religious scripture printed on it. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] How unfortunate that this proof of coexistence was blatant in a ‘gora land’ and not in my own country that boasts of 98% Muslim population and was founded on secular, pluralistic principles. There was no threat of violence or fear of being attacked. There was no hint of racism in a country known for it. The government didn’t have to put security on high alert neither did it jam cell phone services. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Security personnel leading the rally to stop traffic. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Participants pass through LaTrobe Street. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Women congregate as the procession reaches its end at Carlton Gardens. Photo: Sabeer Lodhi[/caption] Will we ever be able to fight the ideological extremism prevalent in Pakistan and allow space for such peaceful coexistence of different beliefs and values? Will we ever see a day when the government doesn’t have to enforce shallow administrative actions to fight the larger battle against extremist mindsets and a lack of plural values? Let’s hope so.

The venom of glamour and entertainment infused with cricket has made a cascading impact on its purest format, as it seems to lose its essence in this fast-track age of madness. As always Indian cricket has struggled to cope with any kind of fast bowling overseas. The superstars that Indian cricket has produced over the years have managed to excel on slow tracks of the subcontinent but succumbed to the fast bouncy tracks elsewhere. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his team have suffered humiliating defeats in Test matches over the past four years. After surrendering to complete wash-outs in England in 2011, his lacklustre side suffered almost similar losses in South Africa, New Zealand and recently at the hands of an average English side. Experts and former cricketers have fired all bullets at the skipper’s end, dismissing his defensive on-field strategies as obnoxious and absurd. This view persists despite him having achieved coveted prizes in limited-over formats like the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] England's James Anderson celebrates after dismissing India's Virender Sehwag (L) for 0 as Stuart Broad (R) looks on during the third cricket test match at Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham, England August 12, 2011. Photo: Reuters[/caption] Dhoni is a sound decision-maker – cool, emotionally balanced and stoic in many ways. Ever since he’s been appointed to lead the national side, his Midas touch has produced outstanding results in shorter versions of the game. However, cricket’s longer format appears to be his Achilles heel. When a side goes through a phase of transition, leadership matters. Bullies are easy to lick but when times are harsh and the chips are down, it takes more than just good captaincy to resolve matters. Captaining India is a Herculean task. Although captaining any team is not easy, India is particularly difficult because of its diversity. Dhoni needs to be pretty strong on his strategy and tactics, and understand the finer points of the game; moreover, his teammates have to be convinced that their leader understands the game better than they do. India’s resurgence in the world of cricket as a force to reckon with lit up in the sixties, largely under the leadership of a young, aggressive and flamboyant Oxford-educated prince-turned-cricketer, Nawab of Pataudi Jr, cited as the ‘greatest Indian captain ever’. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Tiger Pataudi[/caption] In the midst of the rugged Caribbean series in 1962 when the then captain, Nari Contractor, was forced to retire from the tour after suffering a blow on his head against West Indian pacer Charlie Griffith’s bouncer, the selectors had rushed in a 21-year-old Pataudi as an emergency skipper. Little did they know then that this match was to kick start a path-breaking chapter in the history of Indian Test cricket. India had just achieved independence and, like the new nation, its players too were lacking a certain amount of confidence, especially against the ‘white’ teams. The side feared facing fast bowlers, their fielding standards were dismal. Pataudi instilled his team with confidence, trained his men hard and managed to dissolve the inferiority complex. His first duty was to read, study and analyse the psyche of his players. He had to know them personally and worked towards their strength. To him, instinct was a mixture of experience and common sense. Pataudi himself had battled out of a fatal car accident while as a student at Oxford, which permanently damaged his right eye. Most feared that would end his cricketing career, but in just a few weeks’ time, young Pataudi was back in the nets. His brave exploits earned him the nickname ‘Tiger’. Pataudi’s team was not the glamorous, swashbuckling million-dollar babies that Dhoni is blessed with today. Cricket never looked lucrative in those days, corporate tycoons didn’t bother to even sniff it; in fact teams didn’t even have this much money to buy a player’s kit. Most of the cricketers worked in private and state-owned companies and played cricket mainly as a passion. Tiger Pataudi’s greatest achievement was in developing highly effective spin attacks. He believed that spin was India’s greatest strength, and introduced the famous quartet, comprising Bishen Singh Bedi, Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, Erapalli Prasanna and BS Chandrasekhar. His best stint as a captain came in the twin tours of Australia and New Zealand in 1967-68. There were no super stars or god-like characters in the side, apart from a few reliable batsmen and good quality spinners. And most notable in those days is that there was nothing covering their heads, chests, thighs or arms. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Top (left to right): Bishen Singh Bedi, Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan. Bottom (left to right): Erapalli Prasanna and BS Chandrasekhar[/caption] Playing the hostile Australian pace-attack, with the likes of Garth Mckenzie and Alan Connolly, without helmets or efficient body guards was never going to be easy. At Melbourne, in the second Test match, adding to his handicapped vision, Pataudi had injured his foot but nevertheless joined all-rounder Rusi Surti to defy the maverick-paced bowling and helped reel India to nurture the collapse – with a score of 75 and 85 in both innings. A journalist called this match the “innings of one eye and one leg”. Although India lost all four Test matches, they came close and fought well. The tour helped them set up a historic 3-1 series triumph in New Zealand in the following weeks, making it the first ever overseas series triumph for India. Pataudi’s legacy followed years after his axing from the side; the groundwork he laid duly assisted future captains. Unfortunately, at this point, Indian Test cricket is experiencing a steady decline and the foundation laid by Tiger Pataudi is effectively collapsing under the leadership of an iconic ODI player and skipper Dhoni. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] MS Dhoni. Photo: Reuters[/caption] The team seems to be high on an overdose of glamour and glitter, signing remunerative contracts in dubious cricket formats sponsored by greedy corporate dons. The blood and sweat shed under Pataudi, in improving all three divisions of the game, has faded away in recent times due to the emergence of lucrative, shorter formats of the game that demand less quality and class. Between Tiger Pataudi and MS Dhoni, Indian Test cricket history will mark this period of over fifty years as both crux and crucial, from its rise during the former’s era to its descent under the latter’s reign.

While the nation rightly celebrates a long awaited Test series win over Australia, one as dominant as unexpected, it would be unadvisable to start getting complacent. They say the best teams in sport are those that strengthen while at the top and we must not fall into the trap of overlooking areas which need improvement. The last time we whitewashed a world number one in UAE, we followed it up with a highly uninspiring series loss in Sri Lanka in 2012. Many reputations lived off that series for far too long, and we must make sure that the same mistakes are not repeated this time. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="569"] Pakistan's Abdur Rehman (C) is lifted by his teammates after dismissing England's Stuart Broad during the second cricket Test match at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi January 28, 2012. Photo: Reuters[/caption] To get to my point, first we must rewind a bit. Following the loss of the cornerstone of our bowling attack, Saeed Ajmal, and the disastrous clean sweep suffered at the hands of Australia in the ODI series, a sense of panic emerged amongst the team management ahead of the Test series. It was concluded that experience would be needed to tackle Australia and in came Mohammad Hafeez (despite being dropped twice within a year) and Taufeeq Umar (who hadn’t been featured since July 2012). Youngsters Ahmad Shehzad and Shan Masood, who had been with the Test team previously were left to vie for the remaining spot in the warm-up match against Australia in Sharjah. Now fast forward to the end of the triumphant series for Pakistan, and it is clear that nearly everybody contributed to the win barring Hafeez – who was brought in, despite his well-documented batting deficiencies, due to concerns over the highly inexperienced spin duo of Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar. It is fair to say both spinners blew those concerns out of the water and Hafeez also failed miserably with the bat. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Zulfiqar Babar celebrates with his teammates in the first Test match, where he claimed a five-wicket haul in the fourth innings. Photo: AFP[/caption] At the same time we had a 34-year-old reserve opener/understudy sitting outside in the shape of Taufeeq Umar, and Shan Masood who made up part of the 16 man squad. It is difficult to see the logic in having a 34-year-old reserve opener for a two-Test series but then logic has never been an ally of the PCB selectors. Taufeeq was recalled into the squad at the behest of Captain Misbahul Haq, who is also his skipper at Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). Now, if there was such a need to bring Taufeeq back, should he not have been chosen for the warm-up match against Australia to gauge his form? Had Taufeeq become such a sure shot for our team that he did not need to prove himself in the warm-up match? The reasons given for his recall was his impressive record in the UAE and against Australia. Both are equally baffling. His record in the UAE is an average of 29, which include his one innings of 236 while his average against Australia in UAE is an abysmal 1.50. The decision would have been more understandable had Taufeeq’s recent form merited an automatic berth but an average of 29.50 in his last three first class games hardly suggests sublime form. Yet it seems as if most of the country has had an epiphany when it comes to Taufeeq. Absence makes the heart grow fonder – reputations are enhanced in absentia and nowhere does this hold truer than in Pakistan cricket. This brings us to the point of a win masking any and all deficiencies in our culture. Taufeeq is fondly associated with the team that whitewashed England 3-0 in 2012, yet a closer look would suggest just how poor he was in that series. For those who need to have their memories refreshed it was in fact our bowlers who rescued us in that series, a point illustrated by Taufeeq’s woeful average of 17.40 in it. In fact, in his last six Tests for Pakistan, Taufeeq Umar averages a miserly 24.60. Yet we see this entire clamour for his return which leaves me nothing short of perplexed. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Taufeeq Umar. Photo: AFP[/caption] And having not taken part in the warm-up match against Australia, was the warm-up match against New Zealand not a perfect opportunity for Taufeeq to stake his claim for a Test spot with Hafeez not performing? Yet, although Masood was sent to play and top scored with 67, Taufeeq was held back with the Pakistan team. Is it because the selectors are afraid Taufeeq might get exposed or because they were instead afraid he might perform? Either way, something does not add up. Now, with Masood having shown his capability with his knock against New Zealand in the side match, are there still such concerns that both Taufeeq and Hafeez have to be retained? Again it seems the team management have made the mystifying decision to retain the 16 man squad. Again, that means four openers. Although originally four openers were chosen because the team management was not sure of the opening combination, surely by now Moin, Misbah and Waqar know who their best openers are? With Hafeez’s niche clearly nullified by our spinners, is there a need to have him in the squad? And Taufeeq, who has not featured for us since 2012? Will the selectors make the bold call of playing youngster Shan Masood – having already performed in the current series – and put two senior players in the reserves? It seems highly unlikely. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Mohammad Hafeez. Photo: Reuters[/caption] Regardless, by now it is well established the strong relationship enjoyed between not only Misbah and Hafeez but also Misbah and Taufeeq. Misbah is reportedly keen to have both Hafeez and Taufeeq in the team, albeit against all logic. While Misbah’s batting record speaks for itself, unfortunately his record in team selection matters is not encouraging. The problem lies in our culture of player power which needs to be curbed. Michael Clarke has seen his selection duties taken away from him and that seemed to benefit Australia before this series versus Pakistan. Unfortunately, in our culture, every success of the team sees the power of the captain increase as Misbah’s has in this case. We face a familiar circumstance this time again to the one we faced after the England series. As the nation rejoices a momentous victory, certain aspects are being disregarded. A series win should not grant Hafeez a stay of execution. It is often said not to change a winning formula but that would only appear to count if Hafeez had contributed anything to that winning formula. It is time for us to be progressive and not rely on 34-year-old reserve openers. South Africa would not have Alviro Petersen as an understudy to youngster Quinton De Kock. The last time we put in such an impressive performance in a Test series, it took us two and a half years to win another one. Let’s make sure that does not happen again.

The morning of November 22, 1999 was nippy and blustery, typical Karachi winter weather. I woke up early with an air of expectation. Christmas was coming early this year and Eid was going to follow. Pakistan was finally going to beat Australia in a Test match on their home turf and I was ready for school early to savour as much of the moment as possible. The Test series was following after Pakistan had been blanked by Australia in the World Cup final earlier in the year and was billed as the ‘badla’ tour by the press. Wasim Akram, the Pakistan team captain, had said in an interview that the contest was between the two best sides in the world and the winner could lay claim of being the undisputed number one. It was akin to the West Indies-Australia series of 1979 and Clive Lloyd had echoed similar sentiments. West Indies had won that handily and gone on to dominate cricket for the next decade and a half. The same was expected from this series too, and with a strong batting and arguably the best bowling attack in the world, this was Pakistan’s best chance to finally win a Test series in Australia. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlkkci_pakistan-vs-australia-1999-world-cup-leeds_sport[/embed] Pakistan lost the first Test at Brisbane by a humiliating 10 wickets, a second innings century by Saeed Anwar, the saving grace. And yet, this was no dampener on the spirits; Australia has the habit of playing undercooked, visiting sides on bouncy tracks in Brisbane, or worse, Perth, and bagging the first Test. It was from the second Test that any Pakistan-in-Australia series started. The second Test was to be in Hobart, a friendlier track. Pakistan was playing Mohammad Waseem, the rookie opener and the rest of the batting side was Saeed, Ijaz Ahmad, Inzamamul Haq, Yousuf Youhana and Azhar Mahmood. The rookie scored 91 in the first inning, followed by a 118 by Inzi in the second and supporting 50s by Saeed and Ijaz. Now on the fifth day they could sense victory. Australia had been given a stiff target of 369 and were to start the day at 188 for five, still a long distance from saving the day. With a bowling attack of Wasim, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Azhar and Shoaib Akhtar, the match was as good as done, only Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist to be dispensed with. This was Pakistan’s moment; this is what the nation had aspired for long years, ever since Imran Khan developed a stress fracture going into the first five Test series to be played in Australia. This was the prize for which Pakistan had been preparing green tops at home for a decade (and no, Mr Ian Chappel, the green tops were not to blunt Shane Warne, but prepare Pakistan for Australia). For the last 10 years, wins against India were opium for the masses; the Pakistani connoisseur pined for a series win against Australia, in Australia. By the time I got to school, Pakistan were still going strong. Then came the decision to let off Langer from what seemed like a plumb leg before. Chance gone, Pakistan wilted, and Australia romped home; Gilchrist’s withering century battering Pakistani psyches. Seeing victory snatched away by the vagaries of the umpire, Pakistan got deflated and lost the third match inside three days by an innings and thus began the dominance of the Australians on Pakistan. Wasim’s words had been prophetic, only not in the way he must have meant. Historical epochs are often scripted on decisive moments and cricket is no exception. Harold Larwood’s first bouncer to Donald Bradman in ’32 Bodyline Ashes, Javed Miandad’s last ball six at Sharjah in ’86, Michael Holding’s crashing delivery against Brian Close in ’76, Misbahul Haq’s miscued punt in the 2007 T20 World Cup – all these were to herald a seismic change in the cricket world. It seemed Langer’s let off in Hobart was one of them. For the next decade and a half, Pakistan were the whipping boys for the Australians even as Pakistan won or drew Test series against the rest of the world. Australia, however, was the perennial bugbear. They destroyed Pakistan everywhere they played – Colombo, Sharjah, London and the Test venues of Australia bore witness to the all too familiar sight of Pakistan being steam rolled by the sight of Warne and company. In 2002, Pakistan were out for 59 and 53 on a flat Sharjah wicket, while in 2004, they lost by a mind boggling 451 runs at Perth. From 1999 to 2010, Pakistan lost 13 Tests against Australia and won just one. They were whitewashed in four consecutive series; a Mohammad Aamir inspired victory at Headingley, the sole sliver of joy. For a Pakistani cricket fan, it was soul searching stuff. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1yyehf_mohammad-amir-s-50-international-wickets-collection-www-cricserve-blogspot-com_sport[/embed] Pakistan team’s long suffering captains, Wasim, Waqar and Inzamam, all bore the brunt of the Aussie juggernaut and before the Dubai Test, it seemed the massacre would continue. And why wouldn’t it? The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had been in a state of turmoil for the past year and a half, and had recently installed another new chairman. The team was missing its talismanic bowler, one Saeed Ajmal, and Younus Khan, the senior most batsman of the side, had publicly stated his disgust against the management after being dropped from the limited overs side. Australia was coming off from an Ashes whitewash and a 2-1 series win in South Africa, and had swept Pakistan in the ODIs. Captain Misbah seemed beleaguered and had dropped himself for the third ODI, ostensibly for lack of form. Pakistan’s bowling attack had played a total of eight Tests and featured two debutants. It was to be Australia’s ‘veni, vedi, veci’ (I came, I saw, I conquered). At 7/2, on the first day’s morning, Pakistan were in depressingly familiar territory when something strange happened – the batsmen simply refused to roll over. From then on, Pakistan dominated, hour after hour, session after session and day after day. Misbah and his young charges counter attacked and the bowlers went on the hunt. The Australians were not to win a session until the fifth day’s morning in the second Test and the unthinkable, the unfathomable happened; Misbah and his band of merry young men kneaded, pummelled and flattened the Australians for a brown-wash. The 2-0 score line does not give the complete picture. Statistics only give a side of the tapestry that was Pakistan’s mastery of their opponents. However, there are few telling ones. Before this series, Pakistani batsmen had scored six centuries in the period of 1999 to 2010. In this one alone, they scored nine. Two batsmen scored a century in each innings of a Test match, Younus, in fact, getting three in a row. It featured the fastest century in Test cricket by captain Misbah, a freakish innings of rare power and brutality. Pakistan won the last match by 356 runs, which is their largest margin of victory against any opponent. The numbers go on and on, each articulating Pakistan’s dominance over their erstwhile tormentors. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x295ifn_misbahul-haq-breaks-records-of-fastest-50-fastest-100-in-abu-dhabi_news#from=embediframe[/embed] What is even more satisfying is that this was a most un-Pakistan-like victory. Pakistan’s cricket success is largely wrought by its bowlers and often stems from a magical moment produced almost at will by the mercurial geniuses the country keeps producing. From Oval ‘56 when Fazal Mahmood mesmerised the English to Imran’s 12 wicket whirlwind in Sydney in ‘77 to Dubai  2012 when Ajmal and Rehman spun a web around the hapless English, Test victories have been produced largely due to sparks of brilliance rather than sustained team efforts. The last series was different, no last day miracle, no madcap victory from jaws of defeat. Australia were not hamstrung by a scintillating bowling spell or a flashing batting performance but rather strangulated under the weight of runs and sustained pressure. When the scoreboard shows mammoth scores by opposition, it saps your energy. Long periods of chasing leather and fresh legs become heavy, nimble feet became leaden and clear minds become cloudy. Ever put salt on a slug under the hot sun? After Misbah’s 56 ball hundred that is how the Aussies looked, a quivering jelly-like puddle ready to be buried under the desert sands. Watching Pakistan land body blow after another, I was reminded of the Muhammad Ali-Ernie Terrell ’67 fight. Terrell had made the mistake of taunting Ali by calling him by his old name and as punishment was hammered for 15 rounds in a lopsided match. As Ali landed jabs and hooks, he kept asking Terrell “What’s my name?” http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqbm0i_muhammad-ali-vs-ernie-terrell-1967-02-06_sport If Pakistan had asked Michael Clarke the same question, he could have been forgiven for being a little confused because Pakistan’s method of grinding opponents down was positively Australian and had been perfected by Clarke’s predecessor Steve Waugh. Waugh didn’t use to enforce the follow-on and wanted to garrotte opponents by running them ragged and then unleashing his menacing bowlers, inflicting not just abysmal defeat but deep mental scars. That is what Misbah did and the series can rank with Tiger Woods’s US Open 2000 campaign or Pete Sampras’s defeat of Cedric Pioline in Wimbledon Final 1997 in its one-sidedness, a blowout in sporting jargon. After all, the shameful capitulations and agonising defeats, after watching Warne’s serpentine deliveries bamboozle and befuddle, after witnessing Matthew Hayden and Gilchrist happily chew up our bowlers, after viewing Glenn McGrath run through the batsmen, after seeing Mark Taylor, Waugh and Ricky Ponting slicing up Pakistan, we have gotten a bit of our own back. I can now be philosophical about the years of waiting and disappointment, the gnashed teeth at submissive tactics, at the wasted mornings and afternoons, wasted talent, wasted opportunities, and more defeats. A wait of 20 years comes to an end. It isn’t often we do an Ali. It isn’t often we flay the opposition. This is sweet satisfaction. This is for Hobart.

After their historic win against Australia in the recent Test series, chairperson of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shahryar Khan, announced a special cash bonus for the Pakistani national team. The team will get a total sum of Rs14.75 million for their glorious performance. Good to know. But while our cricket team seems to be aiming for the stars, our hockey team is being treated like its ugly step sister – it’s part of the national sports family, but no one really cares about it. Recently, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) cancelled the national team’s tour to South Korea due to lack of funds and visa issues. This is not the first time that the sport has faced financial problems. Even though hockey players were awarded with special bonuses for performing well in the Asian Games earlier this year, the cheques were never cashed because the federation didn’t have any money, leaving players empty-handed. And this is not all. There have been reports earlier about how staff and hockey players do not get their salaries on time – something being off by months! Hockey, as a sport in Pakistan, is in an utterly dismal state. And no one is willing to help. Not many are aware of the dilemmas and problems that a player, who expects to build a career in hockey, goes through. Reality is harsh. How can anyone expect a player to do well on the field when, at the back of his mind, he’s not even sure he will get paid for the match he is playing? How can a player perform well when he is worried about feeding his family and earning a stable livelihood? Mental peace and freedom from such worries is essential to motivate players for the game. To provide a peaceful and tension-free environment, they should be offered salaries that can atleast alleviate them from the state of poverty! Why does Pakistan only feel the need to pay its cricket players, and that too with such generosity, while players in our national sport can hardly make their ends meet? When we invest more, we reap more. Category A players for the national cricket team receive Rs313, 000 salary per month, with an additional match fee of Rs330, 000. On the other hand, the monthly salary for a category A hockey player is a mere Rs50,000, with Rs5000 as allowance on foreign tours. The difference is astounding. Salman Akbar, one of the finest goalkeepers of our time, whilst discussing financial problems faced by players said,

“Look at Zeeshan Ashraf; he was captain of the winning team at the 2010 Asian Games but still couldn’t secure a job in the NBP hockey team. A player like Shakeel Abbasi is on contract in the SSGC hockey team. I, myself, have been jobless for a year. After winning the Asian Games, I tried to get a job but was unsuccessful. Just this year, SSGC has given me a contract of Rs25,000 only.”

And so the ICC’s purge against off-spinners continues, with Mohammad Hafeez being the latest victim. It has come as no surprise given the recent suspensions of off-spinners globally and the warning Hafeez himself received when he was reported during the Champions League T20 in September with Hafeez due to be tested at Loughborough on November 24, 2014. In fact, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) itself has been pro-active in this matter, forming a five-member committee which included ICC Elite Panel Umpire Aleem Dar and Pakistan’s spin bowling coach, Mushtaq Ahmad, to weed out suspect actions before they reach the international stage. However, the news of Hafeez being reported comes as a huge blow to Pakistan, especially in the wake of Saeed Ajmal’s suspension and the bleak outlook on his return to the team. Our bowling attack over the last five years has been based on our spinners, and Hafeez and Ajmal formed two thirds of the triumvirate (third being Shahid Afridi) largely responsible for winning games for us that the batting side seemed intent on losing. However, with the World Cup 2015 fast approaching, we are left in a perilous position where only one of the three is available. Yet Hafeez’s position may not be as desperate as that of Ajmal’s. While Ajmal had 30-35 deliveries reported and results eventually showed his average elbow extension to be twice the limit, Hafeez only had a mere four deliveries reported during the first Test versus New Zealand. And while Ajmal is an unorthodox spinner, Hafeez is a relatively straight-forward off-spinner. On the flip side, other orthodox spinners such as Kane Williamson have also been suspended from bowling and Hafeez’s argument of “nothing is different from what I have been bowling in the last 11 years” will not stick since this is an unprecedented clampdown on bowling actions; after all, even Ajmal was cleared back in 2009. Moreover, since Hafeez possesses no variations, it is his regular off-spin that has been called into question. So unlike Marlon Samuels, who only had his quicker delivery banned, if Hafeez is found to exceed the limit then he will be banned from bowling altogether. There were some in the cricketing circle, such as Wasim Akram, who suggested after Hafeez’s action was reported during the Champions League that we should preserve him for the World Cup due to his worth as an all-rounder in the ODI team. However, just as he denied there was anything wrong with his technique after being badly exposed by Dale Steyn, Hafeez dismissed suspicions about his action maintaining it had remained the same throughout his career and participated in the recent Test series against Australia and New Zealand. Perhaps it would have been more prudent for Pakistan to take a leaf out of West Indies’s books, when they withdrew Sunil Narine from their tour of India to work on his action after he had also been reported during the Champions League. Such valuable time could have been used to work on Hafeez’s action and ensure his participation in the World Cup as an all-rounder. It seems it was a risk that was clearly not worth taking if it results in his suspension. If anything, it was a surprise he wasn’t reported during the Australia series and that’s a statement not on Hafeez’s action but on the movement to eradicate off-spin from the game. Despite his brilliant performance in the first Test against New Zealand, there will always be those who question Hafeez’s place in the Test team – a format where specialists are more in demand – but it is a fool’s errand to question his place in the ODI and T20 teams. Hafeez is second in the ICC rankings for ODI all-rounders, and first in T20s. All-rounders like Hafeez are a priceless commodity in ODI cricket – they can bat at the top of the order and bowl their full quota of 10 overs if required and they also allow the captain to play an extra batsman if needed. Simply speaking, Hafeez is a captain’s dream in ODI cricket and should he be banned from bowling, it will completely disrupt the balance of our ODI team heading into the World Cup. While Ajmal could be replaced by another spinner (albeit not by one as good), Pakistan simply does not have any other all-rounders to provide the balance Hafeez does in ODI cricket. In his interview before departing for his tests in Loughborough, Hafeez told reporters how he considered himself a batsman, not an off-spinner, and never rated his own bowling. Although this maybe a defence mechanism in the event he is only able to participate as a batsman, it seems a bit strange that Hafeez does not rate his own bowling when he is seventh in the ICC Bowlers Rankings in ODIs. In fact, were it not for his bowling, Hafeez may not have thrived or even lasted these last four years in international cricket. For long stretches, when his batting has let him down, it has been his bowling that has ensured his place in the team. Should the unthinkable happen and he gets suspended from bowling, serious questions will need to be asked about Hafeez’s place in the team for the World Cup. Plenty of decent techniques have been exposed in Australia before and Hafeez’s is suspect to say the least. His inclusion as a specialist batsman would mean Pakistan would be devoid of a sixth bowler and/or a batsman light. Barely a year on from surrendering the T20 captaincy, Hafeez could lose his place in the World Cup team and Pakistan’s World Cup hopes will be scuppered before they even begin. The importance of November, 24 cannot be overstated.

Fawad Alam has been left out from the ODI squad, again. And right before the World Cup, again. The last time when he was dropped, in November 2010, his batting average was just below 40; currently his career average is more than 45 runs per inning with a decent strike run rate of 75.04 – despite batting under immense pressure most of the time. Leaving him out of the national team is something I just can’t understand. Not only has he performed above average, he has also given Pakistan some much needed wins over the past year. He is the second highest ODI run-getter for Pakistan, with an impressive average of 69.00 and smart strike rate of 77.35. And let’s not forget that most of his innings take place at a time when the team needs substantial runs. Opener Ahmed Shahzad is the only man ahead of Alam – and that too with an average of 39.45 and strike rate of 74.82 in 11 innings. But while Shahzad has been selected for both 50 and 20 over formats, Alam has been benched for no apparent reason. Alam is the same man who scored a magnificent century against Sri Lanka this year in the Asia Cup final and gave the other side a respectable total to defend. The batting performance of the top order was tragic in that match and Alam was the one who rescued the game. Earlier, he contributed key 74 runs against Bangladesh in the same tournament, despite the fact that it was his first ODI after almost four years. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pakistan's Fawad Alam (L) is run out by Bangladesh's Al-Amin Hossain during their one-day international (ODI) cricket match in Asia Cup 2014 in Dhaka. Photo: Reuters[/caption] His bat continued to score in the three-match away series against Sri Lanka, August this year. Pakistan won the first game after a 147-run partnership between Alam and Sohaib Maqsood. Alam departed at 62 runs after putting Pakistan on a commanding position. He scored 30 runs in the second match and, in the final ODI, he topped the score card by scoring 38 runs not out. Pakistan could only set the target of 103 runs for the hosts in that match, so his contribution was much needed, to say the least. After scoring 188 runs in only two innings of 2014 Asia Cup, Alam became the top scorer for Pakistan in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka with 130 runs. Chairperson PCB, Shaharyar Khan, called him a real fighter and urged other players to follow his example. During the time period, he also emerged as a leading candidate for T20 captaincy. Osman Samiuddin, former editor of Cricinfo Pakistan, also highlighted Alam’s strength and abilities in one of his articles. But all of a sudden, with no clear reason, he has been dropped from the ODI squad. Yes, he was somewhat unsuccessful against Australia during the ODI series but it was only the first match where he didn’t perform well and left the wickets with just seven runs. In the second match, he scored 20 runs (not out) and in the last ODI, he was controversially given an out when Steven Smith changed his position to take the catch. ICC had to issue a statement on the situation. But in spite of his less impressive performance, he scored more runs in the series than Misbahul Haq and Shahid Afridi, while Umar Akmal managed to score only 55 runs in two matches of the same series. Prior to this, Akmal scored only 23 runs in three innings against Sri Lanka, with the worst average of 7.66 runs. While Akmal did play an inning of 102 runs (not out) against Afghanistan, his performance hasn’t been impressive against other teams. In his last eight innings, he could score only a total sum of 151 runs against teams like India, Sri Lanka and Australia, with a poor average of 21.57. Yet, we see his name on the squad for both formats, despite his continuous failures – thanks to the selection committee. The chart below displays Pakistan’s batting line performance in 2014. Alam tops the score card with the best average and smart strike rate. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="577"] Runs by Pakistani batsmen in ODIs 2014.[/caption] Many criticise that Fawad often plays at a relatively slow pace; they ignore the fact that he plans his innings according to the situation. But even if we keep that critique in mind, we can see that Alam has still proved his worth. Comparing his record with Mohammad Hafeez, Younus Khan and Misbah, we can see Alam’s match winning abilities quite clearly. The following chart reiterates this. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="587"] Averages and strike rates of some Pakistani batsmen.[/caption] In the new squad, Nasir Jamshed has replaced Alam in ODIs. But on what grounds? Just review the on-going Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold League. Alam, representing NBP, has scored 521 runs in eight innings, including a double century with the average of 74.42. On the other hand, Jamshed, also playing for NBP, could only score 124 runs in seven innings with a poor average of 17.71. Yet, Jamshed is selected and Alam is dropped – doesn’t that show the unfair treatment Alam is subjected to by the PCB? The ODI series against New Zealand is important, as the World Cup is not too far. The mega event is being held in Australia and these matches are a practise for Pakistani players, to become acquainted with the pitches. Now, just compare the performance of Alam with the rest on the bouncy Australian pitches. Misbah’s Test inning record is presented below – as he has never played ODIs in Australia. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="576"] Innings played in Australia.[/caption] This clearly indicates that Alam’s batting average is better than Misbah, Younus, Hafeez and Jamshed. Even Alam’s strike rate is better than Misbah and Hafeez, is equal to Younus and is fractionally lower than Jamshed’s. It may also be mentioned that Alam is the only batsman in Pakistan’s domestic-cricket history, who has scored more than 8000 runs with an average of 56.73. Even greats like Javed Miandad, Hanif Mohammad, Zaheer Abbas and Inzamamul Haq couldn’t achieve this milestone. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="563"] First class averages of different players.[/caption] Statistics show that even Alam’s first class batting average is better than most of the greats. He has proved his credentials internationally as well. Having 40 plus average in both Tests and ODIs is not an easy task. Alam is the second highest run-getter for Pakistan in 2014 despite playing fewer matches than others, his average and strike rate is still better than many included in the side, chairperson PCB called him a fighter, he performed equally well in first class cricket... but he is still not on the squad. Amazing! Many argue that he is a better option for Tests. If this is the case, then why have the selectors ignored him for Test format over the past so many years? Despite Fawad’s consistent run scoring ability, selectors deliberately left him out from the Test series against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand – without any reason. The man who scored 168 runs on his debut has only played three tests so far! Why he couldn’t play a single test after November, 2009, despite having a healthy average of around 42 runs per inning in tests, is something our selectors need to answer. Why, and on what grounds, have our selectors wasted five precious years of such a talented player, who has shown his merit in all formats? [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="339"] Fawad Alam raises his bat after reaching 150 in a Test match against Sri Lanka, July 2009. Photo: AFP[/caption] I would also like to quote the comments of a Sri Lankan and a New Zealand cricketing fan. They commented on Cricinfo.com after reading the news of Fawad’s exclusion.

“I am a Sri Lankan. Sorry for Fawad Alam. If he doesn’t deserve a place in top six, then no one else deserves a place. He was the anchor. He starts slowly, but can accelerate later. A very good batsman. I think Pakistani selectors are out of (their) mind. Only around 90 days left for the World Cup. And they are messing with players.” “As a New Zealand fan, I was looking forward to watching Fawad Alam bat against us. Very disappointed he has been left out. There must be something else to it. If you just straight up look at his stats, asides from the top international players, there is almost nobody in the world who has comparable averages. (sic) Just can’t understand the sense in such a player being left out, especially when he has performed when given his opportunity. Gosh!”

The past week has been a sad one for the cricketing community with the untimely demise of a young Phillip Hughes, falling during a first-class match in Australia. If anything, this incident reminds us that life is short and very unpredictable, and should be celebrated for every moment of joy that it may bring. While we mourn Hughes’s death, I would like to focus on another young cricketer who brings joy to millions who follow him. Virat Kohli has been one of the best ODI batsmen of the last few years. Statistics may not always do justice to a person as is an oft repeated phrase but in his case, mere statistics are enough to blow you away. At the age of 26, he has already scored 21 ODI hundreds at an average of over 52 in 149 matches. He recently became the fastest player to 6,000 ODI runs and has led India to victory in countless matches in many different situations. His Test credentials may not be exceptional, but are decent with 6 hundreds to his name already. He has time on his side, though, to improve them and be known as one of the best batsmen of his era. Many have already started asking if he will be better than Sachin Tendulkar or not? [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Virat Kohli was a relieved man after his 21st century, India v West Indies, 4th ODI, Dharamsala, October 17, 2014. Photo: BCCI[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Virat Kohli blows a kiss to the crowd after crossing 6000 ODI runs, India v Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI, Hyderabad, November 9, 2014. Photo: BCCI[/caption] A phenomenal stroke-maker all around the wicket, Kohli is also a nightmare for any bowler once in flow. He is capable of decimating the best attacks in the world on any given day and is not just a flat track bully as his performances outside the subcontinent have shown. He often comes across as a brash individual and rubs people up the wrong way with his attitude but he has been maturing with time. He still wears his heart on his sleeve whenever he plays for India, and that aspect might have to change a little if he has ambitions to be an Indian captain in the long run – a likely successor to MS Dhoni. He has been earmarked for captaincy from a very young age; he showed his potential to lead when he became the second Indian captain to win the U-19 World Cup, leading from the front with the bat and returning with victories in the ODIs. Some of his teammates find him friendlier than Dhoni given that he is of the same age-group as many of them. He is soon to debut as a Test captain in Australia, and only time will tell whether the same aggressive style of captaincy that he has displayed in the past during the ODIs will work. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] A few heated words were exchanged as Virat Kohli left the field, England v India, 3rd ODI, Trent Bridge, August 30, 2014. Photo: AFP[/caption] During their last visit to Australia, India went down in a 4-0 Test series whitewash, but the only bright aspect of that tour was Kholi’s performance. He scored a Test hundred, the only century by an Indian, and seemed more than capable of handling the pressure. Fans wonder if he will be able to bat as freely as he likes to with the captaincy burden on his shoulders. But let there be no doubt that in Dhoni’s absence in the current squad, there is no one more capable or deserving to be an Indian captain than the talented batsman. Any team in the world would readily give an arm and a leg to have someone like him in their folds. Let’s see if he can lead his side to victory in the Adelaide Test match starting December 9, 2014, while giving his expected performance. [poll id="366"]

Putting on over 400 runs in a one-day international game is at best a distant dream for Pakistan’s national cricket squad. However, the country’s blind cricket team made it look like child’s play as they accumulated a mammoth 418 runs in just 40 overs during their match against Sri Lanka. Sadly, the performance went largely unnoticed. Had it been Misbahul Haq and his band of brothers who accomplished something similar, the chequebooks of prime ministers and presidents would have lost a few leaves. One can only imagine the score they would have ended up with had they been given a full 50 overs instead of the allotted 40 at the fourth Blind Cricket World Cup in Australia. The team managed to achieve this gargantuan feat despite the fact that they lost two early wickets with a mere 47 on the board. Enter Haroon and Anees who steadied the innings and made mincemeat of the Sri Lankan bowling with shots all around the wicket. Anees’ swashbuckling 72 of just 44 balls boosted Pakistan’s run rate immensely and the greens’ charge was continued by Muhammad Akram after the former lost his wicket. Akram hammered home a century and went on to score 114 runs, but the real star of the show was Haroon who scored—wait for it—180 runs of 116 deliveries. In reply, Sri Lanka could only manage 194, a decent total in its own right, from their 40 overs. However, when the other side has just obliterated your bowling attack, even mounting a somewhat serious challenge can become a herculean task. The blind cricket team, which has been on a bit of a roll recently, almost symbolically saved their best performance for the International Day of People with Disabilities. It continued its brilliant run in the tournament and is now poised to face the hosts in the semi-finals. But the Pakistani people are more concerned over their national squad’s prospects at the ICC World Cup next year. With the bouncy Australian tracks likely to unsettle the country’s finest batsmen, it is unlikely the main squad will be able to match the performance put in by their fellow countrymen at the blind world cup. Regardless, there is almost little or no interest in the country apart from the odd social media activist posting a ‘we are proud of you’ tweet or Facebook status update. https://twitter.com/UKBlindCricket/status/539806066650152960 https://twitter.com/musadaqz/status/435473920528248832 In a country where the differently-abled are treated as secondary citizens by a large number of people, such inspiring moments need to be trumpeted by those claiming to be the champions of the masses. Perhaps even a certain former captain who forgot to mention his team when he lifted the cricket world cup in 1992 can convince his legions of fans to put on their televisions and support these noble warriors. Did I hear you say neither state television nor any other local channels are showing it? Why should they? Ratings would probably be miserably low and as not-so-old saying goes – ain’t nobody got time for that. However, the people who do seem to have time for the blind are the police, albeit for the wrong reasons. A group of blind men, pressing for an increase in their job quotas, were manhandled by the Punjab police outside the Lahore Press Club. Perhaps the cops would have given these unsung heroes the respect they richly deserve had they watched the Pakistani team’s performance today. https://twitter.com/SaadiaAfzaal/status/540122127811104768 https://twitter.com/ShaykhRehan/status/540124619580375040 https://twitter.com/HamidMirGEO/status/540123067905613825

Every time team India travels to Australia, the heat down under takes a hard toll on them, be it the 2007-08 infamous ‘monkey-gate’ episode or the 2011-12 Virat Kohli episode, when he showed the crowd his middle finger. Controversies are sure to hover over the Indian cricket team when they play down under. The ‘monkey-gate’ embroilment, during the Sydney Test, gained a lot of momentum, where Harbhajan Singh was charged for racially abusing Australia’s Andrew Symonds as a black monkey while Harbhajan refuted by saying he was just using ‘teri maa ki’ – which is an Indian slang phrase. Later, Matthew Hayden termed Harbhajan as an “obnoxious little weed” on a live radio interview. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="339"] Andrew Symonds (L) and Harbhajan Singh while playing the Sydney Test match in January, 2008. Photo: AFP[/caption] In 2011-12, team India travelled to Australia for a long, enervating tour. Losing the first Test, the team vowed to make amends in Sydney but the atrocious Sydney came to haunt them once again. After failing with the bat in the first innings, the Michael Clarke-tide swept away the Indians, causing some verbal jibes from the fans to which Virat Kohli replied with his middle finger. Later, he clarified on Twitter that it was a payback gesture to unruly fans. Kohli was fined 50% of his match fee. In the next Test at Perth, Indian pacer Ishant Sharma couldn’t control his hands. He also reacted to the taunts of some enraged fans by showing them the middle finger. While Virat did it on the ground, in front of television cameras and a million eyes, Ishant too could not take the fans’ tongue wagging and greeted them with his finger after the match. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Ishant Sharma (L) and Virat Kohli[/caption] Hark back your mind to 2005, when Greg Chappell was also involved in a similar finger-gate hurrah. The Indian crowd did not accept it and now the tag has been carried to Australia. Kohli’s argument was that the fans abused his family. Ishant might tow a similar line but what they are forgetting is that some battles are best not fought. It is more of an immatureness that is being displayed by these sports ambassador of the country. Kohli and Sharma wanted to be like Bollywood actors, punishing guilty fans by themselves. It might be just a finger gesture for them but actions speak louder than words. It landed them in hot water. Actions are a real measure of intelligence and, by flipping their fingers Kohli and Sharma have shown what they lack. The young brigade is defined by youthful rebellion, with spiked, gelled hair, and tattooed arms. Their attitude is fine, perhaps aggressive too, but them losing their calm so easily is worrying. What such actions highlight is how flappable young Indian cricketers are. They have learnt the art of playing from their seniors but what they didn’t learn is the temperament and manners of the senior players. Look at Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, who have always conducted themselves with the utmost poise and presence, wherever they have been. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sachin Tendulkar (L), Rahul Dravid (C) and V. V. S. Laxman (R)[/caption] Once again, team India has set its foot in Australia to play a long Test series, but it is unlikely that this time the build-up to the tour will be different. The tragic death of Australian cricketer, Phillip Hughes, has left the players and the nation in emotional apathy, however, this might prove to be more of a vulnerability during the series as emotions will rule the minds of the Aussies. Their captain, Michael Clarke, has already declared that he wants to win this one for his beloved Phillip Hughes, who was a brother to him. So, expect plenty of drama, emotions and verbal jibes. It will be interesting to see how team India reacts to this approach, will they let it go by understanding the emotions of the grief stricken Aussies, or will they revert back with same force? The battle of mind and emotions will be one to watch out for; the scorching summer in Australia has already begun and things will surely boil down under.

I was unable to witness the last time Pakistan defeated India on home ground in the 1980s; I wasn’t there to see Pakistan’s flag hoisted in India after their defeat; and I wasn’t there to hear my national anthem sung on Indian soil. The only idea I had about our victory was through accounts of my elders, who were there when it happened – who were there to experience the adrenaline rush such a victory could bring. And I always felt like I had missed out on something huge. But after I witnessed Pakistan’s victory over India in the 2014 Hero Hockey Champions Trophy semi-final on Saturday, I understood what it meant to see the national squad take down the one team every Pakistani hopes to beat. The high was truly phenomenal and saying “Pakistan Zindabad!” never made me feel so alive. We qualified for the Champions Trophy finals after 16 long years – and that too after beating India – so this moment truly was one of celebration for us Pakistanis. Pakistan played a brilliantly fast, Asian-styled, counter attack hockey in the quarter-final and semi-final rounds and showed their potential. It was a treat seeing our boys in green owning almost every match they played in. The players appeared to be fit and there were virtually no problems or signs of poor performance from our team – not even in the latter half of the matches, where we have a history of displaying signs of exhaustion. Also, the new format, with four 15-minute quarters instead of two 35-minute halves, was better suited to our players because after every break they attacked with more energy. The current, relatively new, set-up of team management and players boasts each players merit and makes fans like me very optimistic about seeing another era of Pakistan’s domination in hockey. After a very long time, this team has shown us the potential to be a World Cup-winning squad. If the management works honestly with this combination – and doesn’t fall prey to the corruption that is already deeply infused in our games – the chances of Pakistan becoming one of the top three teams of the world look very bright. Even though we lost the finals, we can regard Pakistan’s performance in this tournament as the revival of hockey. This tournament was a much needed boost for the game. In September 2013, we saw how our national game was thrust to the lowest ebb of its history, when we lost to South Korea and weren’t even able to qualify for the hockey world cup. After that, most Pakistanis lost faith in the game and the number of hockey followers in the country decreased exponentially. In such a situation, the hockey team had to come up with something special to win back their followers and rekindle that passion for the game. With this match, they did exactly that. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pakistan's Abbasi Shakeel (L) and South Korea's Jang Jong Hyun (R) fight for the ball during their semi-final match at the Asia Cup field hockey 2013 tournament in Ipoh on August 30, 2013. Photo: AFP[/caption] In the beginning, Pakistan lost all three matches and the idea that this team was inept became even more ingrained in our minds. However, the team returned with a bang and surprised everyone by winning a decisive victory against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. Everyone was shocked by this miracle, and this peaked people’s interest enough to make them follow the national team again. After this match, we saw the semi-finals unfold, and along with it the unnerving excitement and emotion that any Pakistan-versus-India match commands. The match went by phenomenally and the victory made us all believers, once again. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Australia hockey players celebrate a goal against Pakistan during their Hockey Champions Trophy 2014 match at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in India on December 9, 2014.[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pakistan's Umar Bhutta Muhammad (C) celebrates a goal against the Netherlands with teammates during their Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2014 quater final match at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on December 11, 2014. Photo: AFP[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pakistan hockey captain Imran Muhammad (L) and teammates take their jerseys off as they celebrate their victory over India with teammates during their Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2014 semi final match at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on December 13, 2014. Photo: AFP[/caption] Unfortunately, the celebrations came to an abrupt halt when our players, whilst rejoicing their win, took off their shirts, while other made obscene gestures towards the crowd. While this behaviour is condemnable, and Pakistan itself criticised its players for displaying uncouth behaviour, this incident is not the first of its kind and Pakistan has not been the only nation to indulge in such acts. In fact, after Pakistani coach, Shahnaz Shaikh, apologised on behalf of the team, the FIH (International Hockey Federation) cleared the boys for any wrongdoing. This, however, was retracted when the president of India Hockey Federation, Narinder Batra, stated that,

“I am instructing my CEO to inform FIH that in case this kind of behaviour by teams is within normal and tolerable limits of FIH, then we may not be interested to host any more tournaments in India and the tournaments may be shifted to countries which tolerate this kind of nonsense and uncouth behaviour.”

Australia woke up to one of the worst terrorist attacks in its contemporary history yesterday. A gun-toting extremist, Man Haron Moris, took people hostage at Lindt Café in the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District. Visuals of hostages pressed against windows holding black placards that read ‘There is no God but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (PBUH) is his prophet’ were plastered all over TV channels and news sites. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] A black flag with white Arabic writing is held up in the window of the Lindt cafe in this still image taken from video from Australia’s Seven Network. Photo: Reuters[/caption] Man Haron Moris may have had 17 people as physical hostages. But all of Australia was a psychological hostage for those 16 - 18 hours. This act of terrorism did not just spear at humanity alone. Within minutes the lone extremist also managed to taint Islam’s already precarious image in the world. What followed was a wave of Islamophobic bigotry from some people and Muslims were immediately on the defensive once again. These are some comments one can see on the Facebook page of The Age, a popular news publication in Australia. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Facebook snapshots[/caption] What boggles the mind is how a religion and billions of its followers can be judged and castigated for the acts of a small percentage that uses the cloak of Islam. Let’s take an example. Pakistan is plagued by terrorism and even today, barbarians attacked a school in Peshawar. Does that make each one of us a terrorist? Is it warranted that the world looks at each one of us as a terrorist sympathiser? Such bigotry should be unacceptable. This is why it came as a touching gesture when majority of Australians showed they stand with Muslims and would not alienate them because of this despicable incident. Every calamity has the potential to do two things for humans – either drift them apart or bring them closer. In this case, it brought everyone together through social media. It stood up against the bigotry of a select few when whilst the siege was underway, Twitter was abuzz with the hashtag #IllRideWithYou that has till now attracted more than 250000 posts. The hashtag started soon after a woman, Racheal Jacobs, shared how she saw a Muslim woman take her veil off on a Brisbane train in fear of being attacked for being Muslim. She explained how she ran and offered to ride with her to keep her safe. This soon became a ripple that turned into waves of people all over the world showing solidarity with Muslims and offering to ride with them if they feel unsafe. https://twitter.com/amelioratrix/status/544412196948561921 https://twitter.com/kateileaver/status/544750316650909697 https://twitter.com/macleanbrendan/status/544596775701467136 https://twitter.com/troyesivan/status/544646897512640512 https://twitter.com/AmbassadorPower/status/544676537010622464 This wasn’t just restricted to social media. Passengers on a train in Melbourne actually stood up for a woman wearing a chaddar when a man started harassing her, reported a newspaper today. Needless to mention, such acts restore one’s faith in humanity. There are more people against bigotry than for it. In the same breath, let’s give back to the world what we expect from it. As a Pakistani, let me assure all Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis and other minorities that #IllRideWithYou. Will you do the same, dear fellow countrymen?

Having read through the 500-odd page US Senate report on CIA torture and all of its gory details, I can understand why the CIA, Pentagon and White House didn’t want this report to come out. Remembering the international outcry over the pictures that were leaked from Abu Ghraib and Bagram, the US intelligence services knew the powder keg that they were hiding from the world. They knew what they had done were crimes against humanity and no amount of verbal discourse would make this acceptable, tolerable or forgivable. There are two parts of this discourse that are disturbing to me as a human being. First, of course, is the report itself and what is still hidden from the public discussion. Second, and what is even more disturbing, is that in the face of these revelations, the Republican spin doctors have taken to television stations to defend their actions, as if it was actually necessary to implement these methods. The summary report and what is still unknown Most of the world’s media is talking about the 500 pages that were released for public consumption a few days ago. The conversation is centred on the abuses that have been exposed, and looking for answers to how this was allowed to happen and how they were all duped into believing that enhanced interrogation techniques were in the US’s greater interest and national security. Few are talking about the elephant in the room that has yet to be exposed. The elephant concerning me, and all of you, is that this is only a 500-odd page summary report of a 6,700 page complete report, based on 16.7 million pages of de-classified CIA documents related to torture since 2002. Take a second to think about that – 16.7 million pages of de-classified documents drilled down into 6,700 pages that the public will probably never see after the global reaction to the shorter summary report. What is also worrying is that these tactics were used in a 1963 CIA program called KUBARK, which was used against everyone from Soviet double agents to Latin American dissidents. The 1963 program techniques were incorporated into the CIA interrogation manual, known as the Human Resource Exploitation (HRE) Training Manual, in 1983 and the officer in charge of the interrogations was elevated to the CIA’s chief of interrogations in the Renditions Group in 2002. Had the summary report spoken of abuses such as sleep deprivation, beatings, electrocutions, or water-boarding, most of the world would have replied with a ‘been there, done that’. Most of the world watched these techniques in Hollywood creations like Zero Dark Thirty and 24. Sadly, that was not what was in the report. The report detailed abuses against 119 detainees – such a clinically neutral term – under the guise of gathering intelligence from them, that included forced rectal feeding, mock executions and burials, Russian roulette, threats of torture, murder and sexual assault against mothers, children and family members. I don’t want to get into the details of the tactics because they are so disgusting and inhumane that it would make your stomach churn if you had to read them. Suffice it to say that they found ways to abuse a human being that even the inventive scriptwriters in Hollywood couldn’t have imagined. The summary report details extreme abuses that have long been called “enhanced interrogation tactics” by members of the Bush administration as the world demands to know which allies participated, facilitated and covered up the torture that has been exposed before the world. At current count, 54 countries are listed, including Afghanistan, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Croatia, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Ireland, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Uzbekistan and Yemen. The list, according to the Open Source Foundation, is still not complete. The extent of their involvement is still unknown but it is fascinating to see that a list of US enemies included in the list of countries called upon to participate in torture on their behalf. The spin doctors It comes as no surprise that it was Dick Cheney and George Bush who were the first to decry the timing of the report and repeat their claims that “all that was done was done in the name of national security”. Bush went as far as saying:

“We’re fortunate to have men and women who work hard at the CIA, serving on our behalf. These are patriots. And whatever the report says, if it diminishes their contributions to our country, it is way off base. I knew the directors, the deputy directors; I knew a lot of the operators. These are good people. Really good people. And we’re lucky as a nation to have them.”

“When we have patriots like this, who needs traitors?”

“All acts of torture be prosecuted.”

“[N]o exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency… as a justification of torture.”

“To defend democracy, we had to destroy it.”

How long does it take to become proficient in the art of cricket, the gentlemen’s game? It probably varies from person to person, depending on how well they perform under pressure. My focus, however, is on its nickname – ‘the gentlemen’s game’. The name came about because, in addition to the rules and regulations, players have to abide by the spirit of the sport as well. The standard of sportsmanship in cricket has historically been considered so high that phrases like “it’s just not cricket” have been coined to describe the fair behaviour players are expected to exhibit on the field. But that has started to change now. Recently I came across a peculiar term which was something similar to the word ‘sledgehammer’. The term called sledging, which is explained to be “used in cricket to describe the practice whereby some players seek to gain an advantage by insulting or verbally intimidating the opposing player. The purpose is to try to weaken the opponent’s concentration”. Over the years, cricket has inducted verbal spats, finger-pointing, glaring at one another and intervention of umpires as a norm of sorts. It has become a valid part of the sport. Thus Shahid Afridi and Gautam Gambhir having a face off, Ishaant Sharma and Kamran Akmal having their little tête-à-tête, Virat Kohli showing aggressive behaviour and even the attitude exhibited by Australians are fairly common aspects of the game and are all part of what is known as 'sledging'. If I am not wrong, it was the Australians who gave rise to this practice in the first place. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgfhg4_afridi-versus-gambhir_na[/embed] [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1b9hap_ishant-sharma-vs-kamran-akmal-fight-india-vs-pakistan-t20-2012-bangalore_fun[/embed] The verbal duel in the first Test match at Adelaide involving Australian batsman, David Warner, and Indian pacer, Varun Aaron, just refreshes memories of incidents that have taken place every time India’s tours have gone down under. A good reminder that cricket is not just about physical strength, it requires mental strength as well. And if someone knows how to twist that mental strength to his advantage, he is a successful player. During the match, Aaron celebrated his supposed wicket after rattling Warner’s stumps, only for the batsman to retaliate after it was confirmed as a no-ball. However, this retaliation sparked a lot of reaction from the Indian side. Shikhar Dhawan also got involved in a heated exchange with Warner after the next delivery. Both Warner and Dhawan were fined 30% of their match fee. And this wasn’t all. The cricketing world witnessed a high degree of sledging again in the series underway as Kohli and Mithchell Johnsons indulged in a war of words during the third Test at Melbourne. But Sri Lankan official Roshan Mahanama decided to let it go this time. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Kohli tries to calm Warner down after an altercation with Indian fielders. Photo: AFP[/caption] Whenever India and Australia play, tempers flare, occasionally the situation gets out of hand and a lot is exchanged in the heat of the moment. While the uncanny bouncers from Johnsons can be hard to evade, it is harder to ignore the verbal jibes that follow in order to unnerve the batsman. India too, with the likes of Kohli, never holds back in rebutting a comment. Usually initiated by aggressive bowlers when their ball is hit over the fence, it ends in a verbal spat that can sometimes go over the top. Crude and occasionally offensive remarks like the, “how’s your wife and my kids?” comment that Rodney Marsh made to Ian Botham during a match could have led to something more than sporty banter on the field. These, I do agree, need to be curtailed and fined to the max, but most of the times it is just witty repartee aimed to unsettle and not draw daggers. In some cases, sledging has been seen to be encouraging as well, like when Shoaib Akhtar was upper-cut for a six by Virender Sehwag, he asked Sehwag to repeat the shot again in the next delivery, and when he bowled the same length, Sehwag obliged by hitting him another four, executing the same shot. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Australia’s spin bowler Nathan Lyon (right) and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (left) shout a successful leg before wicket appeal against India’s Murali Vijay on the final day of the test match. Photo: Reuters[/caption] But here is where an important question needs to be asked: should sledging really be fined, even though it is technically a mind-game that players conduct in order influence their opponents? Sledging has become a major part of the game; it tests the mental psyche of a player – sometimes a player overcomes the verbal assault, sometimes he succumbs to it, like Aamir Sohail did in the 1996 World Cup match against India. Regardless of the outcomes, the concept of sledging has been imbedded in the game for too long and is too deep now to uproot. Almost every cricket team is seen practicing it, and it has become part and parcel of what we consider is done in the ‘spirit of sportsmanship’. Though many cricketers argue that it is important for the game, most say it is simply a tactic to disconcert or intimidate the opposition; a mind game that exists, to a certain degree, in every sport out there. Though there is a thin line between sledging and becoming crass and uncouth, but we need to understand that it is part and parcel of the sport. Cricket has evolved greatly and though it is still a gentlemen’s game, this inclusion of tests of the mind need to be supported. Sledging is a viable technique and some of the wisest cricketers in the game have used it to get ahead. As far as spectators are concerned, they like nothing better than to see things between the players becoming spicier; everyone loves a good scandal. [poll id="371"]

Cricket is not just a game in Pakistan; it is the blood of this nation. Thus, it is only natural that the hopes and dreams of 180 million people are placed on the shoulders of 11 men in green. Every cricket enthusiast in Pakistan was busy guessing who the ‘chosen ones’ for the squad were going to be before the names were finally unveiled by the National Selection Committee. Senior players like Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Umar Gul were dropped while pace bowlers like Sohail Khan, who last played international cricket in 2011, made a comeback. What came as a surprise to everyone, however, was the exclusion of Fawad Alam from the squad. In recent time, Alam has been Pakistan’s most reliable batsman and, in my opinion, should have been given the opportunity to shine at the World Cup. The selectors, instead, preferred another player – Younus Khan. While Younus has scored 147 runs with an average of 18.37, Fawad has scored 117 runs with an average of 39. Even though, as statistics suggest, Younus may have seemed like a better choice in terms of runs, Fawad was clearly a better option in terms of average. Putting that conundrum aside, let’s move on to the other players who made the list for the 2015 World Cup. Here is a brief recap of their recent performances: Mohammad Hafeez [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Hafeez has hardly missed any ODI since making his comeback in Pakistan’s team against England in 2010. He performed both with the bat and the ball, and was even considered an all-rounder. In his last 12 ODIs, Hafeez has scored 360 runs with an average of 30, and looking at the statistics, he will definitely have to improve his batting. In terms of his bowling, with the passage of time, his bowling improved immensely. Now, according to the latest ICC ODI rankings, Hafeez is the third best all-rounder in the world. With his unfortunate bowling action deemed illegal due to which he was suspended in November, we hope he clears the bowling action test this month. The results will decide whether he will be able to be the squad’s all-rounder for the World Cup or not. Hafeez seems to be a good choice for the squad; he has the experience of playing in both New Zealand and Australia. He has played six ODIs in New Zealand and has scored 166 runs including one century with an average of 33.20, while in Australia, he has scored 75 runs with an average of 12.50. Ahmed Shehzad [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Shehzad is one of Pakistan’s best players and has been performing consistently. He has proved himself to be one of the most reliable players on the team. In his last 16 ODI matches, Shehzad scored 629 runs with an average of 39.31. He also has played five ODIs in New Zealand in which he scored 188 runs including one century with an average of 47. Younus Khan [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Younus performed brilliantly in the recent Test series against Australia and New Zealand. He scored 468 runs in the series against Australia and carried his form against New Zealand. However, his performance in ODIs is really poor. He scored 163 runs in his last six ODIs with an average of 27.16. His performance in New Zealand and Australia is also below par. He has played six matches in New Zealand and scored 115 runs with an average of 23, while in Australia, he has played nine matches with a run score of 147 runs with an average of 18.37. Misbahul Haq [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Misbah has become Pakistan’s most successful Test captain. His performance, both as a captain and a batsman, is unmatchable. However, his performance in the recently concluded ODIs does not meet expectations at all. He scored 285 runs in his last 12 ODIs with an average of 23.75. But his performance in New Zealand is worth applauding. He scored 203 runs in five ODIs with an average of 67.66. Haris Sohail [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="539"] Photo: AFP[/caption] With Sohail Pakistan has found a good left-handed, middle-order batsman and a good part-time bowler. He has impressed everyone with his performance. Having played a total of nine ODIs, he has scored 280 runs with an average of 40. Umar Akmal [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Akmal is a very talented batsman but, in my opinion, has never fully shown his true potential. He is an aggressive player, which is a positive sign for Pakistan. Unfortunately, even in the recent ODIs, his performance was below par. He scored 362 runs in his last 13 ODIs with an average of 32.90. He seems to have been a good choice for the squad due to this experience of playing in both New Zealand and Australia. In New Zealand, he scored 94 runs in six matches with an average of 18.80 while in Australia, he has scored 187 runs in five ODIs with an average of 37.40. Shahid Afridi [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Photo: Reuters[/caption] This man is, undoubtedly, a match-winning player; nobody should doubt his abilities. Having announced his retirement from ODIs after the 2015 World Cup, I am sure he will perform brilliantly in each and every game to go out with a bang. In his last 16 ODIs, he scored 354 runs with an average of 27.23. He has played nine ODIs in New Zealand with a run score of 231 runs with an average of 33, while in Australia he scored 678 runs in 34 matches with an average of 21.18. He is also the leading wicket-taker (49 wickets) for Pakistan against Australia. Sohaib Maqsood [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="539"] Photo: Reuters[/caption] Maqsood is another talented batsman who happens to be as aggressive as Akmal. In his last eight ODIs, he scored 209 runs with an average of 29.85. As of now, however, he does not have any experience of playing in New Zealand and Australia. Sarfraz Ahmed [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Ahmed remains to be in and out of the team due to mediocre performance. But recently, he performed brilliantly both in the ODIs and Tests. In the last eight ODIs, however, he scored 254 runs with an average of 36.28. He has played only one match in Australia in which he scored six runs. Junaid Khan [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="538"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Due to his injury during the Sri Lanka Test series, Junaid had not played any form of cricket in the last four months. Nonetheless, he has proven to be a good bowler and has taken two wickets in his last six ODIs. Mohammad Irfan [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Irfan is one of the most dangerous bowlers Pakistan has at the moment. The pitches in Australia and New Zealand will be a big advantage for him even though he has never played there. In his last 11 ODIs, he has taken 15 wickets. We can surely count on him to give the batsmen a tough time. Sohail Khan [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Sohail’s inclusion in the squad came as a surprise for everyone. He made it to the list at the 11^th hour. He broke down the proverbial door of selection with his magnificent return of 10 wickets in two games of the on-going Pentangular Cup. The lanky pacer also bowled brilliantly in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold League and was subsequently declared the ‘Best Bowler’ of the tournament. He last played International cricket in 2011. While he has not played any form of cricket against world top teams, he has played five matches, all against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, and took six wickets. Wahab Riaz [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Riaz’s pace is one of the reasons he made it to the list. In my opinion though, he still needs to work on his line and length. Nonetheless, his pace will surely be very useful in Australia. In his last eight ODIs, he has taken 13 wickets. Since Riaz has only played in New Zealand, during his four matches, he has taken eight wickets. Ehsan Adil [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Photo: AFP[/caption] In this case, the selectors preferred Adil because of his experience of playing in the U-19 World Cup in Australia, where he bowled exceptionally and at good pace. Yasir Shah [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="536"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Shah is definitely a good selection for the squad. He has performed brilliantly in the recent Test series against Australia and New Zealand in the UAE where he took a total of 27 wickets in five matches. He has played only one ODI against Zimbabwe where he took two wickets. So there you have it – the chosen men in green for the 2015 World Cup. While I approve of most of the players selected, I have my doubts when it comes to the overall performance of some of the others. Whatever the case, I will be sure to keep my spirits and hopes high because I know our chose ones will make us proud and bring home the trophy. Go team green!

Here are some of the similarities between Pakistan’s 1992 and 2015 World Cup squad that most of us are not aware of: 1. Venue 1992: Australia- New Zealand 2015: Australia- New Zealand 2. Captain Imran Khan Niazi of Mianwali (1992) Misbahul Haq Niazi of Mianwali (2015) 3. Captain’s injury In 1992, Pakistan’s captain, Imran Khan entered the tournament with an injury. In 2015, Misbahul Haq has also sustained an injury just before the World Cup. 4. Surprise all-rounder Ijaz Ahmed (1992) Haris Sohail (2015) 5. Opener who can also bowl Amir Sohail (1992) Mohammad Hafeez (2015) 6. Two leg-spinners in the squad Mushtaq Ahmed and Iqbal Sikander (1992) Shahid Afridi and Yasir Shah (2015) 7. Middle-order batsman  Inzamamul Haq, Multan (1992) Sohaib Maqsood, Multan (2015) 8. Aggressive middle-order batsman Salim Malik, Lahore (1992) Umar Akmal, Lahore (2015) 9. Opening batsman  Rameez Raja, Lahore (1992) Ahmed Shehzad, Lahore (2015) 10. Wicket-keeper who loves to sweep Moin Khan, Karachi (1992) Sarfraz Ahmed, Karachi (2015) 11. Experienced middle-order batsman Javed Miandad, Karachi (1992) Younus Khan, Karachi (2015) 12. Left-arm fast bowling leader of the bowling attack Wasim Akram (1992) Mohammad Irfan (2015) With these similarities all we can do is hope that the outcome is the same too. Good luck team green! This post originally appeared here.

Australia needed someone to take a stand for them, and once again, Steven Smith came to the rescue. There is nothing more to be said to praise this young lad who became the first batsman in cricketing history to score a century on his debut as the Test and ODI captain. Australia, currently playing against India and England, were set to chase a target of 303 in the fourth match of the Tri-series against England at Hobart. Smith came in at number three – considered to be the most responsible batting positions in cricket – after Aaron Finch departed and led his team to a three-wicket victory with an unbeaten on 102. The occasion was special; it was his first ODI as the captain of the team which adorns the green baggy. His team needed a special innings and he couldn’t help himself but deliver. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Earlier, on December 20, 2014, he was burdened with the responsibility of captaining the grief-stricken Australian side in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The team had just recovered from a shock after the sad demise of Phillip Hughes. He was meant to fill the shoes of Michael Clarke who was ruled out of the rest of the series after pulling a hamstring injury. Any young player would feel the pressure but he didn’t feel any of it. He was oozing with confidence as he had already struck a 162 against India in the first Test. He had to make something special out of his first Test as a captain and he fairly did so. After India scored 408 in the first innings at Brisbane courtesy Murali Vijay’s 144, this wonder kid came in and hit a 191-ball 133 to register his name among batsmen who scored a century on their debut as Test captains. It seemed like he was instinctively triggered to play all out when the occasion demanded. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The 25-year-old star, who rose to prominence in 2009-2010 with his four centuries and best bowling figures of 7-64 for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield, is being hailed as the next Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke for the Australians, and surely he has done enough to prove his mettle. Some might call him an accidental hero who got a chance to enter the limelight due to Clarke’s injury but if one follows his cricketing adventure from the very beginning, there is much more to talk about than just his batting splendours. Players are usually called into the squad because of their cricketing abilities, but this fun chap was once made a part of the team solely because of his skills of cracking a joke. He was called for the third Ashes Test in 2010 at Perth and he commented,

“I’ve been told that I’ve got to come into the side and be fun. For me, it’s about having energy in the field and making sure I’m having fun and making sure everyone else around is having fun.”