Glory be, for international cricket has returned. Not since March 2009 have Pakistan played a game at home, and yesterday the brave Zimbabwean team entertained the crowd with a stellar batting performance which took some getting.
Skipper Elton Chigumbura was particularly impressive in a 35-ball 54, smashing bowlers to all parts. Chasing, both openers did well, but Mukhtar Ahmed was particularly good with an aggressive innings.
The crowd was extremely loud and enjoyed every delivery. Hearteningly, the Lahoris were gracious hosts, cheering the visitors for their heroic efforts.
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It seemed that nostalgia had also gripped the selectors, as proven disappointments such as Shoaib Malik, Umer Akmal, and Mohammad Sami were inexplicably brought back into the squad.
All three showcased with signature performances. Malik, a talented all-rounder and a superb fielder, has never lived up to his potential in international cricket after a good start to his career. At the age of 33, the odds are against him in his ability to overcome his technical flaws as a batsman, which are so viciously exposed overseas during international games.
What’s more, his disciplinary issues have always been a concern. It is still painful to recall him boasting about deliberately losing a domestic T20 game during a post-match ceremony, because he had been angry at the umpires for costing his side. His claims shocked everyone in the commentary box, including the visiting Sanjay Manjrekar.
Likewise, enough has been written about Akmal, and it was a surprise to see him back. Of course, no surprise was bigger than Mohammad Sami's recall. His first delivery exemplified his career. It was fast, short, outside off stump, and smacked for four.
If there was a lesson from the game for selectors, it was to invest in youth.
For an instant, I too was overcome with nostalgia. As I watched the teams take the field against Zimbabwe at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, I recalled one of the most famous matches to take place on this nation’s soil; the 1996 World Cup Final between Sri Lanka and Australia.
Although this contest took place only about 19 years ago, it seems decades away.
1996 wasn’t a prosperous year for Pakistan by any means. We still suffered from problems such as law and order issues and corruption, while basic services such as water and electricity were frustratingly inadequate. Yet, the Pakistan of 1996 seemed to be in a far better state.
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Pakistan fans ahead of the game at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday. —AP |
For one, it is almost unthinkable to imagine another World Cup final taking place here in the near future; an event where thousands of international tourists would pour in from their nations to watch their respective teams perform as they did in 1996.
I say almost, as Zimbabwe’s decision to tour Pakistan is a cause for hope, albeit a small one.
It seems difficult to imagine that the major Test playing nations will be persuaded to put their lives at risk after one short tour from Zimbabwe, but perhaps, they can be convinced by the watertight security arrangements.
Of course, security is only a part of it. Visiting teams like to enjoy their time in another nation, and sadly, touring Pakistan means spending time in hotel rooms and cricket grounds.
Moreover, regardless of security assurances, the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team isn’t likely to escape anyone's mind.
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Imagine if you had a friend whose house you visited regularly. What if one fine evening, while sipping on a nice cold beverage and playing some video games with him, his daughter walked up to you smiling, and stabbed you in the shoulder with a giant steak knife?
As you would run screaming out of the door thinking of your mother, you’d promise yourself to never return. Sure, your friend would call you later full of promises about how his daughter has now found professional help, and will only be in a straitjacket when you visit. He may even desperately offer to have his wife watch her closely during your stops, or cite the example of a mutual friend who visited (after being bribed with chocolate) without incident.
Such assurances could sound comforting, but reports from neighbours of the daughter wildly attacking her siblings would still leave you weary.
After Zimbabwe completes an incident-free tour, the PCB hopes the ball will roll for other international teams. We can only hope. But we did stab international cricket in the shoulder with a steak knife, and it isn't likely to forget.
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